The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-09-13
Fashion in Dogs.


Every now and then attention is
drawn to some canine novelty, or, on
the contrary, the very rarity of once
popular variety in like manner forces
itself upon the public, or at least upon
that portion of the public who IRE sup
posed to take more than passing in
terest in matters appeltaining to dogs.
During the present quarter of acentury
very great changes have been wrought
in almost every breed common to the
British Isles; and not only have there
been these changes in existing breeds,
but others new 10 this country have be
come popularized, and in at least one
instance to so great an extent as to Sc
riously interfere with other varieties
which are e4ually useful, perhaps more
so, and decidedly more handsome.
With theincreasing popularity OF shows
came turning point in the history of
the dog. 1t was soon found that an
animal had the greater chance of sue
cess in the ring the cleaner it was
shown, and the more comedy it was in
appearance. A rough, unkemptr
unwa he'd, unca"ed-ior crea.
ture, whose home was in
the converted sugar barrel in the back
yard though the bluest of blue blood
might beat in his veins, as long as he
remained SO, had not the ghost of a
chance of beating its less-pedigreed
brother whose home was the parlor, or
even the kitchen, and whoaie dubbed
each Saturday or some other night with
as great regularity as are the Chi dren
themselves. Befo the exhibition era
the bull terrier was kept as lighting
dog; the terriers to kill rats in the pit
or to draw badgers; the ull-dog was
oftener the pet of the puglist than the
companion of the gentleman; the
mastiff and the bloodhound were re-
tanned on the estates possessed by the
owners of baronial mansions, Ii ing in
the kennels there; while the pugs, toy
spanlels and Italian greyhounds found a
coy corner, in my lady's boudoir.
The hounds ndsporting dogs generally
held their own position in society. They
could not be done without and had
tlourished, and would no doubt have
continued so to do without the int r.
ference of any influence outside that
their owners and admirers would have
brought to bear in the ordinary course
But as exhibitions gained in popularity
it b came the fashion of the man OF
) woman who was fond of dog to keel
: one of some distinctive breed, and |
g possible good enough to show perhaps
to win a prize. One success begat an
5 other, until mere admirer of the dog
0 became an ardent fancier; in place o
: one he would keep half dozen, ant
each so good as to equal or surpas
those of his neighbor. At least, sucl
q was the ambition which prevailed.
new trade. indeed, sprung up; before
4 the dealings had for the great part beei
u confined to men, many of them mos
respectable, who bore no good reput
because they were dog fanciers. Late
2 these professionals had, so to speak
: their noses well-nigh put out of Joint
for the trade was entered into by cap
: italists, who, always liking bS%gai
Q over horse, now found more re
L munerative and less troublesome one i
e buying and selling dogs; and whe
s some OF them. could obtain a name fo
knowledge OF canine matters in ad
e vance of their. less fortunate fellow
II men they were invited to judge at cel
Is tain shows, and thus placed in NOR
l. favorable position than ever. for til
n purchase and sale of canine live stocl
70 30 lASnlOn varied, ana lndJ winch wa
Y once uponsa time considered trade
q only to be carried ON in connectio
J. with ''public' or beer-house in du
e course so rose in responsibility as to
J. in advance of that OF the amat ur win
v or gar merchant, who seeks to poiso
or SUI ocate his friends in order that
q may be a few pounds per enlnm Ii
Q, richer, - London REV.