56 The Dog Book 



Only the very slightest quantity is advisable, and one should rub the hands 

 together well, so that there is merely the feeling of oil. Then touch the 

 coat lii^htly all over and gradually rub it in more completely in the same man- 

 ner as the coat was dried by the hands. The English Kennel Club holds 

 that this application of oil is faking, but that club has a habit of straining 

 at gnats and swallowing camels. Polishing the coat to give it its natural 

 appearance is a vastly different thing from using dyes or colouring materials 

 to give the dog an appearance it has not naturally, or from the outrageous 

 trimming which the very legislators themselves pass over when they are acting 

 as judges. One of them even went the length of recently stating over his 

 signature that the trimming of the dogs he had judged was shameful, but 

 that it should not be left to the judge to take any action. If he is not the 

 very man above all others whose duty it is to examine the dogs and pass 

 upon them, then who is f 



If possible, have your dogs arrive at the show before the opening day, 

 if they have more than a short trip. Even with an eight-hours' journey a 

 morning start is to be preferred, and a good night's rest is needed before the 

 morning of the judging. It makes a wonderful amount of difference in the 

 snap and life of the dog, if he is journey-wearied when in the ring. Early 

 arrivals also get best places for their boxes, and can generally find a quiet 

 corner where they can be got at easily and their dogs are comfortably sleep- 

 ing in their boxes the night before the judging. After that it depends upon 

 the individual dog, for some are just as much at home and sleep as well on 

 the bench as in their boxes, and that kind need not be worried about so 

 much the night before the judging. 



By the time you have arrived at the show you ought to know your dog 

 very well — how he feeds and how he looks best. A dog a bit long in the 

 back or legs must not be shown unless he has a feed inside him sufficient to 

 counteract that defect as much as possible. Such dogs are apt to be delicate 

 feeders, and if fed a hearty meal too soon, there will be no coaxing them to 

 eat and fill out at the right time. It is better in such a case to give little or 

 nothing till the right moment. By that time bread and milk will likely be 

 acceptable and is a good filler out, for the dog will usually eat it freely. For 

 that reason the refrigerator milk is rather too cold and had better be poured 

 out of the bottle and allowed to stand in the pan to get the chill off, or other- 

 wise warmed. If more food is needed than the dog will take of the bread and 

 milk, have a little chopped meat and mix in the dish, gradually increasing 



