CANINE ARISTOCRATS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11533, 9 January 1932, Page 9

CANINE ARISTOCRATS

PAMPERED AND IWVUERED

PLTS

From the feminine point of view, dog shows arc rapidly becoming * counter-attraction to tlio flints or a fashionable wedding, states a Loudon exchange. At the Kennel Club a show at the Crystal I’ulaeo them were as many women spectators as there were owners of the 11368 dogs on view. These amateur, dog-lovers t pent a happy time among the best people in the canine world, comparing the prize-winners very unfavorably with their own darlings left, at homo. They wandered up and down the benches, trying to make up their minds which particular breed they would have had if they were not already in possession of the darlingcst dog in the world. They were particularly amused at the dogs’ dressing room, a special enclosure where men and girl groom': combed and brushed their charges in a dense mist of powder. The powder is not- talcum, but whitening. Thu /{rooms emerged from the enclosure whiter than any miller. There was whitening all over their clothes, thick on their shoes, and on their hair and eyebrows, but neither tm; men nor girls eared. Tlieir ehuinpions were ready to face the judges. Once again the cockers were tlio most numerous, and while the women stood three deep around the Pekinese and Pom. rings, newer breeds of small dogs ave gaining on these- established favorites. The Schippcrkes and iveeshouds, both Uelgiau, and Dutch barye dogs attracted a. lot of notice. For a flat, or room with aview, there is-a lot to he-said for the Schippcrko. Jle is not a yupper, and although very spirited is renterknbly aifectionute. Among the terriers the Kerry Blues, with their Vjuaiut- eyebrows and moustaches, and the lamb-like lied'ingltms are having a vogue just now.

As ever, the terriers made all the noise, while the elk hounds. mastitis. Irish deerhounds, Alsatians and St. Bernards, proceeded to their appointments with the judge's with episcopal dignity and silence. There were the usual eases of ainbitious novices who wanted to enter the senior rings, hut the only real expressions of ibritutioii came from the resident- parakeets of the Pulaco. who insulted all the big dogs impartially ■and threatened to light any J’ekel present. The two most digiiitied figures in the show were the Cocker Lucky Star of tVare, and Leo of Key nalton, a-

lovely bloodhound. Lucky Star is the' super-dog which for the past two years has been champion of champions, and Leo has had almost as great a career.

Having no more worlds left to conquer, those two great ones were not competing. Lucky Star slumbered jioaccfully, equally oblivious - of the barking terriers and the humble humans who came to pay court. Leo, with the greatest good temper, stood up at intervals to show liis wonderful ears and his heavy, thought-wrin-kled brows, hut for the most part lie was frankly depressed about this general election business- and very gloomy about the whole' future of this country.