TO AND FROM THE SHOW. 179 



To send a dog unattended to a show and intrust him 

 wholly to the caretakers provided by the management is 

 generally safe if he is of fairly large variety. Still, when 

 possible some one should be employed to receive him, 

 look after him and his interests while on the bench and 

 finally see him safely on his way home. 



But while to journey alone might not be hazardous for 

 most varieties, toy dogs, and especially Yorkshires, are 

 distinct exceptions. The latter if good-coated specimens 

 could not safely be sent on long journeys unless in the 

 care of an attendant, and to leave them to the tender 

 mercies of show-keepers would be equivalent to interrupt- 

 ing their show career for a long time. 



Toy dogs require proper boxes, not crates, and if sent 

 even a short distance unattended they should be met on 

 arrival by some friend who is up in the art of handling 

 the breed and who will bestow the necessary attentions, 

 etc. ; whereas if the shows are a long way off, keep them 

 at home unless some one can accompany them, for the 

 risk would be much too great, and especially for the long- 

 coated. 



It ought not to be a difficult nor expensive matter to pro- 

 vide a special caretaker for other than a toy, for in the 

 absence of a friendly exhibitor almost any one of the large 

 number of so-called professional handlers, to be found at 

 all important shows, and whose addresses are well known 

 to managements, would for a few dollars take charge of a 

 dog and give him good care. And at least one of the 

 duties which he would assum.e he could perform more 

 acceptably than the inexperienced owner himself, namely, 

 that of preparing the dog for the ring and handling him 

 while in it. Being up in all the, secrets of the toilet he 

 would have him at his best by the time his class was called, 

 and when before the judge he would see to it that at least 



