The New York herald., 1922-01-22
SUGGEST DIVISION
OF PUPPY GLASSES
Pekingese Show Demon
strated Grouping Should
Be by Color.
WOULD HELP THE JUDGE
Winners of Various Sections
Could Be Brought Together
3 in Championship.
ny FRANK T.. DOLE.

Following the Pekingese show il was
suggested by number of exhibitors
that change for the better could be
made another year by dividing the
puppy classes according to color. This
is dohe at the Pomeranian speciality
show. Instead of having about twenty
puppies of all colors in one class where
color almost equally good, the classes
for puppies could well be divided into,
say. four groups.
Color groups could easily be defined.
il would also greatly facilitate the work
OF the judge which Is made difficult by
so many youngsters OF various colors
and many of almost equal merit The
question was first brought to my atten-
tion at the Pekingese show by Mr.
Frank Clark. A number of the leading
exhibitors appeared TO favor such divi-
sion and | was Informed that the judge
AIRS. Michael Van Buren. believes that
another year should see such a change
There is undoubted merit in this sug-
Eestion but 1t meets with possible objec-
tion from those opposed to any Increase
in classification. preferring. if possible,
even fewer groups. The Shepherd Dog
Club of America, for example. provides
very few classes at its specially show
and sope of the officers are Of the opin-
ion the show would benefit by having
even less. They say they wish 1t were
possible. under American Kennel Club
rules, to have only two classes, one for
dogs and the other for bitches.
Such suggestion is totally at var
lance with the idea of the Pekingese
exhibitors. Under such a two class ar
langement all colors would be matched
without distinction. 1t would mean sixty
to seventy animals in each class The
winners of each of these would COM
pete in the championship class and the
final winner would be styled the grand
champion of-the breed in this country.
Such an arrangement would result in
wonderful sporting event and the dog to
win would be considered the true cham
pion of his breed IL the judge had the
complete confidence of the exhibitors.
Otherwise the exhibitors could not be
expected to support such show
Pekingese Show Was Good.
The Pel1ingese Show, all in all, was
good There were 1872 entered. a nice
tribute to the success of the club. but
the affair did not seem to have the
life and go Of former years. Somehow
the intense interest in the various events
seemed lacking mere lS no qutSlioH
the failure of the Yankee Bourne Ken
nels to show left void. Frequently
was asked where the Yankee Bourne ex-
hibit was this year. Some members Of
the committee seemed to think things
were better without this exhibit, but
there is no getting away from the fact
that people who pay 81 to see spe-
cialty show expect to see all the best
kennels represented. 1t is pity such
conditions exist, not only in the Peking-
csc but in a number of the other spe-
cialty clubs where there are certain fac
tions which support one Judge, while
other groups support another. II all
this could be buried in the interest OF
unified work to advance the breed, how
fast the F"Icy would go forward.
here was one sale at the show. Mrs
Samuel G Allen wife of the field trial
Judge and exhibitor. became enamored
of a small sleeve specimen. Mr.. Allen
was Obliged to leave his check for $3.50
before the Peke could be taken from the
show.
American breds did exceptionally
well. No less an authority on the breed
than DR.. Mary Cotton. one of the very
first Pekingese exhibitors in this coun-
try. told me she considered the show
had brought out better quality on an
average than any previous event OF the
club There Was scarcely long nosed
Itke in evidence. and yet there were no
Outstanding animals with sensational
wins 20 their credit. Perhaps this ac-
counts for a certain lack of interest.
The judging was a hard task. II
never is a sinecure with 1S2 dogs. While
many were unable TO follow the judging
throughout. on the whole the show was
ably conducted. Many hope another
year will bring peace. and that all the
kennels will be inside the fold. The
Pekingese exhibitors are good support
ers of all shows. and / would like to see
them all represented at their own big
event. An outside judge. one not affili-
ated with the club. might be helpful
A few exhibitors who talked to me
seemed annoyed to think their dogs did
not go higher. and some went so far as
70 say that If they had not gone SO well
IN some classes they would have done
better IN others. But when all Is said
and done. the judge has the final word
and there is no questioning decisions
However. n judge who did not know
either exhibitors or their dogs might be
used TO advantage at such shows.
Many letters from novices wishing tc