180 British Dogs. 



Members of committee who elect the judges ought not to exhibit for 

 prizes. If they can afford the sacrifice of time and money which they 

 are supposed to do for the furtherance of a great object, it is not asking 

 much from them to go a step further and show their animals not for 

 competition. In the case of a great body like the Kennel Club, who so 

 emphatically declare the sole object of their existence to be the improve- 

 ment of dogs, dog shows, and dog trials, this unquestionably should 

 be so. 



3. Dog shows should not be a mere market for the sale of puppies. 



I am of opinion classes for litters, and also for single puppies, at least 

 for those under nine months, should be abolished. The result, especially 

 in shows of long duration, is the spread of distemper and other con- 

 tagious diseases, and canine mortality is immensely raised after every 

 show buyers of pups soon lose them ; this injures shows, and hinders 

 the development of their chief object in a double sense. 



4. Catalogues should in every case prove the means of identifying the 

 exhibits. 



In this respect those issued by the Kennel Club are models to others ; 

 but scores are published with, in many cases, only the number of the 

 pen and the exhibitor' s name, and this often leads to the substituting of 

 one dog for another, and the crediting a stud dog with prizes he has 

 never won. 



The Kennel Club catalogues would be improved by the colour and 

 markings being given in classes where this is necessary. 



5. Shows should not extend over four days, three would be better, and, 

 if puppies are included, not more than one day. 



6. In shows where the dogs are confined more than two days more 

 ample provision for their regular exercise should be provided. 



7. The Kennel Club, or some other authority which should be of 

 national character, should adopt a standard of excellence in each breed. 



8. The judges appointed by such authority referred to in Clause 7 

 should be bound to judge by such standard. 



9. The dogs should be judged by points. 



By this means only can the judge's reasons for his decisions be seen 

 and understood, but as I shall go fully into this point further on, I pass 

 it for the present. 



