Of far more importance than is often thought to be the case, is the conduct of a dog when before the judge. A dog to be seen at his best on the eventful day should have some little preliminary training. It is one thing to have a decent specimen, and quite another for it to comport itself so that the judge can take in at a glance, and with the least possible delay, the chief points. A dog that will not show itself to advantage is at an obvious disadvantage with one that knows the business thoroughly, and whose owner is able to display all his strong points without unduly exposing his weak ones. Old show hands know this very well, as any one may see for himself by watching attentively the expert handlers at a show like the New York Show. There are some judges who will take a lot of pains to get a nervous dog to show himself, but there are others, having heavy classes to judge, who cannot bestow the time necessary to get each individual dog in the best humor to show himself.

Such being the case, it is, too, politic of an owner to either take the dog into the ring himself, or else leave it to someone who is an expert in the business, or that the dog knows perhaps as well as its owner. All owners cannot, of course, keep a kennelman, or indeed, accompany their charges; but if a valuable dog is being shown it is not wise to leave it to a perfect stranger to "handle" the animal. There are a number of expert handlers at every show, and the novice that has a good dog and cannot conveniently attend himself would find it to pay him to enlist the services of one of these professionals. Where there is no one deputized to act the part of handler, it is left to the keepers to bring in the dog. Naturally the dog will not show himself for these men as it would for its owner or some one fully conversant with show ring business, and suffers accordingly. Dogs are highly sensitive animals, and often when sent away without any previous preparation look and really are dejected.

The person, therefore, who aspires to be an exhibitor, and to get every advantage possible out of his or her dog, will be well advised to rehearse a few times the actual business of the show ring.

Take your pups out into the road early, to accustom them to curious sights and sounds, it makes all the difference at their first show.

Accustom them to follow you without lead early, also to have on a collar, and to lead nicely. This cannot be done in a field or garden they know well, or they will scream and crouch, but in a road or quiet street they will pay more attention to you.

I would particularly impress on all who own dogs - especially young owners - that it is not only to their interest, but it is their duty to be true masters, ruling with firmness and kindness, and providing for all the wants of the animal in lodging, food, and exercise on principles of common sense; and it must be evident that thus only can health be maintained. If a dog have not proper food provided at proper times, but be allowed to be the scavenger of the yard and the street, what wonder if he become loathsome and diseased, a nuisance to his owner and everyone else? If, on the other hand, he be pampered, petted, and stuffed with tit-bits and sweet cakes, he will lose all kindliness of disposition (the great charm of a companion dog), and become a morose, peevish, snappish misanthrope, that your friends may praise, but dare not pat; he will lose all beauty of form, all sprightliness and elasticity of action and become an unshapely, asthma-tical lump of obesity, to whom the slightest exertion is a trouble. Ladies, who are the great offenders in this way should remember that dogs are not valued - like prize hogs - for their fatness, and that they are never so healthy and happy as when in good working condition - that is, when they can take a good gallop without puffing.