24 A MANUAL OF TOY DOGS 



to the front by legitimate methods which are unknown 

 to the novice, and which she can learn from the initiated. 

 As to the " cruelty " of showing, which Ouida so strongly 

 deprecates, a word may be said. It is certainly not kind 

 to send a little petted toy, accustomed to regular ways 

 and the constant society of its owners to a show " on 

 its own," unattended, and with no care but such as the 

 show officials may feel disposed to bestow upon it 

 often of a perfunctory character. On the other hand, 

 if its owner takes it to the show, establishes it in its pen, 

 visits it from time to time, feeds it, and takes it out of 

 the show at evening time to spend the night with her, 

 as can always be arranged, I fail to see the slightest 

 cruelty in the matter in fact, many dogs enjoy being 

 exhibited, and it is quite the exception to see a melan- 

 choly face in the rows of pens devoted to the well-cared- 

 for toy section. 



The first thing to be thought of where exhibiting is 

 contemplated is getting the dog, or dogs, up to their 

 very best form. A toy which is properly looked after at 

 home ought to be always, more or less, in show con- 

 dition, that is, as far as Nature's arrangements for the 

 shedding of coat, etc., permit ; but a little extra care for 

 a few weeks before a show is desirable. Short- coated 

 dogs, which, par parenthese, should never be washed at 

 all if it can be helped, must certainly not be washed 

 for at least a fortnight beforehand, but the least pos- 

 sible trace of vaseline or cocoa-nut oil may be applied 

 to their jackets and polished off with a clean handker- 

 chief ; while brushing and hand-rubbing the right way 

 of the hair get up a beautiful gloss and sheen upon 

 their coat, and a little milk to drink daily helps this 

 effect. Eyes should be washed, and if noses are, as 

 some, unfortunately, are too prone to be, dry, a little 

 vaseline well rubbed in with the finger twice a day 

 will remedy the defect. 



Long-coated dogs, of course, need much more 

 attention. They must have extra combing and brush- 

 ing, and, if dirty or flat in coat, but not otherwise, 



