146 The Collie or Sheep Dog. 



judge and his dog. This may be vanity it always look 

 foolish, and the spectators remark thereon. 



In other varieties of cam's familiaris, one hears a great 

 deal as to trimming and " faking," the latter a slang 

 expression for improving a dog by unnatural means, such 

 as dyeing him to change his colour, pulling out his coat to 

 alter his appearance, cutting his ears to make them hang 

 properly, or operating upon his tail for a similar purpose. 

 Happily for the good name of this most faithful collie dog, 

 he requires very little tampering with or manipulating for 

 the show. His ears at the roots may be trimmed by the 

 removal of hair to a certain degree, and his frill can per- 

 chance be improved and increased by grooming, and no 

 exception need be taken to such ordinary and innocent 

 means as these. But cases have been where the tail of 

 the collie has been cut underneath, in order that it might 

 hang down brush-like, and not be carried curled into the 

 hair of the back, as is customary with the Esquimaux dog 

 and the Pomeranian. Of course such a proceeding as this 

 Is thoroughly illegal, especially as so many of our collies 

 have had a great liking to so gaily carry their brushes. 

 A much simpler remedy is to take a stick into the ring 

 when you show a dog with such a defect, and as he erects 

 his stern give him a reminder on the back that he is to put 

 his tail between his legs. However, take care that this is 

 done when the judge is not looking, for if he be a just 

 judge he will at once order you to put your stick down ; if 

 a severe one you are politely requested to leave the ring. 

 Possibly it is best in the long run to let your collie carry 

 his profusely feathered brush in the manner most comfortable 

 to himself and most conformable with his own dignity. 



A great deal might be written of judges and judging, and 



