49 8 BRITISH DOGS 



the chief breeders. Near London Messrs. Simmonds and Duffitt, 

 of Lower Norwood, and Mr. Lambert, of Stratford, had repre- 

 sentative kennels. In fact, so popular did the Bedlington Terrier 

 become that he had enthusiastic admirers everywhere, although 

 naturally the variety has always been found in greatest abundance 

 in the northern districts. Bedlingtons have never been much kept 

 in the Midlands, South, or West of England, but some years since 

 they had some zealous supporters in South Wales, and the classes 

 for them at the Welsh shows have usually filled well, Mr. Fred 

 Roberts, of Cardiff, being a keen fancier of the variety. 



At present there seems to be a revival of interest in this variety 

 that has not been apparent for some years. It is not that the 

 dog has fallen into disfavour with the actual breeders and fanciers, 

 but either the classes or the judges have not been satisfactory, or 

 the question of what trimming is allowable has been an obstacle, 

 resulting in a marked decrease of entries at most of the shows. 



As one long and deeply interested, as breeder, exhibitor, and 

 judge, in the Dandie Dinmont, which is usually considered a blood- 

 relation of the Bedlington Terrier, the writer can from experience 

 state that while it does not do to show either of these varieties 

 without plenty of grooming, both are greatly overdone. Instances 

 of it are abundant, and although every fancier worthy of the name 

 loves to see any kind of dog turned out in good form, yet there 

 are several varieties that often suffer from the excessive zeal of 

 their owners or their attendants, and Bedlingtons are certainly 

 amongst them. It is a practice very commonly indulged in to 

 pluck the hair from the face and muzzle. Dogs thus trimmed 

 look cleaner and longer in the jaw ; this is so commonly done 

 that it has been accepted by judges as a matter of course, but 

 it is better to discountenance "faking," even in its mildest forms, 

 and a trimmed dog should be penalised. The tail and topknot 

 also often come in for a share of the " faker's " art. 



The writer has been much struck with the small entries of 

 Bedlingtons at such shows as the Kennel Club, Birmingham, and 

 Cruft's, where at one time they were features of the Terrier section, 

 and workmanlike-looking animals, shown for the most part in natural 

 condition, giving full play to that -rough-and-ready, gipsy-like style 

 so valued by their early admirers. Of late years the coat has 

 greatly suffered from the excessive toilet attentions of some of the 

 dog's admirers. This is rather a delicate subject, but, as a well- 

 wisher to the variety, the writer would like to see more of the old 

 enthusiasm revived, and more ardent fanciers come forward to help 

 a breed the exhibitors of which for some years past have been 

 very few in number. 



The best entry at a large show of late years, at any rate in 

 the Midlands or South, was at the Royal Agricultural Hall in 1901, 



