Trimming Terriers. 231 



having allowed a certain degree of latitude with some 

 varieties, the difficulty of dealing with the abuse is con- 

 siderably increased. Some competent person ought to 

 be appointed whose duty it would be to make examina- 

 tions and to lay objections, and not leave the latter, as 

 is the case now, to the judge or to interested parties. 



An attempt to attain neatness and prettiness in the show- 

 dog is sometimes made by cutting the whiskers of bull 

 terriers, black and tan terriers, and white English terriers, 

 which is always allowed. By so doing, a perky and smart 

 appearance is given to the dog, and so it became the 

 fashion to do the same with fox terriers. Happily, so far 

 as regards the breed of which I write, the custom has now 

 almost lapsed, though occasionally one does come across 

 a smooth fox terrier robbed of these useful appendages 

 with which Nature had provided him. 



But to return to the washing of terriers. A continual 

 course of tubbing softens the coat of both varieties, and to 

 remedy this in the one, various means are resorted to, as 

 also for making a naturally soft coat feel harder and crisper 

 than it really is. Here, again, " faking " crops in, but how 

 to " fake" is not a gospel I intend to preach, and I mention 

 it as one of the weaknesses in the system of modern canine 

 exhibitions. And, after all, the best preparation for the 

 show is to wash the dog the day before he is to be 

 exhibited, and carefully and thoroughly dry him. 



That dog shows have done a great deal towards the 

 popularisation of the fox terrier there is little doubt, and, 

 when in a meditative mood, one is inclined to wonder why 

 English sportsmen were so long in discovering him. 

 Indeed, since the first dog show which took place at 

 Newcastle-upon-Tyne in June, 1859, exhibitions have 



