Washing for Show. 229 



fastened therein), is smart and lively, free from disease, 

 and a good wash the day before he has to appear on 

 exhibition should be all that he requires. A tub in which 

 he can stand up to his belly, lukewarm water, some good 

 soap, willing hands, and in ten minutes he is ready to be 

 well dried, and when taken out of the tub let the terrier 

 give himself a hearty shake. A little powder blue in the 

 water produces a good blue-white, which is better than the 

 yellower hue ; and about an hour after drying the animal, 

 hand-rub him well, and, if his coat is in good form, the end 

 of each hair will sparkle and shine, and add quite an extra 

 point to a chance of winning first prize. In commencing 

 to wash the dog, do so, in the first instance, at his hind 

 quarters, and do not touch the head and face until the very 

 last. The reason for this is obvious in the fact that no 

 dog likes his head and eyes and ears being soused in 

 water, be it hot or cold, or even intermediary between the 

 two. 



Apropos of " powder blue." Some years ago I had a 

 white fox terrier entered for a local show, and, being 

 engaged until late in the evening preceding the exhibition, 

 was unable to get home to superintend the washing. How- 

 ever, when I did arrive, there was Gripper lying upon the 

 arm-chair seemingly as white as snow, clean and sweet as 

 willing hands could make him. My housekeeper, being 

 fond of the dog, had " tubbed " him herself. Next morning, 

 at seven o'clock, he had a run out, when, to my amazement, 

 a blue shade appeared through the jacket, and, turning 

 back the hairs, there was the skin of the little terrier as 

 blue almost as though it had been painted ! Of course, an 

 overdose of the powder had been used, and I need scarcely 

 say Gripper did not appear in the show ring that day. 



