1 96 British Dogs. 



he was and still is when " unimproved " by the descriptive eloquence of 

 the advertising- and ignorant dealer, and " undescribed " by the ready 

 pen but too often superficially informed dog show reporter. 



I do not say that these classes, even with the influence of the incom- 

 petent judge thrown in, have destroyed the colley, but they have done 

 their utmost, and succeeded so far that the dust they have kicked up has 

 got into the eyes of the public, and with the public, in consequence, a 

 usurper rules where the true colley should reign. 



It is, perhaps, not my province to award the proportions of blame 

 among the three classes of delinquents referred to, but I decidedly think 

 the reporters are most deserving of censure. The constant iteration 

 of what are evidently considered smart and clever sayings, regardless 

 of their relevancy or truth ; the flippant delivery of the ipse dixit 

 in fact, the constant chatter and gabble, as of spring geese, which 

 is often met with in the pages of fanciers' papers, are sickening to a 

 degree, and as damaging as such twaddle can be to true canine interests. 

 They convince me that the present system of dog show reporting is as 

 vicious as it is nauseous, and that there is no class, except, perhaps, the 

 judges, which the world could so well spare as the common run of dog- 

 show reporters. 



I need scarcely say I do not write indiscriminately of all judges and 

 all reporters. I have often seen the work of both, which proved con- 

 clusively that the performers not only knew their business but took 

 pains to do it well. These, however, are still comparatively few, and are 

 the mere salt and pepper which prevent the general body from becoming 

 fly-blown. 



Some years ago, when the "Field " was the only paper reporting 

 dog shows, constant descriptions of colleys, with beautiful jet black 

 coats and rich orange tan markings were given ; and in advertisements 

 and elsewhere we still occasionally hear the reverberation of the silly 

 sing-song. What stronger incentive could there be to dealers to offer 

 half-bred Gordon setters as pure colleys, when the leading journal was 

 teaching the public such a false lesson, and thereby creating a demand 

 for the graceful mongrels with thin coats, " soft as a lady's hand," 

 feathered legs, draggle-tails, saddle-flap ears, and a rich mahogany 

 coloured kissing spot on each cheek, that have been so plentiful ever 

 since. Nice articles these toys would be " to bide the pelting of the 



