The Black and Tan Terrier. 77 



to the disqualification of the dog and its owner. 

 Without going so far as to say that no black and 

 tan terrier was ever exhibited successfully when in 

 its natural condition, I certainly do not exaggerate 

 when I say such is seldom the case ; but the " art 

 and mysteries of faking " are not followed to the 

 same extent as once was the case, although this 

 sort of thing is still carried on and even allowed 

 by the Kennel Club. There might be white 

 hairs to pluck out or to darken, on the chest 

 or elsewhere ; the stern was to be trimmed ; 

 the hind quarters, which were often far too brown, 

 had either to be plucked or again darkened ; the 

 tan, if rather pale or " cloudy," could be brightened 

 up even to the extent of dyeing or staining, and 

 the " pencilling " and " thumb marks," without 

 which no dog was supposed to have much chance 

 of winning, could, if absent, be produced. I was 

 told years ago, that one of the most successful 

 black and tan bitches that ever lived, and was 

 thought to be quite invincible, was indebted to art, 

 and to art only, for her thumb marks ! That this 

 was probably no exaggeration the following will 

 perhaps prove. 



I was judging a pretty strong lot of black and 

 tan terriers at a west country show some few years 

 ago. Amongst them was a beautiful bitch which 



