4 Dog Shows and Doggy People 



show came off, he would substitute another of his own (or 

 somebody else's] instead ! 



The Kennel Club put an end to all these anomalies, or, at any 

 rate, made them difficult and dangerous, and we do not see so many 

 of the dyed chests, feet, etc., as used to be prevalent ; in fact, the 

 doggy atmosphere is much clearer and purer, and while, at that 

 time, a person known to have a personal, " peculiar, and particular " 

 (like Mr. Weller's knowledge of London was said to be) knowledge 

 of dogs was straightway looked upon as rather a shady customer, 

 to whom it was desirable to give a wide berth, and classed amongst 

 what our friends in the North call " Pigeon-fleers " ; now, the highest 

 in the land, from Their Majesties the King and his charming and 

 universally popular Consort, I think would not be ashamed to be 

 called Doggy People, and as for the nobility, I could not mention 

 even the names of all the distinguished people, including Her late 

 Majesty Queen Victoria, other members of the Royal Family, British 

 and foreign Princesses, Duchesses, Countesses, etc., whose dogs I 

 have had the pleasure of judging or seeing at some of the shows. 



Happily for the peace of mind of the more susceptible of the 

 judges, they do not always know at the time the honour conferred 

 upon them, as the judging books describe each animal as if it was a 

 convict, or a visitor at one of the large hotels, by a number only, so 

 that, when I have been told afterwards some distinguished personage 

 wished to be introduced to the judge to talk over the charms, or 

 otherwise, of the exhibits, I always, mentally, hope it (or they) is (or 

 are) something like respectable specimens ; for though people very often 

 say, " Now, I want your candid opinion about my dog," etc.,, they 

 do not always mean it, but, in such cases, they always get it from me, 

 though it is by no means pleasant for a " mere man " to have to tell 

 a very grand dame that her dog, whose value in her eyes is probably 

 u beyond rubies," is not really worth his collar and chain, and that 

 the common-looking fellow in the corduroy suit and fur cap who 

 showed in the same class has two or three specimens of the breed 

 which could be shown against the world. But "such is life," as the 

 old lady is reported to have said when she assisted at the funeral of 

 her deceased poodle, and we must take it as we find it, and make 

 the best of it ! 



Many of my readers will doubtless have observed that the 

 immense increase in the shows of late years has not only developed 

 new trades for the production of kennel requisites, such as 

 houses, railings, benches, flooring, bedding, etc., in connection with 



