The New York herald., 1921-11-20
ENGLISH VIEWS ON
AMERICAN DOG SHOW.
Leading Critic Points Out
Small Entry and Need Of
More Professional Judges.
BY FRANK r. DOLE.

Edgar X. Smith. one of the leading
English authorities. who has been on an
extensive visit here, has. as he says.
with the greatest diffidence," consented
to make comparison of dog shows here
and in Britain. He writes:
IT have during my visit to the States
been treated on all hands with such
Kindness and courtesy and have so thor
oughly enjoyed every show I have at
tended that criticism appears to be an
ungrateful method of showing apprecia-
ton. but IL you say the truest way of
expressing my gratitude is to come
across with any criticism i think may
make for Improvement. I can not do
other than give what I wish to impress
are merely my personal views.
I'm the first place ii will. suppose, be
granted that the real success Of dog
shows lies in competition and in capable
and upright judges. The latter is a
delicate subject and one which I should
not touch save for the fact that the
American and English kennel clubs
hold widely different Views with regard
to the appointment of professional
judges.
Comparing American and English
shows in a general sense. ! would say
that as a social event shows in Amer
lea score heavily. The usual day for
shows here, Saturday, is vastly more
convenient than Wednesday or Thurs
day. the days usually selected in Eng
land. Again the venues here are ad-
mirably chosen and the management ex-
cellent and in marked contrast to that
which prevails at the majority of shows
hald fr, fol nII nj
also is In the case of most breeds well
up to the English standard. but-and a
most important but-the quantity leaves
much to be desired, and what there are
emanate from far too few sources for
keen competition and. except in the case
of two or three breeds, ! find lack OF
interest and enthusiasm for this reason
and instead certain staleness pre-
walls.
The Fault and the Remedy.
"All criticism should be fair
and also constructive. and 1t Is this
form of criticism l shall endeavor to
mete out when answering the question
put to me in connection with the fore
going paragraph. e.. What Is the rea-
son for this lack of competition and
where lies the remedy?
Dealing with the first part of the
query, l would saw that in England IN
the dog world we cater more for the
masses than the classes. recognizing
that it is the owners OF one or perhaps
| two dogs who form the great majority
| of the dog lovers In many instances
while possessing really good show speci-
mems, these small owners cannot afford
the expense of exhibiting unless they
can recoup themselves to some extent
with the prize money they win. The
show arrangements in England give
| cash prizes an every class equivalent
in American currency to $40, 50, SOD
| for first, second and third prizes re-
spec.ively. Not sums that a man would
murder or even stick up bank for. but
distinctly useful and acceptable to the
man or woman who, yielding to none in
either love of or enthusiasm for his or
her dog. at the same time does not feel
justified in incurring the expense Of
showing unlass there Is at least a pos
sibility of getting something back to-
ward expenses and who accordingly
welcomes even a couple of $3.50 prizes.
1--WE find this method attracts fa-
more entries than by giving numerous
specials, which mostly all go to one cr
two dogs that gain the premier awards.
with nothing for those that run them
| mighty close.
II have been told the show manage
ments here could not afford such ex-
| penditure. but If they adopted the meth
ods which prevail in England for pro-
viding this money they most certainly
could.
The English Method.
'In the first place our speciality clubs.
which for the most part do great work
and are not merely name, are ap-
preached with request to guarantee all
or part of the classes, and this is usually
done. If they cannot see their way to
accede, private individuals are asked to
guarantee one or more classes until all
are provided for. / would point out
these guarantees are only called up in
the event of any class not securing suf-
ficient entries to cover the prize money
of that particular class and then only
to the amount of the deficit. It Is vastly
more easy to get these guarantees than
to obtain special prizes and has been
found much more helpful.
Now for the other and more delicate
matter viz, judges. I think that at n
number of your shows here certain
judges are asked to Judge far too many
classes. IL Is obvious to anybody who
knows dogs that q judge cannot be an
expert on every breed. and he certainly
cannot do himself justice jumping from
breed to breed. Again, the task Is too
arduous for judge to be at his best at
the end of the day with perhaps a fall
ing light to handicap him, whilst hang
ing about all day waiting for a par
ticular breed to be Judged does not tend
to improve the nerves or tempers of
dogs or their handlers. and both fire.
quently fail in consequence TO do them
selves full Justice in the ring.
"As a purely amateur judge, by this
mean one who does not even accept
bare expenses, i would like to say ! do
not in any degree favor the exclusion OF
the professional judge. There are men
whose knowledge OF dog is profound.
but whose financial circumstances do
not permit of time being devoted to their