56 The Dog Book 
Only the very slightest quantity is advisable, and one should rub the hands 
together well, so that there is merely the feeling of oil. Then touch the 
coat lightly all over and gradually rub it in more completely in the same man- 
ner as the coat was dried by the hands. The English Kennel Club holds 
that this application of oil is faking, but that club has a habit of straining 
at gnats and swallowing camels. Polishing the coat to give it its natural 
appearance is a vastly different thing from using dyes or colouring materials 
to give the dog an appearance it has not naturally, or from the outrageous. 
trimming which the very legislators themselves pass over when they are acting 
as judges. One of them even went the length of recently stating over his 
signature that the trimming of the dogs he had judged was shameful, but 
that it should not be left to the judge to take any action. If he is not the 
very man above all others whose duty it is to examine the dogs and pass 
upon them, then who is? 
If possible, have your dogs arrive at the show before the opening day, 
if they have more than a short trip. Even with an eight-hours’ journey a 
morning start is to be preferred, and a good night’s rest is needed before the 
morning of the judging. It makes a wonderful amount of difference in the 
snap and life of the dog, if he is journey-wearied when in the ring. [Early 
arrivals also get best places for their boxes, and can generally find a quiet 
corner where they can be got at easily and their dogs are comfortably sleep- 
ing in their boxes the night before the judging. After that it depends upon 
the individual dog, for some are just as much at home and sleep as well on 
the bench as in their boxes, and that kind need not be worried about so 
much the night before the judging. 
By the time you have arrived at the show you ought to know your dog 
very well—how he feeds and how he looks best. A dog a bit long in the 
back or legs must not be shown unless he has a feed inside him sufficient to 
counteract that defect as much as possible. Such dogs are apt to be delicate 
feeders, and if fed a hearty meal too soon, there will be no coaxing them to 
eat and fill out at the right time. It is better in such a case to give little or 
nothing till the right moment. By that time bread and milk will likely be 
acceptable and is a good filler out, for the dog will usually eat it freely. For 
that reason the refrigerator milk is rather too cold and had better be poured 
out of the bottle and allowed to stand in the pan to get the chill off, or other- 
wise warmed. If more food is needed than the dog will take of the bread and 
milk, have a little chopped meat and mix in the dish, gradually increasing 
