Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-30
SHORT DOG SHOWS
WANTED BY OWNERS
Conclusions Reached by an
Analysis of Some of the Re-
cent Exhibitions.
By James Watson.

By James Watson.
The dog exhibitors have had a very busy
time during the past week, and four shows
have been added to the record of past
events. OF these it is possible in this COM
munication to speak of but three, the
fourth being the Bryn Mawr gathering yes
terday. Though it may not herein be spoken
of az a past event 1t Is entitled to be re-
ferred to as indicative Of the trend of dog
showing, and the new feature which prom
ises to dominate dog exhibitions. The pre-
sumption has all along been that entries
were commensurate with the money at
fractions in the prize lists and more clubs
have fallen by the wayside in effort to
emulate others which could command a
larger attendance and more income than
from any other cause. 1t looks as II we
had all been mistaken. and that cash cuts
| no figure, at least so far as prize money is
concerned though 1t undoubtedly does in
another sense. The facts which confront
show giving officials as obtained from the
very latest returns are as follows: Cedar
hurst, held on September Z, a one-day show
with one dollar entry fee and no money
prizes, had total Of $40 dogs, and rated
as three-pofnt show for champion title.
Trenton, four-day show, In progress last
week, with 81 entry and with cash prizes
for a number OF classes, including the i'm
portant one Of each breed, had 2O2 dogs en-
tered. Brattleboro, VT, three-day show,
with SO cents entry and small cash
prizes, had 162 entries MethueH, close to
Lawrence, Mass, with 81 entry and no
money prizes. had 2O3 entries. Danbury, to
be held this week. entry s. and all cash
prizes, with an exceptional list Of special
ty judges, has about 30 dogs, this estimate
being based upon the total entry of 4s0
dogs. York, Pa, with a larger cash prize
list than any show of late, and with the
west to draw upon, IL reported as having
$50 entries. Newcastle. Pa, with 81 entry
and no cash prizes, relying entirely on
support west of mid New York, is said to
have for its three-day show a 500 dog entry.
Finally. for yesterdays 81 entry and no
cash, but with one-day show only, Bryn
Mawr takes the record with over $50 en-
tries Of dogs.
The Short Show Wanted.
If figures demonstrate anything it is very
clear that the amount Of prize money has
little influence with exhibitors when they
are asked to support show. What ap-
pears to be the wish, as expressed by such
shows on the foregoing list as may be used
for comparison, is that the short show is
the one wanted We are undoubtedly
changing the clientele Of the persons who
make these exhibitions, the owners. A
few years ago it would have been proper
to say the men, but we have now so many
women interested in showing dogs that the
masculine Is no longer correct Cedarhurst
was an example which cannot be thrown
aside, for the support which came from
those considered essential to the success
of shows was infinitely small, not twenty
in the entire 500. Herein is the solution of
the position, that these owners Of one or
two good dogs will go to some little dis
comfort or rush If they can be sure of not
being compelled to give too much time. In
this very saving Of time there is also a
saving OF money. Take Bryn Mawr and
a dnv n 1,nv ;,,-f
To show two dogs at the former entails 81
entry; If the exhibitor is from New York
the railway fare is s., extra expenses, say
3d. total of $40. Outside of that the ex-
penditure is what man wants to spend
and not an essential. AS compared with
that we have $40 for entering two dogs at
the regular November show, llili Dad fare
another S.. When his dogs will be judged
is problematical. With the greatest of good
luck his classes may come on the first day,
and If he has dog entered in the mixed
classes or which has a chance to win in
the competitions for important cups he
will have to remain until the third day. IL
not longer. A moderate estimate for such
a case will be $35, to say nothing of the
absence from business. It is no wonder,
therefore, that the exhibitor says Or shows
he wants the one-day show and home to
business quickly.
Celebrity in Judging.
One thing these four days events might
lerity of judging that characterizes the
one-day shows. If Bryn Mawr can have
it's exhibition judged between IL and
o'clock, why cannot Philadelphia, or at the
most have the latter finished in two days?
Those who know what the English Gus
tom is are puZzled~to know why it cannot
be introduced here. At any leading show
over there the first days admission fs five
shilIings and then drops to one shilling
Over there the day that people want to go
is the first, when the judging is being
done. With us the third day is usually the
one with the largest attendance. 1t was
the case years ago in racing, and to some
extent is yet in trotting meetings, the
first day being merely Introductory. and
the interest increasing up to the third day.
Now it is customary to make the first day
of a race meeting particularly attractive,
placing on the program one Of the very
best races of the meeting, and the people
go, demonstrating that If properly edu-
Gated they well know what Is the attrac-
ton There is undoubtedly some solution
of the apparent difficulty Of shortening
shows and yet getting the attendance. An
exception may be conceded in the case OF
New York, for to that show the visiting
exhibitor goes with the intention OF max
ing a stay of three or four days. attending
the meeting of the particular club in which
he is interested and not infreQuently at
tending to some business.
Shows Of the Past Week.
Regarding the SHOWS OF the week past
Trenton was very much below the total an
ticipated, and 1t cannot be said that oppo-
sition hurt it, for there was not dog at
Brattleboro or Methuen which would have
gone to Trenton had either of the other
shows been non-existent. On the other
hand, some Trenton dogs might have been
sent to Brattleboro, and at least one was
also at Methuen, which was liberated from
Trenton day early, and others might |
have entered in the same way had they |
known. One feature at Trenton was the |
putting of the hanging curtain of the tent
on the inside of the high wire fence In |
closure and some ten feet from the tent, |
thus permitting a free circulation of air |
and giving comfort to all inside. The 5udg-
ing proceeded merrily for the first day and |
everything hut collies and English settlers |
was disposed of. The first notable event |
was the downfall Of the greyhound Lans- :