Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-15
INCREASE IN
THE DOC SHOWS
Number Has Grown From 10
in 1899 to AZ in the
Past Year.
BY JAMES WATSON.

added to the list of past events the circuit
which began in New York in February came
to a close, and even with the loss of Chca-
go show this year the general results have
demonstrated a healthy Increase of interest
In the erratic game of dog showing Chicago
should be able to support a good show. but
In recent years there has been a lack Of
1udlcious management. failure to secure the
right kind of publicity and a very unhappy
faculty of antasonlzing the daily press with
the natural result that notices of the show
have not been of that attractive character
which leads to good attendance. \ small
show was held at Milwaukee but that has
been the only one in the west this year, for
Detroit is hardly included in the west now
adays.
1t Is very doubtful whether any person
OUTSIDE or the officials of the American
Kennel Club, whose business it is to dea,
with statistics. has had any Idea of the
rapid increase In the number of dog shows
during the past five years, or of their in
creased Importance. To demonstrate the
growth of the show cult we have the record
for-the year 1899 given in the American
Kennel Gazette nineteen shows held I'M
der American Kennel Club rules While dur
Ing the past year the total was forty-two
shows. OF the nineteen shows held In 1890.
only one Is recorded for the Pacific coast
that OF San Francisco. while last year there
were nine held beyond the Rockies. That
will show the activity among the far west
ern owners OF good dogs and 1t Is worth
while noting that now they need no longer
be compelled to win al two successive San
Francisco shows to get the title of cham
pion by securing the coveted ten points
scored by wins In winners classes, for last
year In addition to the five points which
San Francisco yields there were four show,
OF the three points grade, three two-point-
ers and only one fell to one point. that at
Spokane. which is out-of-the-way place
for all but local dogs.
These Pacific coast shows all come under
the ribbon show" classification a term
used to distinguish them from shows which
give money prizes. and they have also been
OF material assistance to the increase of
shows in the east by adding many fixtures
which would not be self-supporting If
money prizes had TO be paid. These ribbon
shows were at first laughed at as being
something like playing at dog shows, the
playfellows being a lot of amateurs with
imitation prize dogs. This idea was ably
supported by the professional handlers, who
found small remuneration coming to them
in comparison with their excessive tariff
for the money shows. There never was any
truth In that. for the shows were always OF
high grade and at once became popular on
account OF their being mainly one day fix
lures to which an owner could go with his
dog or dogs and be back for business after
being away for but one day. AS these
shows are mainly Saturday or holiday
events this slipping away from the Office
for day Is not always necessary.
Comparison in Expenses.
Then there is the item of expense
New Yorker enters two dogs. say at Wissa-
hickon. that costs him dollar class, his
fare to Philadelphia and back for self and
dogs on chain adds So; lunch at the grounds.
10 cents, and as the liquid refreshment is
soft stuff another IS cents is about all he
can spend at the grounds. Returning he
has dinner In the dining room car and has
to pay parlor seat fare to get that,
with tips 1t means 81 more to land him in
New York well fed. That is a. total OF
$40, and anything spent outside OF that
would also be spent at home. Take the
other side, that of a money show at Phiia-
delphla. Entry for two dogs, $40. Express
age is necessary as the owner cannot stay
for four days to bring them home; that may
be put at from 50 to 81. His own railway
fare. 81. The breed may not be judged for
two days. and ii he spends less than IS
day he is doing well. If the dogs are very
yalable he probably gets some one to keep
an eye on them when he leaves for home.
and the result Is that when he figures up
his expenses he finds he Is out $50 and may
have won $50 If especially Fortunate; the
probability is that he may have won So or
$40, possibly nothing.
II PROFESSIONAL handler has mad the
dogs. the terms may have been $40 for
each dog and all expenses paid. or, with
expenses paid, the handler to get all the
prize money, but that is only when the
dogs are pretty sure winners. II is very
easy to why these one-day shows are
popular. even If no cash prizes are given.
and that they are not graded low is easy
OF proof. The same scoring by paints, ac-
eording to the number of dogs entered, ap-
plies to them as to the money shows A
total of 40 points was scorable at ~ money
shows, and at Is ribbon shows ~ points
were to be had. in each case an average of
p with one show to spare. But when we
consider that 3 of the money shows scored
- of the total of 40 points. and that the
remaining 81 shows had but SO points, IL
much better. the figures on 81 money shows
being 10 1-point, 2-point and 4 3-point
shows, while in the ribbon shows there
We're but lpoint D 2-point and 3-point
in the total of IS shows
Future Of the Ribbon Shows.
Eventually we may look to some of-these
ribbon shows becoming money fixtures, for
their support will be large enough to yield
revenue at the small entry fee charged
and the amount of local interest worked up
by the local competition at the low zee.
Wissahiekon for instance, had GA dogs at
it's last years show, total exceeded only
by New York, Boston and Philadelphia,
which gave $4,000 IN prize money between
them. The aggregate for the ribbon shows
of the New England states mainly Masaa-
chusetts. Is not so high as In the New York
or Philadefphta districts, but the average