68 



OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS 



Dog tryixc; to cross the Fkoxtikk with 

 CoxTKAiiAND Goods 



but that serious studies of a scientific nature 

 are also made there. 



To the uninitiated a doj;- show has some- 

 thing disconcerting. The deafening racket, 

 the swarming of dogs and men, (J 

 the enigmatical placarding of 

 prizes, the long inspections, are 

 bewildering and hard to uncler- 

 stan 1. In consequence of the 

 division into " open classes " 

 (meaning those in which all 

 dogs may compete), "limited 

 classes " (for those who ha\-e 

 already won a number of hrst 

 prizes), and " )'oung classes," 

 a dog may cany off a first ])rize 

 in one class and obtain only an 

 H. M. (honorable mention) in 

 another class, which certainly 

 makes the jilacarding \ery 

 l")uzzling. 



The estimate of a dog is 

 sometimes very difficult, espe- 

 cially when two superb speci- 

 mens are competing for the 



prize, which is sometimes a medal or 

 money, but oftener some fine work 

 of art. It is difficult also to satisfy 

 the owmers (who are very susceptible 

 even about trifles). It is not yet 

 decided whether the system of three 

 experts would give better results, or 

 whether it .would be wise to return 

 to the old scale oi points and figures. 

 There is much to be said on both 

 sides, but it is certain that the tastes 

 and opinions of experts give rise to dif- 

 ferences that are sometimes far from 

 agreeable to the owners of the dogs. 



Are bench shows injurious to the 

 animals ? No ; not if they are well 

 organized and under the auspices 

 of a serious club. Dogs are well 

 treated, visited by veterinarians, fed 

 and transported carefully, and re- 

 turned in good health to their homes. 

 On their return it is prudent to wash 

 them with some suitable disinfectant, 

 though at all good bench shows dogs are now- 

 disinfected very carefully. Dogs under three 

 months old are too young to be sent to these 

 exhibitions. 



A l'Ko\nsl\(i Ynvsc, Hoc, 



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