292 The Sporting Dog 



fellow ^ may have ready to spring. He cannot 

 exactly remember how and by what balance the 

 winners of last year beat the good non-winners. 

 From experience he is aware that he may leave 

 at home the youngster which would win, and may 

 waste the season on one which does not exactly 

 please the judges. The same experience has 

 taught him that the saddest and costliest words 

 with which a performer before the public can be 

 labelled are "nearly, but not quite." For the 

 dog public is to the full as fickle and cruel as the 

 political public or the dramatic public. The star 

 of the day or of the season is lifted on a pedestal, 

 and the " almost as good " is lashed down to the 

 plug ranks with contemptuous adjectives. 



Picking puppies for the Derbies is picking 

 everything a pointer or setter can possess of 

 merit. It is picking bird sense, obedience, style, 

 speed, and pluck. It is also picking health and 

 good digestion. Just what degree of superiority 

 here or there will capture the judges is a doubt- 

 ful proposition in advance ; but it is certain that 

 to win, a dog cannot be conspicuously weak in 

 any standard attribute. And if he be not a good 

 ** doer," able to eat well and keep in shape under 

 vicissitudes of travel and excitement, his chance 

 is small. 



Perhaps it is in May, when the professional 

 handlers are going to the Northwest to prepare 



