490 The Dog Book 



Historian, next to him coming Mr. Adam's new puppy, Borthwick Benedict. 

 High honours in the bitch division went to Mr. Munson Morris's new im- 

 portation, Courtlandt Kate Kearney, who excels in front and body. Since 

 the New York show England's best known dog. Straight Tip, has been 

 imported by Mr. GifFord A. Cochrane, and only on one occasion has he been 

 defeated since his arrival, and that by Historian, when Mr. Van Schaick 

 judged at Brooklyn. Of this decision we are not justified in speaking, as 

 we were at the Chicago show that week. Straight Tip is not always equally 

 good. We know that horses sulk and decline to put forth their best efforts, 

 and sometimes it may be that this dog dofes not care about doing his best 

 to win, or to impress the judge. When he does show himself we know of no 

 dog that can beat him for a certainty, and no person would be justified in 

 saying off-hand that Badger could do so, for he has not met a dog of the 

 calibre of Straight Tip at his best. Both are, however, getting on in years, 

 and it is full time that some good new dog made his appearance. 



There is every indication that we have got very near to an equal footing 

 with English breeders in producing promising stock, for of late we have 

 seen quite a number that show distinct advance in type and character from 

 what has been the case previously. There is in this breed, as in some 

 others where advance has been made, evidence that breeders have given 

 up the idea of producing good ones from sires and dams from good parents 

 and not themselves good, and when we reach that stage it is presumptive 

 evidence that we may look for improvement. 



We have already expressed some opinions regarding the desirable 

 points in this breed and now repeat in condensed form what they were. 

 We consider that the essentials to be regarded by the judge are : Type in 

 body, meaning the racing outline characteristic of this breed; expression 

 and shape of head, and given the former the latter can hardly be wrong, 

 providing it is not narrow and round skulled; coat of correct texture is 

 another essential, and that implies no fluffy whiskers on the lips; a closer 

 approach to the standard weight should also be seen to by all judges, so 

 that we may place the Irish terrier in his proper place as a red wire-haired 

 dog somewhat larger than the fox terrier, and not a small Airedale. 



The standard by which dogs are supposed to be judged is very old 

 and was the work of a committee many being amateurs more or less 

 ignorant of the breed from practical experience. A very much clearer 

 and more easily understood text is the original description drawn up by 



