This section is from the book "Dog Shows And Doggy People", by Charles H. Lane. Also available from Amazon: Dog Shows And Doggy People.
The great amount of work, detail, care, and attention required to carry out all the arrangements in connection with even moderately large shows have brought forward a class of men who lay themselves out specially for this kind of business, and amongst the early pioneers I may name Mr. George Beech, so long honourably known as the able Secretary of the National Dog Show of Sporting and other Dogs, held for such a number of years. The particulars of its first show in 1860 are before me as I write this; but I think Mr. Beech's connection with it, which is amongst the earliest actual shows held in this country, is of later date.
All who have been brought in contact with Mr. Beech will know that he has been the life and soul of the Birmingham Dog Shows, which, in spite of the keen competition inaugurated since they were first started, still hold a good position in the kennel world, particularly in their classes for sporting dogs, which are often better than at many other large shows. I think the first time I ever exhibited at these shows was in 1869, but have often shown and judged there since, taking many classes, chiefly amongst the non-sporting division.
I may say in passing I have never sought judging engagements, or canvassed any secretary or committeemen in my life, and, strange to say, commenced as a judge where most persons expect to leave off - at the Crystal Palace, at a Kennel Club Show, where I was appointed to take "Bull-dogs and Dandies." And I shall never forget the sensation when I found myself alone in the large ring, surrounded by all the pick and flower of the Bull-dogs of the day and their owners!
Being, luckily, at that time an active member of the Bull-dog Club and keen on the breed, many were well known to me, so I pulled myself together, got through my classes, which were mostly strong and good, and then set to work to tackle the Dandies, of which, I think, I had a record entry up to that time nearly sixty, if I rightly remember - and a favourite breed with which I have long been connected in many ways.
Another well-known organiser and manager of dog shows is Mr. Charles Cruft, of Holloway, who is perhaps more widely known than any other individual in connection with doggy matters generally, his long association with "Spratt's," before there was either a "Patent" or a "Limited" added to it, having brought him into contact with multitudes of people with like interests, and his vast experience enabling him to deal with anything, likely or unlikely, which occurs at a show, and to be an invaluable adviser of those embarking on show management of any kind. I may here mention some gentlemen who have been, so to say, under the tutelage of the last named, as I think I remember them all at one time or another assisting in some of the gigantic undertakings carried out by him, not only in this country but on the continent of Europe. I mean Messrs. de Vere Beauclerk, Goss, Sparrow, and Edwardson, all of whom will be known to many of my readers for their ability, courtesy, patience, and general good fellowship, and when either of these gentlemen is at the head of affairs, all those judges and exhibitors "who know anything at all" are aware things are likely to go "as merrily as a marriage bell," and that the manager will be "here, there, and all over the show," and if things are not kept strictly "up to the mark" by the keepers and other subordinates of the show, he will speedily want to know the reason why!
Amongst the more occasional or amateur managers and organisers, irrespective of the great army of able and indefatigable secretaries of shows throughout the kingdom, whose names even it would be impossible to mention here, but whose merits and virtues it is to be hoped their respective committees and members duly appreciate, I may refer to Mr. W. W. Aspinall, late and for many years Secretary to the Kennel Club, and General Manager of numerous colossal shows and field trials ably and successfully carried out under his superintendence, and who now fills the position of Secretary to the International Kennel Club, which has been lately formed under Royal and other distinguished patronage.
Mr. W. K. Taunton is another who, as Hon. Secretary to the British Kennel Association and Hon. Manager for the Crystal Palace Company of their dog shows, and on one or more occasions acting in like capacity for the Kennel Club at their shows, has proved his ability, and is also widely known as an authority on several breeds and an experienced breeder, exhibitor, and judge. Another is Mr. Hugh Collis, of Egham, who for some years very ably carried out the interesting and successful shows of various breeds claiming to come under the description of "Pet Dogs"; and lastly Messrs. Townsend and Karl, who have acted as Assistant Hon. Secretary and Hon. Manager of the very large and successful shows carried out under the auspices of the Ladies' Kennel Association, at Holland House, Ranelagh Park, Earl's Court, Regent's Park, and elsewhere the last few years.
Although the numbers of entries and the various complications to be dealt with in his day were nothing like so great as they have now become, I should like to pay my humble tribute to the memory of my old friend Mr. John Douglas, one of the first to tread the thorny path of a show manager, and whose colossal form and solid, self-contained demeanour took a considerable shock to disturb, and who enjoyed until his death the friendship and esteem of a large body of exhibitors, and, although a disciplinarian, was never "faddish" or unreasonable, and would go out of his way to oblige in anything within his power - at least, this was my experience of him.
There is another class which I have seen spring up since the great flow of dog shows, and that is the professional judge. Such did not exist when I commenced exhibiting; and I think every one that has appeared I remember in their original capacity of exhibitors!
I can only find space for a few words about some of the best known. As I think he is the senior as judge, if not in years, I will first mention my old friend Mr. Fred. Gresham, who, when I first knew him, had one of the best kennels of St. Bernards I have ever seen in the possession of one man, and was not only an all-round sportsman, but an authority on many breeds of dogs, cats, and pigeons. He is still one of our most popular judges, especially of the larger breeds and some of the Toys, but is well up in dogs generally, and deservedly a favourite with all classes of exhibitors, at home and abroad.
Another very well-known and popular judge in this and other countries is Mr. George Raper, who for many years was a successful breeder and exhibitor of Bull-dogs, and who is, in my opinion - and I have seen him adjudicate in some of the celebrated matches between two noted specimens, besides on numerous other occasions - the best and ablest judge we have of that breed to-day, and also well up in Fox-terriers; indeed, it would be hard to find the class or breed of dogs which would puzzle "George" - the name he is universally known by - or about which he would be long in deciding what to do, and I should consider his opinion on any variety of dog as valuable and reliable as could be obtained.
One who, perhaps, does as much judging as any all over the country, and gets through a lot of work with great skill and rapidity, is Mr. L. P. C. Astley, whose original fancy, if I remember rightly, was Fox-terriers, and he and I have often been exhibitors at the same shows in days gone by; but he is also an authority on some varieties of cats and poultry. Of late years he almost entirely has ceased to exhibit, and mostly confines himself to all-round judging.
Then there is Mr. Theo. Marples, an old friend of mine who, long before he took to judging at all, was entirely engaged on literary work. As will be known to many of my readers, his original hobby was Spaniel breeding, in which, as more lately in Pomeranians, he was most successful, and many good specimens of both those breeds claim him as their breeder. Since his more intimate connection with the Fancier Press, and particularly since he has been editor of the popular weekly Our Dogs, he has taken on a lot more judging at home and abroad.
The next I have known a great many years, both as exhibitor and judge, and in the latter capacity he and I have had to tackle some of the largest and most difficult problems ever submitted for adjudication. And it is no vain boast when I say that we have often been the only judges to deal with all the important prizes at the great shows held each spring at the Royal Agricultural Hall, London, such as the teams of Sporting, Non-Sporting, Terriers, Toys, etc., with often from fifteen to twenty teams competing for some of these prizes, and other knotty points to be decided afterwards, such as to discover "the best Sporting Dog in the show" (3,000 entries, and 300 eligible!), "best Non-Sporting ditto," "best Terrier," "best Toy," best dog belonging to an Irishman, Scotchman, Welshman, and Foreigner respectively. It is no child's play to deal with such cases! The judge I refer to is Mr. Tom Ashton. I have no doubt he was by his sponsors called "Thomas," but ever since I have known him he has been called "Tom," and as he is not only a good judge, but a good fellow, I hope he will live long to bear the name.
The last on my list, though I might extend it to much greater length did space permit, is Mr. Midgley Marsden, also an old acquaintance of mine. In his exhibiting days he was chiefly associated with St. Bernards, Mastiffs, Spaniels, and Black-and-tan Terriers; but his increasing experiences as an "all-round" judge have made him familiar with the general run, so that he is able to deal with all the breeds usually exhibited, and enjoys popularity amongst a wide circle of Doggy Friends, particularly in the North.
There is one more class of Doggy People I should like to mention before I finish this chapter, and that is the veterinary surgeons. When I first was interested in dogs, there were very few of these gentlemen who laid themselves out for professional attention to dogs only, but chiefly restricted their attention to horses and cattle; but now, I am pleased to say (as I have met scores of them all over the kingdom), there are great numbers of highly qualified men who have made a special study of dogs; indeed, there are many I know who take no other practice than dogs and cats, and have as much as they can do all the year round!
I am sure this is a great advantage to dog owners, and saves the lives sometimes, and always lessens the sufferings, of numbers of valuable animals every year.
I have no doubt the immense number of shows held (which are said to be not less than five in every week in the year, if they were averaged!) and the dogs' homes and hospitals in many parts of the country have been very useful to the veterinary profession for gaining experience in canine diseases and surgery, and providing subjects for experimental treatment for their cure, and also for dealing with the many cases of injury from accidents so often occurring amongst the thousands of dogs now kept up and down the country, most of which would not have been properly attended to in the old days.
 
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