434 British Dogs. 



illustrious predecessors Walshaw's Sandy, Kamsden's Bounce, and 

 Inman's Don ; and most of the celebrities of the day boast of Ben blood, 

 and there is never any lack of good ones to come to the front when there 

 is a chance to jostle the holders of show honours from their coveted 

 position. It must never be forgotten, however, that those we see at 

 shows are the crSme de la crgme, shown at their very best, and in parade 

 uniform ; and it is not all that are pure bred that turn out fit for show. 

 Much depends on their preparation, but there are pure specimens that 

 cannot be prepared, and always look scrubby and ragged. 



Although they are essentially toys, they are not wanting in pluck, and 

 some of the breed have been good rat killers. A noted breeder has told 

 me one of his celebrated show specimens once won fourth prize in a 

 considerable sweepstakes, although quite without training or preparation, 

 and many of them are perfect little spitfires, sharp as needles, and make 

 excellent house dogs from their alertness. 



Artificial means are used to encourage and stimulate the growth of the 

 hair. The hind feet are kept encased in chamois leather boots, so that, 

 even should they scratch, the claws being covered, the coat is neither 

 brokea nor pulled out, and the diet is carefully regulated so as to 

 obviate heat of the blood and skin disease. Various applications to 

 the skin are used to stimulate the growth of the hair, concerning which 

 much mystery is affected. Some years ago I recommended to a breeder 

 in Hanley a preparation for this purpose, and as he has recently written 

 to The Bazaar newspaper recommending it to others as having proved 

 successful in his own hands, it may be of use to repeat it here. It is 

 a liniment consisting of the following ingredients, and mixed artem 

 secundem, as any chemist and druggist knows how : Strong mercurial 

 ointment loz., spirit of hartshorn loz., tincture of cantharides ioz., essen- 

 tial oil of nutmeg |oz., and camphorated oil, 17oz. A little of this 

 should be well rubbed into the skin at the partings ; the whole of the 

 body should not be dressed at once, but the liniment should be used 

 daily on portions of the body alternately for instance, one side one 

 night, the other side the following, and the head, neck, and breast the 

 third. Cocoa nut oil, too, is a capital thing for promoting the growth of 

 and softening the coat, and when at home and in preparation for shows 

 the coat may with advantage be freely dressed with it. It may be 

 necessary to say, in respect to the use of the liniment recipe, for which is 



