Improvement. 233 



believe that dog shows have, like other institutions, their 

 place and duty in this world, and their absence would be 

 lamented. Individuals are about who decry them ; some for 

 one reason, some for another. 



A few so-called humanitarians allege that distinct 

 cruelty is perpetrated upon that dog who, entered for an 

 exhibition, is compelled to recline amid luxurious straw, 

 and fastened by chain and collar for one, two, or three 

 days, as the case may be, to be gazed upon by a curious 

 portion of the British public. Others say that such 

 shows have caused the dog's appearance to be improved at 

 the expense of his utility. In some few cases the latter has 

 no doubt been the case, but this is not general. As to the 

 former complaint, were those who make it better acquainted 

 with their subject, they would know that before the era of 

 shows thousands of dogs were kept in the cellars of our 

 large towns, their duty being to kill rats at the instigation 

 of their owners, or to fight with each other when sufficient 

 money was forthcoming to provide a " stake " for the 

 purpose. The fox terrier has attained a higher position 

 than this, and is now kept in good health by fresh air and 

 exercise, in order that his jacket remains clean and fresh, 

 and so give its owner a chance of taking honours at the 

 neighbouring shows. Such exhibitions have undoubtedly 

 increased the value of the dog, and accordingly he is now 

 better treated than at any previous part of his history. 



I have heard it stated that dog shows do not improve 

 the tempers and dispositions of our terriers. That may 

 be the case or not (most likely not), for I have not yet 

 come across a fox terrier with a kindly, pleasant disposi- 

 tion, whose finest traits had become mythical after com- 

 petition in the show ring. As a rule, a terrier takes very 



