Once dogs are on the bench they should be fed sparingly until they are back to their kennels, one meal every twenty-four hours being the rule with all excepting toys; and this should be made up of the most digestible foods.

Those that are unaccustomed to dog cakes or biscuits, the food generally provided at shows, seldom take kindly to them while their appetites are none the sharpest; and they being declined it will of course be necessary for the caretakers to provide other food. And really he is wisest in this matter who relies solely upon himself and obtains at his hotel or markets the foods for which his dog has a decided preference, and feeds and waters him with his own hands.

Were a dog "off his feed" while at a show it should not occasion uneasiness. Declining milk or broth the first day, he should fast until the second; and milk again rejected, he should be offered a little finely minced raw beef or mutton. This in turn declined, another day of fasting should follow, and the same tempting food be put before him.

Some dogs will not touch food at any time during a show owing to the presence of bitches in "season"; as a rule, however, the appetite manifests a disposition to return by the third day, especially if coaxed a bit as advised. But one should never go very far to bring it back.

Writers have thought that danger lurked in feeding- and drinking-pans at shows; and it certainly would were they used indiscriminately, but as a rule one pan does double duty, and each remains constantly in the stall in which it was first placed. Were this not the case, however, but the pans gathered up and taken out to be filled, they would need to be carefully washed, not with cold, nor even warm water merely, but with boiling water, for in no other way could they be made perfectly safe. And where this treatment was impossible the thoughtful exhibitor would see that the pan was removed only by himself or his representative.

A word here as to the drinking water at shows. All know that man frequently suffers from diarrhoea in consequence of radical changes of his drinking water; and the same may be due to the impurities or to great variations in the salts which are normal ingredients. Dogs are less susceptible to these changes than he, yet the indications are that they are sometimes affected by them. But the only means by which the most of their ill effects can be obviated is boiling; and that is not likely to be resorted to except by the ideal management.

Considering one of the most inveterate habits of the canine race, the droppings in the ring where dogs are taken for judgment and exercise must be more or less of a menace, for were a victim of an infectious disease to pass the veterinary and be admitted to a show he would likely deposit about, in these his intestinal discharges, the specific germs, which, in turn, would be taken up by other dogs that snuffed at them. It follows, therefore, that in every ring there should constantly be an attendant provided with a disinfectant, also a shovel and waste-basket; and the sawdust soiled by even one dog should be disinfected and removed. And in the absence of this precaution exhibitors will do well to walk their dogs around the benches - not in the ring.

But better still, instead of exercising dogs in the building, let them be taken out in the early morning and walked about the streets, or to the nearest park or vacant lot and given an opportunity to "limber up" their aching and stiffened muscles. Convenient arrangements for doing this could be made with the managements of many, if not all, shows, or should any decline it would be necessary merely to deposit a small sum as a guaranty that the dogs would be back to their stalls at the hour the show opened to the public.

Positively of all precautions which are essential to the maintenance of health and good condition of show dogs there are none more important than this; hence it is urged that the little ones be given scampers, the large and heavy ones long strolls, and the light-footed good, sharp runs. And the knowing one who has a kennel of greyhounds, for instance, by which he is striving to deal righteously, will give them five miles before breakfast, or obtain a horse and take them for a spin of ten miles. And by doing this and attending to the feeding he will keep his dogs good and hard for many weeks.

In a word, early exercise, and as much as can be given, is one of the first essentials for show clogs while on the circuit and the season lasts.

But even when given the proper amount of exercise, dogs must be taken from the bench several times daily, and the last thing at night, for otherwise were they cleanly in their habits they must suffer intensely, and more than one dog has reached home with severe inflammation of the bladder in consequence of being neglected in this respect.

The exhibitor who is a gentleman will conduct himself as such before the judges, and this is about all that need be said of ring etiquette. But a few hints as to the management of the candidate may not be amiss.

While being prepared for a show he should be thoroughly accustomed to the chain and encouraged to romp while under it, so that its associations will be pleasant and as soon as it is in the hand of his master or caretaker he will be full of excitement and delightful anticipation. This course pursued and he taught to keep still at command, he will be sure to be alert in the ring and stand before the judge with head up, eyes bright and shining with eagerness, tail properly carried, and feet and legs straight and well under him. In fact he will appear with all his lines well drawn, and be sure to win over his equal which shows up sulky, spiritless and crouching.

As for position in the ring, it is of no importance before a judge that is competent, for he will never overlook a good dog.