The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-13
CHAMPION BREEZE GLADSTONE.

i WINNER OF first prize ut Brooklyn recently.l
lar clubs were formed in other large cities.
Now fran early in November till late in
3Rprll there is Il succession of shows follow
ang each other SO closely that an exhibitor
Svho would 90 to all has to travel RAPIDLY
3ind with but brief resptes.
These shows have had the effect Of slim
3llating the interest in dog breeding, and
She gentlemen and others caring for special
3'recds of dogs have formed special clubs
devoted to the interests of certain dogs.
Hor instance, there is n MastiiT club, n
POINTER club, n Collie club and so forth.
Hnd all OF these clubs-kcnncl clubs and
Especial clubs-havc united to form the
! american Kennel club, which is kind of
@ynod or parliament in dogs This club
j lakes the rules for the bench shows, keeps
3he records Of the prizes won. and also
3iaintains studbook, in which the pcdi.
4recs, date of birth and other particulars
IN all purely bred dogs eligible to be eX-
n ibited i'll the shows are set down This
81 II work of such dimensions and impor-
&lnce that the central club is Obliged to
Hlaintain Offices and keep corps of clerks
#t work.
II This club makes the general rules by
#'hich dogs in the shows shall be classcd.
81 iough each local kennel club makes up
"A S prize list and the special rules Then
se}le special clubs establish the rules bv
e3hich the dogs shall he Judged. The judg-
$4ig is done by points, and the breeders and
#wners who form these special clubs deter
3aiine what points are the most important
III the conformation of dog of n certain
54ind. To each of these points, when per-
tct, number is given, and as the dog is
GOOD or bad in any point the number is
31reat or small.
81 In going along line visitor will sec in
'f9le mastitf class twenty magnificent speci-
MEMS of these gentle and intelligent fell
33bws. He will notice either by labels or in
S$hc catalogue that five or six of these are
billed champions" Now how, the I'M
3itored bench show visitor will ask, can
$}lere be five or six champion mastiffs. The
#tle is certainly misleading. 1t really
= leans that these so called champions"
88flong to certain high class, which is
Efached by reckoning of dogs winnings
$$ The classes In which dogs are judged are
|8X-the miscellaneous, the selling, the
3#ovice, the puppy, the open and the chal-
s3nge. New dogs rise from one class to
&3nother according to their winnings and
$fge. The challenge class is for dogs who
I ave have won four first prizes in the open
& lasses. And when dog has got into this
Hkiallenge class, and in it won three first
3riZes. then he is entitled to be called
8champion." Therefore it is sometimes
lue case that on the same bench there will
De several dogs that never competed
8 gainst one another before.
- The bench shows in America have done a
- great service to dog breeding. None but
3 dog whose authenticated pedigree is Of
#ecord is eligible in these exhibitions. Dog
&overs are therefore taught that purely
bred dogs are more valuable to own and
3lore worthy of pride and affection. A
sburely bred dog is at once better suited to
10 it's particular work, and it is more in