PREPARING FOR EXHIBITION 25 



should receive a tub about forty-eight hours before ap- 

 pearing in the ring. For this, use soft, warm water, 

 with, in the case of Poms, whose jackets ought to stand 

 out well, a teaspoonful of powdered borax and a quarter 

 of an ounce of dissolved gelatine to each two quarts of 

 water. The soap used should be carefully chosen, and 

 of the best Vinolia or E. Cook & Son's Toilet Soap for 

 choice ; common soaps are most unsuitable. Many 

 people also use and much like this firm's Improved Dog 

 Soap. These stiff, stand-out coats are encouraged by 

 habitually brushing the wrong way of the hair, and this 

 is advisable, too, for the manes of Schipperkes. Flat- 

 coated dogs, like Yorkshires and toy spaniels, often 

 spend their lives, the former especially, in the intervals 

 of shows, like summer fire-irons, " in grease " that is, 

 their coats saturated with oil. To such an extent as 

 this, the preparation may be left to the professional 

 exhibitor (with whom, it is as well to remark, few in- 

 experienced amateurs have much chance, as far as the 

 Yorkshire terrier is concerned) ; but a little cocoa-nut 

 oil, with the merest trace of cantharides, well rubbed into 

 the roots of the hair for some weeks beforehand, encour- 

 ages the coat to look its best. Great care is needful 

 in washing white dogs, and only the best of soap should 

 be used ; also soft water, with a little borax in it, and a 

 squeeze of a blue-bag in the rinsing-water, to prevent 

 the hair from showing a yellow tinge. Yorkshire 

 terriers must not be rubbed up and about anyhow 

 in their bath ; neither must Maltese nor toy spaniels ; 

 the hair so carefully kept parted down the middle of 

 the back in the two former breeds must be sponged 

 downwards from the parting, while hot towels and 

 warmed, soft brushes should be used for drying, in 

 such a way as to preserve the habit of growth, which 

 is such a point in these dogs. Rubbing " all over " 

 also encourages curliness a fatal fault in the breeds 

 mentioned and this is an additional reason for care. 

 In washing dogs great pains should be taken to dry 

 the insides of the ears thoroughly, and the bath, which 



