I70 KENNEL SECRETS. 



the coat of a fine-haired dog in prime condition ; and if 

 he is to enter good company his owner would do well to 

 have all these operations repeated again toward evening. 

 And were they kept up day after day for several weeks, 

 and proper diet and sufficient exercise given in the mean 

 time, did the decision rest solely on condition of coat, the 

 dog to which this treatment had been faithfully adminis- 

 tered would be a sure winner over all others that had been 

 denied it. 



Doubtless some who contemplate showing will say that 

 it would be utterly impossible for them to observe these 

 directions and devote so much time to their dogs. But 

 the writer cannot follow them, for there is no compromise 

 treatment. They can be assured that under righteous 

 judges a dog of average merit with a coat in poor condi- 

 tion will always be beaten by a poorer dog whose coat is in 

 grand condition. Also, that in order that a dog whose coat 

 according to the standard should be glossy may appear at 

 his best, with all his chances of winning, he must be 

 brushed and rubbed with the gloves and bare hands ; and 

 if his hair is fine and enough of this is done, when he 

 enters the ring it should have the gloss of satin or highly 

 polished ivory. 



The hand rubbing — of which there cannot be too much 

 during the last three weeks — should be kept up until 

 the last washing before the show ; and after that clean 

 chamois leather or a towel should be used, for one cannot 

 keep his hands perfectly clean at a show, and soiled hands 

 would be sure to soil the coat. 



With all dogs whose muscles should stand out like 

 those of an athlete, or in other words all which ought 

 to have "bossy" muscle, — as bull-dogs, bull terriers 

 and greyhounds, — in rubbing with the hands the thighs 

 should be rubbed both ways, and at the same time the 



