EXHIBITING BULL-TERRIERS. 103 



any extent for breeding purposes would be that very soon countless good-looking marked dogs 

 would be shown all over the country. These being used for stud purposes would, from their 

 markings most likely beget a still larger proportion of marked stock, and contaminate the 

 breed we have now brought to something like the desired perfection. In short, before a 

 breed of brindled or coloured Bull-terriers can be fairly established, several years will have 

 to be devoted by their admirers to them, in order that they may stand on an equal 

 footing with their white brethren as regards uniformity of shape and reliability in breeding. 

 Young Victor, late the property of Mr. Godfree, proves the truth of this theory ; though 

 disfigured by a patch on his eye, no dog could have been more successful on the bench, and few 

 had better opportunities of distinguishing themselves at the stud. That he could beget good stock 

 is indisputable; but the result of his triumphs was the introduction of a class for Bull-terriers " other 

 than white " at a Crystal Palace show, and the subsequent appearance at other exhibitions of a 

 number of thick, heavy-headed wretches, whose introduction into a good strain of the breed 

 would jeopardise its prospects for many a day. 



No breed of dog owes more to condition on the show-bench than does the Bull- 

 terrier. A dog of this variety exhibited in bad order has little chance of beating an 

 inferior specimen, even under a first-class judge ; and where the awards are in the hands 

 of inexperienced judges, his chances of success would be absolutely nil. The fact of the 

 intensely brilliant white so often seen in the coats of dogs at the different shows being 

 frequently the result of art, in the application of powdered chalk, is indisputable. How- 

 ever, detection and subsequent disqualification often follow in the wake of such practices, 

 and should do so, especially as unless the dog is suffering from some irritation of the 

 skin a resort to powder is quite unnecessary. In cases where the skin is inflamed by 

 heat of the blood, the application of powdered chalk may be excusable ; but adopters of this 

 method of concealment should be particularly careful to brush it thoroughly out of the coat 

 before the dog is led into the judging-ring, or they may find their specimen disqualified. 

 Personally, we cannot too strongly advocate the showing of dogs honestly and fairly. Prizes 

 won by means of foul play must, in the long run, cause more feelings of remorse in the 

 mind of the exhibitor than they do those of triumph in the moment of victory ; and we 

 have proved by personal experience that a dog in good condition, and properly washed, can 

 win unfaked if he is good enough. Our own system of washing show Bull-terriers is very simple, 

 though it takes time. The dog is placed standing up in a large shallow tub half filled with 

 warm water, and is in the first instance thoroughly wetted by the water being poured over him 

 with a bowl or saucer. Next comes the application of the soap the sort we invariably use is the 

 common blue and white (not yellow) mottled and the part first operated on is the head. 

 When this is thoroughly soaped and rinsed, the body and legs are treated in like manner, and 

 finally the first stage of his ablutions is completed with the aid of several clean towels. The 

 second part of the operation consists in rubbing him perfectly dry with bare hands, by 

 smoothing the hair down over and over again, in the right direction, until there is no more 

 moisture left on it. The dog is then put on a clean straw bed, and if looked after to see 

 that he does not get out of his kennel will in the course of a couple of hours be as white 

 as snow, and his jacket will shine like silver. The greatest care must be taken in putting on 

 the collar after the washing is completed, as collars often get soiled inside, and if so, will 

 inevitably blacken the dog's neck. 



Preparatory to the above, however, it is always most desirable to remove the superfluous 

 hairs from a dog's ears and muzzle before he is shown, as this operation tends to smarten him 



