Bench Shows and Field Trials 261 



makes the investigator feel a bit foolish if he sends 

 dogs to the races which have not been thoroughly 

 tried out against a veteran performer of standard 

 merit. Most field trial patrons have gone through 

 this disagreeable experience, and the beginner 

 would as well avoid it by watchfully trying out 

 his candidates, without waiting to make the trials 

 before a crowd. 



Both field trial and bench judges are nearly 

 always honest and sincere. They are far from 

 omniscient and have their notions ; especially 

 when they have good intentions combined with 

 weak memories and still weaker powers of dis- 

 crimination ; and this often happens. With bench 

 judging there is not much dissatisfaction — except 

 where type is a standing dispute — of a justified 

 kind. The best dog nearly always gets the blue 

 ribbon, the doubt arising oftener over the second 

 and third places. 



Field trial owners have more incompetence to 

 meet, at least more inconsistencies and unac- 

 countable fancies. The association of handlers 

 have asked that clubs give consideration to a list 

 of judges approved by handlers as representatives 

 of the owners. Possibly a definite and intelligible 

 system of judging will grow out of this effort. 

 Heretofore it has been discouraging for owners 

 to encounter this week judges who are tickled by 

 style, next week lovers of speed and range and the 



