And it is no "fairy tale," I firmly believe, as, again and again when I have seen Their Majesties at shows going through the various rows of benches, I have noticed the evident bond of sympathy between them and the dogs, and how they would frequently stop to say a word to one and another, and when they came to any from the Royal kennels, the delight and recognition was mutual and effusive.

Old English Terriers, though eminently useful and workmanlike have never caught on like the others I have named. It has always seemed to me they have "fallen between two stools" - Airedales, on the one hand, larger and more powerful in build, and Welsh Terriers, on the other, more the size of dark-coloured Wire-haired Fox-terriers - and never quite enjoyed the popularity of either, although those who have gone in for the Old English speak highly of them, and declare they have no superiors.

As regards Sheep-dogs, Rough Collies have been and are still very popular.

Smooth Collies, with much to recommend them for ability, docility, and activity, have enjoyed a somewhat limited term of favour. But the Old English Short-tailed Sheep-dog has been well taken up by the best classes, and, as one of their oldest and staunchest admirers, I may add they well deserve all the favourable notice and attention they may receive, and the more they are known the more they will be appreciated for their many charming qualities and all-round usefulness, either for their legitimate work, or as guards and companions.

In the Toy Division, of course, the changes have been many and great. Schipperkes have had, and still have, a certain amount of support.

Pugs, now subdivided into Fawns and Blacks, have kept up well; but the latter have so many latent points which are expressed in the former that I do not think they will ever bowl them out, though they may run them closely in popular favour. I am pleased to see the monstrous specimens of years ago are not now in vogue. Toy Spaniels are, I think, not so much bred, or at least not so much shown, as formerly; but some good ones of each variety are still to be seen at our best shows.

The entries of Corded Poodles, animals entailing so much discomfort to themselves and trouble to their owners, are not increasing in numbers; but in the Curly variety the colours are being considerably extended; and whereas when I first judged them white was the prevailing colour, you now see black, black-and-white, blue, blue-and- white, grey, fawn, brown, and red coloured specimens, and of all weights, from under 10 lb. to over 60 lb., at our shows! Although in the old days, at the largest shows, I have frequently seen not more than half a dozen entries altogether, of late years I have had nearly a hundred, divided by coat, colour, sex, weight, etc.

Italian Greyhounds, in spite of their beauty and elegance of form, have until quite lately rather declined in popular favour, and although I have had fair entries at some of the larger shows, the exhibitors at each have been mostly the same; but now they have a Club of their own I hope some good will be done for them.

Yorkshire Terriers have, in my opinion, increased in numbers and maintained a high standard of quality, though in comparatively few hands.

The beautiful Maltese Terriers are, I hope, coming forward again. Of course they and the last named, like all long-haired varieties, require much care, attention, and skill to keep them in form; but they both repay it, and, in point of beauty, can challenge comparison with any kind of dog. Many a time I have seen a Yorkshire Toy Terrier, under 6 lb. in weight, carry off the prize as best dog in the show, which proves what judges think of a good specimen.

Every one of my readers who goes to any dog shows at all will not need to be told what a boom there has been of late years amongst Pomeranians.

The smaller they can be obtained the more they are valued; accordingly they are being bred of every weight, from a little over 2 lb. to 40 lb.

The great difficulty is in bringing out the tiny ones with decent heads. Many of them have capital bodies, good ears (though sometimes rather large), good coats, and well-carried tails; but are often mean and pinched in face and muzzle, and "apple-headed." The colours are as various as the sizes. When I first remember the breed, it was a rare thing to see one under 15 lb. to 20 lb. weight, and otherwise than white; now you see more of other colours than white, and I have had close on two hundred entries of all the colours and weights imaginable at some of the large London shows; and very beautiful little creatures many of them are, although, in my opinion, you get nearer perfection in the points of the breed in those from 7 lb. to 12 lb. weight than in the very diminutive specimens.

Toy Bull-dogs are another variety which has been and is now in great favour with certain people. Like their larger brethren, the Bull-dogs, they are greatly admired by those who fancy them; others do not see any beauty in them. Good specimens are very quaint, old-fashioned-looking little fellows; but I do not think they will ever be very serious rivals of other breeds of Toys. And I think the same of the Toy Bull-terriers, which are very difficult to get with good heads and ears - so many of them are too round and short in the former and bat-shaped in the latter; and as I have bred and kept many of the variety, I know the difficulties to be overcome.

The same difficulty has kept back the Black-and-tan Smooth Toy Terriers, of which really good specimens are so seldom seen; but they are beautiful little dogs, if correctly shaped, and readily command good prices, particularly those of the male persuasion, the majority of this colour appearing to be of the fair sex!

The Japanese and the Pekinese Toy Spaniels, particularly the former, have been, and are, very popular also with a certain clique. They are both expensive to buy and delicate to rear; and immense numbers of the "Japs," both imported and bred in this country, have "joined the majority" of late years. Good specimens of both varieties are very interesting and beautiful, and sell well; for my own part I greatly prefer the "Japs," but both have their circle of admirers.

Another and perhaps the latest breed of Toys I have seen come into great favour are the Griffons Bruxellois, exceedingly quaint, perky little fellows, any size from 1 1/2 lb. weight to 7 or 8 lb., usually shades of red or reddish brown, with dark muzzle, bright shining eyes, like glistening beads in their little hairy, sharp-looking faces, much the shape in body of a Yorkshire Terrier Toy out of coat, covered with shortish, harsh-feeling coat, docked tail, protruding under-jaw, not so as to show teeth, if possible, rather an "aggressive manner," ludicrous in so small an animal, and an important, business-like air all-pervading it and amusing the spectator, whether doggy or not.

I have endeavoured in this chapter to touch lightly on all the different varieties of dogs I have seen come more or less into popularity and fashion - more particularly at dog shows - during the last twenty-five years, all of which I have had to adjudicate upon, some of them very often indeed. Some have had a comparatively short term of favour; others are well to the front still.

The public too much regard the fashion of the day, and follow where others lead (from interested motives, or otherwise); or else there are varieties in each division - Sporting, Non-Sporting, and Toys - which should never go out of favour from their genuine all-round excellence. The selection of these I must leave to the individual taste and judgment of my readers, as this is not an "advertising medium" for any breed in particular, but a collection of facts about all things doggy.