156 kMTlStt DOGS 



individual Collies that are savage as there are individuals in every 

 breed cannot be denied. To condemn a variety, however, simply 

 because of the failings of a very few is manifestly unfair, 

 unreasonable, and misleading. 



The general character of the Collie is the reverse of treacherous, 

 although he is not so ready to bestow his confidence in a " love-at- 

 first-sight" way, as some breeds that are accustomed to fawn and 

 to be fondled are. His affections, once placed, are strong and 

 his memory is tenacious; and these qualities, combined with his 

 unusually high intelligence, make him one of the most interesting 

 and pleasant of companions. Out of doors he is active and merry, 

 not to say boisterous, and if this last is not kept within reasonable 

 limits it may develop into a serious fault. When, however, this 

 does occur, it is the fault rather of the owner than of the dog. 

 As a watch-dog he is vigilant and trustworthy, more especially if 

 those higher qualities are developed by judicious training. 



Another very prevalent but equally erroneous, if somewhat 

 ingenious, theory at one time advanced was that the Collie owed 

 some of its beautiful appearance to a cross with the Gordon Setter. 

 There is, however, nothing very tangible in what has been adduced 

 in respect of such a cross. It must be confessed to border so 

 closely on the imaginary as not to be worth consideration, and may 

 be dismissed accordingly. 



Classes for Collies have been provided at the shows for more 

 than thirty years; but it was not until June, 1885, that the breed 

 had obtained a sufficient hold upon the public to warrant a 

 specialist show. In that year a fairly successful show of Collies was 

 organised by the Collie Club, the judges on that occasion being 

 Mr. A. N. Radcliffe, Mr. W. W. Thomson, and Mr. J. Pirie. This 

 was followed by a second show under similar auspices in October of 

 the following year, when Mr. W. P. Arkwright was the judge-elect. 

 From that time onward other shows have been held, and the breed 

 has gradually progressed. At one time the show dogs were almost 

 entirely in the hands of gentlemen ; but of late years lady Collie 

 fanciers have become a power in the Kennel World, and have to be 

 reckoned with wherever classes for Collies obtain. It would not 

 serve any good purpose to enumerate all the breeders that have 

 contributed to the greatness of the present-day Collie, as these may 

 be learned from such public records as the Kennel Club Stud Book 

 and the Collie Stud Book. There are, however, a few breeders 

 whose names stand out so conspicuously that it would hardly be 

 just to leave them unmentioned Queen Alexandra (when Princess 

 of Wales), the Rev. Hans Hamilton, Mr. S. E. Shirley, the late 

 Mr. H. Panmure Gordon, Mr. W. P. Arkwright, the Messrs. Stretch, 

 the Messrs. Charles, Mr. Robert Chapman, Mr. A. H. Megson, Mr. 

 C. H. Wheeler, Mr. Robert Tait, Mr. Hugo Ainscough, Mr. Barlow, 



