200 The Fox Terrier, 



contest lay between the two English puppies, the American 

 youngster, although typical in head, being flat-sided, weak 

 in jaw, and very plain in hind, quarters, and, after a very 

 short scrutiny, Mr. Pitt-Pitts declared in favour of Dusky 

 Cackler; the Duchess of Newcastle's nomination, the best 

 known of the trio, being the runner up. Mr. Redmond 

 was then called upon to pass an opinion on the next lot, 

 these being Messrs. Mason and Wood's Gomersal Star, Mr. 

 G. Raper's Raby Holdfast, and Mr. Carnochan's Just in 

 Time, a puppy not eligible to compete, as previously stated. 

 Gomersal Star, a well grown dog, excellent in front, 

 possessed of good legs and feet, but inclined to be stilty, 

 was declared the winner from Raby Holdfast. As a some- 

 what remarkable match, and one likely to remain unique, I 

 think it of sufficient interest to note here. 



The question of trimming, or preparing for show, the coats 

 of wire-haired terriers has always been a sore point, and 

 few of the variety are now taken into the ring without 

 having some of their coat pulled out or attended to in some 

 other way. It may be at the shoulders, to prevent an 

 appearance of width in front, or on the face or ears ; but 

 a careful observer and one skilled in the art of dog trimming 

 can easily detect where the operator has been at work. 

 The following is what Mr. George Raper, one of the most 

 skilful judges and at present one of the largest breeders of 

 wire-haired fox terriers, has to say on the subject of 

 preparing them for the show bench : 



" So far as regards " washing " versus cleaning by the aid 

 of such substances as whiting, magnesia, or dried flour, 

 the latter may be required in the case of a young dog, but 

 I always " wash " my dogs the day prior to the show. I 

 see they are thoroughly dried and hand-rubbed, so that the 

 coat regains its usual lustre. 



