CHAPTER XIX. 

 EARLY DOG SHOWS. 



I pass the wars that spotted lynxes make, 

 With their fierce rivals for the female's sake ; 

 The howling wolves ; the mastiff's am'rous rage, 



Dry den. Georgics, Lib. in. 



WK have now arrived at the days of early Dog Shows, the 

 first, having taken place in June, 1859, and with them we may 

 trace the commencement of photographing noted specimens. 

 It is needless to say photographs from life are of far more 

 value to the breeder than drawings, however good and 

 truthful the artist, for to say the least, there are few who do 

 not insert a mannerism of their own ; at the same time I 

 disdain the worked up fancy portraits, which are some- 

 times dishonestly used by owners of noted dogs for obvious 

 purposes. Such portraits are often simply a public swindle, 

 the worst points being too often toned down, and fancied 

 beauties and perfections inserted, not because they exist in 

 the specimen, but because it may get a few pounds out of 

 the pockets of the unwary public, and put money into that of 

 the unworthy owner of the dog ; and such a debasement of 

 art is truly monstrous. 



In 1861 Mr. Lukey took First Prize at Leeds with his 

 Countess; Mr. Lukey had some photos of her, taken from 

 life. Lieut. Col. J. P.. Gamier, R.E., made a very character- 

 istic drawing of her, although (judging from the photo from 

 life, of which I have a cop} 7 ) hardly massive enough, and too 

 licfht in bone. 



