268 Dog Shows and Doggy People 



under the doors, were pulled, and a few two-footed and four-footed 

 enemies entered and put the vermin to the rout. We always got " the 

 tip" when one of these battles was coming off, and it was quite 

 surprising the number of rats that were thus got rid of close on 

 a hundred of a night. Our dogs, from having been there so often, 

 were well acquainted with the likeliest "points" for a rat to be 

 found, and both "as keen as hawks" and jealous of each other 

 " as parrots " ; but I remember a Mackenzie River Dog, one of a 

 rather interesting collection of dogs of various countries at the 

 Gardens, and something like a small Rough-coated Collie out of coat, 

 and with upright, bat-shaped, pricked, large ears, and a bushy tail 

 carried in a curve and ending in a ring, was very smart at the rat 

 killing. He was by no means an amiable animal, either with people 

 or dogs ; but on these occasions he was so keen to be one of the 

 " storming party " that he was on his best behaviour, and would take 

 no notice of anybody or anything, for fear it should cause his 

 being ignominiously turned out ! 



I think in justice to the memory of the before-mentioned 

 charming little friend Tip, who has long passed away, but whose 

 life-like portrait, flanked by that of Lassie, his pal and comrade in 

 many a lark, hangs near me while I write, I should say that of his 

 many talents two were pre-eminent inordinate love of the water and 

 the possession of any kind of ball. If he was out with any one, 

 and came within reasonable distance of water, he would, without 

 any inducement being offered, plunge in and swim about on the 

 off-chance of something being thrown for him to fetch, which would 

 greatly delight him, however far it was from him, and he invariably 

 succeeded in bringing it out in triumph, carrying any amount of 

 water and showers of splashes in his train. 



In the matter of finding and obtaining balls, he went beyond any 

 dog I have ever seen; it was quite a mania with him. I do not 

 exaggerate in saying he amassed a large collection, hard rubber 

 being the favourites, and it was his delight to get some one to 

 throw them for a good hard run. 



During his later years some of us were keen volunteers, and it 

 was Tip's delight to attend all parades, ostensibly with his master, 

 but really to follow the Colonel and Major, taking much interest in 

 the manual and platoon and movements of the corps, so that he 

 was known as Tip the Rifleman's Dog, and wore a collar, green, 

 with the regimental motto, " In danger ready." He died universally 

 regretted, at a good old age, and was buried in a box filled with 



