As for sarcoptic mange, the other disease which dogs are liable to contract at shows, the clanger from it is now very slight since every dog must be carefully examined on entrance; and what remains can be wholly obviated by the caretakers. But were it to escape detection and a dog afflicted with it to be admitted, even then the danger to others would not exist provided they were not allowed to come in actual contact or enter his stall, and the rules to be given later on for the benefit of exhibitors were carefully observed.

Of course there are yet other diseases that might be acquired at shows but the liability to them is so small it ought not to deter any one from exhibiting his dog if desirous of doing so; and the two singled out - distemper and sarcoptic mange - have been discussed at considerable length that the reader may know the pure and simple truth and be able to judge understandingly of the extent of the danger threatened at such exhibitions. That it is generally greatly over-estimated is a very unfortunate fact, for every dog that seems good enough to win honors should be allowed to try; moreover, upon the number of entries depends much the public interest, and the greater the latter the more profitable breeding.

The writer will endeavor to influence favorably this train of conditions with a few practical hints, and he urges that if they are carefully observed, mature dogs while at shows will scarcely be in greater danger of infectious diseases than when at home in their kennels.

The average exhibitor having decided to enter his dog at once sets about putting him into "condition" to appear at his best. There are two ways of doing this, and they may be said to point due east and due west, for they are distinctly opposite - one being right and the other wrong. Unfortunately the latter is by far the more popular, and it consists of drugging and gorging. Yet as far as form goes, the only legitimate way to put a dog right is to rely upon hygienic and dietetic means. And when there has been a considerable falling off, very generally three or four months is required to do this work well, while with most dogs that are in fairly good condition six weeks is none too long a time for it.

Where the candidate for honors is badly "off," being under weight, out of coat, and with muscles soft and flabby from disuse, it is well to start in with a dose of worm-medicine. And this having acted he should be entered upon a course of training by exercise, which should be systematic and conducted if possible under as rigid dietetic and hygienic rules as those enforced with athletes.

Steady, slow work should be the rule at first in all instances, and this should be persisted in with the largest non-sporting breeds - the walks gradually extended each day until fairly long distances are being covered - while with most of the other varieties it must be intelligently quickened as they gain in strength and endurance.

In hot weather this exercise should invariably be in the early morning - never under a roasting sun, for then it must depress instead of invigorate, and besides invites heatstroke, to which dogs are quite as liable as man.

The amount of exercise required of course depends upon the existing conditions - the state of health and endurance, individual peculiarities, etc. But it is safe to say that where the dog is being worked on the chain and has been in training for two or three weeks, if other than a toy he will be able to make as many miles as his trainer will find it convenient to cover on foot. Should, however, the fear intrude that too much exercise is being given it will be necessary merely to resort to the scales, and as long as there is a gain in weight the amount of work certainly cannot be excessive.

Always after an outing the dog's feet should be examined to see if he has taken up small stones or cut himself with bits of glass. And if he gets wet or his legs and under-parts have been splashed with mud he should be carefully sponged and well dried before he is put into his kennel.

Dogs that are not accustomed to much exercise are liable to stiffen during the first days, especially if it is carried too far, but they soon limber up and rarely is treatment required; should it seem necessary however, bathing the affected parts with hot water will speedily effect a cure.

As for terriers that have a yard or run to their kennels, they do not require nearly so much work as the large breeds, for they are nervous and restless, and, being always on the move, exercise themselves.

The city resident of many cares and but few leisure moments will find routine exercise well-nigh impossible and he will naturally ask if there is not some means of working his dog without long walks and going away from home. There is retrieving the ball; if his dog has been taught it he might be worked in that way half an hour or more in the morning and the same length of time at night, after he had been given slow walking exercise for a week or ten days.

There is also the exercising machine or so-called "dog power" which might be used advantageously, but one trouble with that is, the dog is apt to work too fast or too long unless very nice judgment is used. Nor can it approach nearly in value the exercise yielded by walks and scampers, for there are lacking the pure air and diversion which are by no means unimportant considera-tions. However, the "dog power" can be made useful,. but intelligence and care will be required.

Sporting dogs that have much fallen off in form can scarcely be made right without a little fast work, and unless they can be taken into the field occasionally, which is always best, a good place for them is behind a horse; and their runs, at moderate pace, may extend to from ten to thirty miles a day, provided, of course, they have been brought up to them by easy stages.

But hard runs are not advisable, as many seem to think, for all dogs that are built for speed, and nearly all of the exercise for greyhounds, for instance, should be given on the chain. Really it is much harder work for a dog to walk to heel - on chain - than go his own gait, yet there is no danger of draining as it were the muscles as there might be in hard runs. Beyond this there is still another argument of no little importance in favor of chain work, namely, the freedom from danger of fights, picking up unwholesome food, spurts after cats, - which means the loss of an eye, perhaps, - etc.