New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-01
THE TRADING OF DOGS.
Business Of a Regular Exchange
Some Customers Hard to Suit


heshy woman in a blue silken dress OF the man
who opened a door in Nineteenth-st. over which
hung red flag bearing the legend New York
Deg Exchange"
This is the place, madam" he said inviting her
into the ofice. where a dozen thoroughbred Eng
lish and Boston bulldogs glared from their cages
about the walls
I have a dog here" she began. setting COW
cred basket on the floor. "and want TO trade him
for a canary and a music box"
But madam the man tried to interrupt
or parrot" she continued. as though he had
rot spoken. You see, the dog belongs TO my little
boy. but he tracks up the house so and tears the
rugs I want 10 trade him. # I could get a
music box and canary for him It would be Just
fine"
Unfortunately. We have neither canaries nor
music boxes in stock"
Well. a bicycle thea Billy has been wanting
5ike' for ! don't know how long You see. I've
got 10 get something he likes. for he don't know
I've taken the dog and he'll be real angry
Suppose we look at the dog first" suggested
the chief dog trader. Then well know what we
arc talking about"
she began to unfasten the basket cover. shut
that door, she ordered. "Ponto don't like and
he always runs"
With one wild leap there emerged from the bas-
ket some sort Of a dog. He dashed across the
room far from the woman possible and cow
cred there, half defiant half frightened The
practised eye Of the man could not determine
what strain predominateG- There were traces OF
hound. bull, shepherd. St Bernard and generous
nerreutaEe Of cur. AS 4 mongrel he blue
ribboner and for blood mixture he had the rest OF
the canine world badly beaten. He was yellow and
Lack and white in places, bat yellow predomtnated.
one eve was out. and half OF one Of his dropping
sars was missing. There were several scars upon
his back and his tail had evidently been amputated
nv 4 trolley car He may have been q precious
,.ossession 10 Billy but a who dealt in
dogs ne was worse than worthless
There he is" exclaimed the woman, "a fine dog
You really ought 10 give ne a canary end music
box and a bicycle FOR him"
The man did not know just how he was going to
get out Of il. Then he had an Inspiration. You
see madam. I couldn't give you those things We
only trade dogs for dogs
80 I've got TO take another dog for him. she
said disappointedly We'll let me see your stock"
She arose then and began looking at the thor
olr SHRED prize winners. The man sat there and
shiveTed for it was evident she had a temper and
she might be dangerous when crossed Il suppose
she'll hit on an English bull and want 10 trade
this cur for a $1,000 dog" he said TO himself. and
so It turned out
II began with an enthusiastic exclamation
well, Ny, Isn't he ugly, He's so ugly he's just
beautiful Now I'll trade YOU Ponto for him"
But You viii have 10 give something TO boot"
said the dealer. Your dog IS not worth much
as the bulldog
But he IS a prettier dog a lot Drettier and you
want me 10 give you something extra! Ponto IS
prettier."
We'll how much do you want?" she demanded.
Il like this ugly little fellow. and my Billy viii be
pleased with him"
IT'S 4 little matter. my dear madam. little
matter Of eleven hundred dollars" he said, mildly.
Now II you think I going 10 give you eleven
collars extra 10 trade Ponto for this brute
7 said eleven hundred dollars madam"
Eleven hundred hddlesticks-' she cried. You're
trying 70 fool with me! I don't believe you trade
dogs here at all" With that she gathered her
STR int
marched out In great anger.
Nevertheless the trading OF dogs is an established
business in New-TOrk City and With the exception
OF few unreasonable persons like the owner Of
Ponto the patrons OF the exchange transact their
business in a businesslike way. Suppose a man has
teeu keeping a kennel OF st. BernarGs and tires Of
their cumbersome beauty or moves into a town
where he has no room for them. He wants 10 keep
Fpanels or Boston bulls. perhaps. He comes 10 the
dog exchange with photographs OF his animals and
tells the dog man what he wants The latter
ranges q meeting with a who wants 10 trade
fuls for St Bernards They size up each others
dogs with the squirting care OF traders OF horses.
The smaller dogs are worth more the way the
market IS now. They 5icker a little over the
amount OF boot" money. II a compromise IS
effected the deal is completed and the men depart
with their exchanged dogs, after giving commits
sion TO the manager Of the exchange.
The business OF the exchange IS by means
limited TO this city. Tho prelminaries in dog
trade are often conducted by mail from points as
distant as Kansas City and Milwaukee. The man
who has q dog 10 trade forwards 4 photograph.
generally one OF himself and the dog taken to-
gether, and names cash price, well his eX-
change offer. When some one IS found who likes
the looks Of the dog he IS sent by express.
Sometimes these trades fail through, and then the
dog exchange man tries 10 find purchaser OF TO
effect another trade
People have various reasons for desiring 70 trade
dogs and generally the reasons Of the men are
consistent. With women it IS different. great
deal depends on style and dog styles change every
two or three years. Perhaps some woman in the
came block with Mrs. Trader gets dog that is a
finer specimen. Her heart goes out 10 q new breed
al once One woman came 20 the exchange re-
Gently with q pair OF fluffy yellow irish terriers.
She wanted 70 trade them for black and white
coach dog The death Of relative had forced her
into mourning. and the yellow terriers did not go
wei with black and white. She got the coach dog
and some cash besides, for her terriers were very
wei bred.
Just now all the rage is for bulldogs. The Eng
lsh species with half moon legs and overhung
Jaw commands the best price-from $3.50 down.
French and Boston bulls also in demand. and
good specimen is worth $3.50. Even the white bull
terrier cheaper than the Boston by 500 more IS
being carried along the wave Of popularity.
OF late there has been a special demand for fox
hounds, and, strange enough it comes from Cuba.
The planters have reorganized their estates under
the new republic government, and the hounds are
needed for hunting.