FOREIGN Doc Snows. 469 



which are usually added as special attractions, and which are judged by English judges, the 

 decisions are entrusted to a jury of arbitrators, who appear to decide upon the merits of the 

 respective dogs by a method peculiarly their own. For instance, at the great Hanover dog 

 show of 1879, to which reference has been already made, the jury, consisting of a number of 

 gentlemen, were in the habit of retiring into a small pavilion after they had seen the class, 

 and of talking the matter over without the dogs before them. The precise object that could 

 be gained by this we confess we cannot see, as in close competition it must be nearly 

 impossible to sum up the merits of a number of dogs ; and no further opportunities were offered 

 of seeing the competitors together. With this exception in the mode of judging, the English 

 method of conducting shows has been pretty closely followed, and several other foreign 

 exhibitions have subsequently been judged in the English style, and with, we think, happier 

 results. 



With the growth of foreign shows a better knowledge of foreign dogs must certainly be 

 gained, as upon the occasion of every one, some good dog or other is certain to be brought 

 back by at least one English visitor to the exhibition. An immediate effect of this is to 

 increase the number of entries in the " Foreign Classes " at our shows, until one breed after 

 another gets strong enough to have a class provided for itself alone. As matters now stand, 

 there may be seen at leading shows, all huddled together in one class, Esquimaux dogs, 

 Swedish Beagles, Chinese dogs of various breeds, Japanese Pugs, Persian Greyhounds, Dingoes, 

 Thibet Mastiffs, Siberian Wolfhounds, and, up to very recently, Boarhounds or German Mastiffs, 

 and French Basset Hounds. Other foreign breeds have also been shown, but not so frequently 

 as the above ; and, in fact, the German Schweiss Hund and many varieties of French hounds 

 are quite unknown to the majority of English dog-lovers, whilst to the mere frequenters of our 

 shows their very names are unfamiliar. It will therefore be clearly seen that there is a great 

 opening in the foreign classes for lovers of the dog who are possessed of enterprising tempera- 

 ments, and who are gifted with a sufficient amount of shrewdness to enable them to resist 

 the importunities of every foreign dealer who has a dog to sell a stranger, for which he 

 knows there is no hopes of finding a customer in his native land. Purchasers, moreover, 

 should be careful in importing specimens into this country, to satisfy themselves, if possible, 

 that the animals selected are capable of producing offspring if it is desired to form a kennel. 

 We know of several gentlemen who have been wofully disappointed in animals which they have 

 brought from far-off countries at great trouble and expense. It may be stated that instances 

 are believed to have occurred where animals, destined for the English market by their owners, 

 have been previously subjected to operations with the object of preventing them from 

 reproducing their species ; and this has doubtless been done in the hope that future deals 

 may be transacted between the parties, as detection is in certain instances very difficult. 



