66 THE OLD ENGLISH SHEEP DOG 



towards the improvement of a breed by weeding out 

 its weaklings. 



Moreover, apart from the question of money, there is 

 implanted in most human breasts a spirit of healthy 

 rivalry. The sportsman enjoys a keen competition with 

 the best which another sportsman can produce. And this 

 spirit of rivalry reacts directly upon the welfare of the 

 breed. 



If a dog is to win and to maintain high honours in the 

 show ring, and if he is to transmit his own good points to 

 his descendants, he must necessarily be kept under 

 specially favourable conditions. He must be judiciously 

 fed and exercised, properly looked after, protected against 

 disease, and carefully mated. In the case of exhibi- 

 tion dogs these essentials are necessarily studied, and 

 mesalliances are watchfully guarded against. 



Consequently the incentive to achieve the ever elusive 

 ideal must always be a potent factor in the attempt to 

 produce healthy dogs of the correct type. And the show 

 ring is the only ground on which, for purposes of com- 

 parison, their merits may be tested. 



Thanks to the excellent work accomplished by the 

 Kennel Club, the conditions under which our modern dog 

 shows are held are, on the whole, extremely satisfactory. 

 Moreover, they are steadily improving. 



It is always easy for the irresponsible outsider to cavil 

 at details and to clamour for reforms, while the authorities 

 at headquarters advance step by step towards the goal 



