Dog Showing. 387 



dogs, like children, are at war with artificial smartness, or that at the last 

 moment, to ensure that the work of the past has not been spoiled, just 

 before showing, the dog should be looked over, brushed, combed, or wiped 

 over, as the case requires ; and, in fact, have the final polish put on. 



Faking. I do not know how this word came into kennel use ; its very 

 existence in connection with dogs shows it is a disgrace to us. 



I am disposed to think it was first applied to the cutting the cartilage 

 of fox terriers' ears, so as to give them the desired set or fold, and 

 Dr. Ogilvie's definition of the word is in that sense. The word now, 

 however, has in kennel circles a wider application, and Pierce Egan's 

 meaning of the word, as given in his slang dictionary, is, unfortunately, 

 the correct one, when the word is used in reference to the " tricks of 

 the ring," namely, to cheat or swindle. 



Unfortunately it has not yet been defined what is to be considered 

 "faking," and what legitimate preparation for exhibition. I cannot for 

 the life of me see why a fox terrier man may not make an incision in 

 his dog's ear, if a bull terrier man may cut three parts of his dog's ear 

 away, the object of both being to artificially improve the appearance. 

 Again, if shaving or trimming with scissors is permissible in one breed, 

 why should not the cutting out of a piece of white from the chest of a 

 black spaniel be so also P 



I am opposed to all such practices, and I cannot help thinking that 

 the Kennel Club, who have taken upon themselves the welfare and 

 guidance of canine matters in this country, should find it among their 

 most urgent duties to define faking ; and, as far as their power and 

 influence extends, put laws against these malpractices in force. That is 

 supposing the Kennel Club to be in earnest about anything more than 

 their own interests, which, however, their conduct of canine matters 

 often leads me to doubt. 



Bull terriers and others are clipped, trimmed, and shaved. I have 

 even seen the whiskers shaved off a fox terrier. Fox terriers, and some- 

 times other dogs, have an ear with an awkward conque let down with 

 the knife or the needle. 



Bedlington terriers have the rough hair on their faces, and sometimes 

 elsewhere, pulled out. Black and tans are done with lampblack and oil. 

 Yorkshire toys are not always innocent of plumbago ; even dogs for field 

 sports are subjected to such processes that their owners are ashamed to 



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