SF 429.P8I°9T"""'™'"""-"'"^ Show Pomeranians. 3 1924 001 040 652 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924001040652 .. SHOW .. PO/AERANIANS "^ BY LILLA IVES. ^ PRICE 2/6. MANCHESTER : 'Our Dogs" Publishing Co., Ltd., 4 Albert Square, 1911, PREFACE. This little book has been compiled at the request of Our Dogs. It is not altogether a pleasing task to give the results of purely personal experience which in a book of this class one is obliged to do ; but, judging from the number of letters I receive asking me questions relative to this breed, it may be that the advice herein set forth will " help a lame dog over a stile," or, in other words, save some novices the hard uphill work which for a number of years fell to my share. I trust that my suggestions as to the practical management of Pomeranians may save the young exhibitor from many of the failures and disappointments I myself suffered when as a complete tyro I began, 17 years ago, to rear Pomeranians for the show bench, at which time Mr. Theo: Marples, by his kind advice, directed my feet upon the fascinating path of the Pomeranian fancy. LiLLA Ives. INDEX TO CHAPTERS. CHAPTER I. PAGE Origin and History of the Pomeranian i CHAPTER II. Resume of the Breed and its most noted owners for the past fourteen years : — Whites ; 7 Blacks II Browns and Chocolates 23 Blues 29 Beavers 35 Parti-colours 3,8 Shaded Sables 38 Oranges 54 CHAPTER III. Breeding 62 CHAPTER IV. Whelping and Care of Puppies 67 CHAPTER V. Grooming, Washing, and Showing : — Grooming 74 Washing 77 Showing 79 CHAPTER VI. On Odd Matters Connected with Showing Dogs : — Scale of Points of the Pomeranian and Pomer- anians Miniature 81 Regulations as to the Registration and Ehgibility for Competition of Pomeranians and Pomer- anians Miniature 84 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE The Author Frontispiece Ch. Afon Bolo lo Aeroplane 12 Atom's Double 41 Atom's Ideal 42 The late Blue Cherub 30 Bit of Blue 30 Ch. Brooklyn Princess 49 Brooklyn Gold Speck 55 Beautiful Fairy Fox 59 Brighton Bobbie 61 Ch. Coldhurst Beauty 24 Dainty Nigger 18 Eagleton Mercury 22 Elmsgate Stoker 16 Freehold Opal 49 Gateacre Hope 44 Grist 28 Gold 57 Goldmine's Sunbeam 50 Haughty Goldfinder 39 Ch. Haughty Winnie 26 Hazelwood King 41 Jo Jo 59 Ch. Kew Marco 18 Little King of the Stars 8 Loloma of Lowlynn 10 Mafeking of Rozelle 36 Marland Berry 14 Matchmaker 24 Ch. May Duchess 47 Ch. Mars 57 Nipper's Own 12 vin. page; The late Ch. Oliver Twist 20 Ch. Offley Saucy Atom 44 Offley Saucy Mite 47 Ch. Offley Honey Dew 5=; Parkside Queenie 3J Ch. Pomeria Fire Fly 50 Goldmine Prince Carl 53 Scotland's Pride , 8 Ch. Shamrock's Duke 14 Shamrock's Popsie 14 Shamrock's Wee Blackie 20 Shelton Novelty 37 Solheim Little Dorritt 28 Stockport Bobby 37 Sunny Bank Prince 3q Shelton Merlin 42 Ch. Shelton Mercury 46 Tilton Sable Imp 52 Ch. Wee Brownie 26 Wolvey Mite 52 Young Boy Blue 33 Ch. Young Nipper 16 Young Dragon Fly 50 CHAPTER I. ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE POMERANIAN. There is no mention whatever to be found of the Pomeranian (by this name) during the early period of English h 'ory. Now and again, in some fine old full-length portrait of a court beauty or distinguished ac res?, we see portrayed a dog with alert expression, fox-like head, slightly outstanding neck frill, but lean and wolf-like in the formation of body and haunches, with bushy, waving tail. This is the nearest approach one finds to the appearance of the Pomeranian of the present day. We cannot say with any degree of certainty which country was the original habitat of the Pomeranian, nor at what period it was brought into England ; but we may infer that very few dogs of this breed were seen in our land much before 1870, when the Kennel Club decided to recognise them by the name of Pomeranians, and provided a class for them in 1871, which contained three entries — ' those entries being composed of a trio of large white dogs. The first book written and printed in England on the subject of dogs was a short Latin treatise by Johannes Caius, in the sixteenth century, and in this work no mention whatever is made of Pomeranians. Still, at that time it was the custom to import dogs, and Dr. Caius especially ment'ons the im- portation of the Arctic dog, of which there are several vari- eties — the Iceland dog, the Norwegian and Swedish dogs, the dog of Lapland, the Eskimo dog,— all more or less wolf- like in type, with the one exception that while the wolf hangs his tail, these northern dogs one and all carry the caudal appendage over the back. There is yet another variety which (according to Mr. Lane, one of the early enthusiasts in this breed) bears a striking resemblance to the Pomeranian, and that is the Samoyede, Who takes his name from his country, which is within the Arctic circle. These dogs are used by their owners for drawing the sledges and hunting the reindeer. They have also been much used in the Arctic expeditions for their indomitable perseverance and capacity for long endurance, and are used, loo, by the Samoyedes in rounding up their immense herds of reindeer in the same manner as our present-day sheepdogs round up the flocks of sheep. They are also of exceptional use in towing boats, the Samoyed country being much broken up by rivers and lakes. Between the Samoyedes and the large white Pomeranians first benched there is a great similarity, although the period at which the Samoyede nation migrated into Pomerania seems very remote. Naturally, by inbreeding, the Pomeranian has greatly decreased in size ; and again, when an animal is removed from a cold to a warmer climate, and inbreeding is continued, the size of the specimens be- comes still further diminished. From Pomerania these dogs have penetrated to France and Italy, where they bear the name of Lulu and Volpino ; to Holland, where they take the name of Keeshond ; and to Germany, where they are caUed Spitz dogs. The Volpinos, of which I owned a brace years ago, were often of a bright rich orange colour, beautifully fox-like in head, with black noses and eye rims ; but, unlike our present-day type, they were rather long and lean in body, in other points, and also in movement, being singularly hke a fox. To my knowledge these two dogs were the first brilliant-red dogs sent over to' America. They were purchased from Mr. A. Grundy, of 9, Todd Street, Manchester. The Keeshond that Miss Beverley exhibited at the Kennel Club Show in 1899 ^ore a marked resemblance in shape and texture of coat to Mrs. Barnett's Champion Ruffle, benched about five years later, although he was not so warm in colour. Champion RufBe was bred from a yellow imported Volpino and a white Spitz who came from Germany. English fanciers were by this time beginning to be impressed by the attractiveness of the Pomeranian, and many ladies visiting Continental cities brought one or more of these charming dogs home with them, the quarantine rules in those days being much more lax than at present. Brown and black dogs began to be seen on the bench, and a number of excellent kennels were formed. During the next 15 or 20 years the progress of the breed was slow. In 1881, at the Kennel Club Show, 15 dogs were benched. In 1890 no entries of this breed were made at this particular show ; but a sudden impetus Was given when, in 1893, 22 dogs made their appearance at the Kennel Club Show ; and during the same year, at the Toy Dog Show, there was an entry of 38 under Mr. Theo : Marples, showing that the breed was coming into favour — so much so that at the Kennel Club Show of 1905 125 dogs were entered, with 124 at the Toy Dog Show of the same year. In February of 1891, at the Agricultural Hall, during Cruft's Show, a few admirers of the breed banded themselves together and formed a club to further the interests of the Pomeranian. At the first meeting of the Club, Miss Hamilton, of Bath, was elected President, which office she has continued to fill for many years. Mr. Theo : Marples undertook the of&ce of Hon. Secretary, and Mr. Lane that of Hon. Treasurer. The first committee included Mrs. E. J. Thomas, Miss Hamil- ton, Mrs. Lynn, Mr. Enoch Hutton, Mr. J. W. Berrie, Mr. Jas. Fawdry, and Mr. Lindsay Hogg, now Sir Lindsay Hogg, Bart. Among the first members were included Mrs. Harcourt Clare, Mrs. Wisden, Miss Cresswell, and the Rev. and Hon. Canon Dutton ; and although many of these above- named fanciers have ceased to exhibit — and a few, alas ! to exist, — they who survive still retain a deep interest in the dogs, still breeding winners and occasionally attending shows, but fighting shy of risks and unnecessary fatigue. Miss Hamilton's whites, Mrs. Thomas's blacks. Miss Cresswell's whites, Mrs. Lynn's sables, and the Hon. Canon Dutton's chocolates, have exercised a strong influence in the formation of the present-day strains. The first booklet of the Pomeranian Club, issued in 1892, contained a number of printed rules and a scale of points, which for some years have been most valuable to the Club. They bear the stamp of much experience, are clear, terse, and well arranged for the preservation of type in the breed. In 1910 a revision of the rules and scale of points became necessary on account of the great strides made in breeding, and in the recompilation of these rules no loophole is left for misconstruction or ambiguity, Mr. Marples held the post of Hon. Secretary for four years, when pressure of business compelled him most reluctantly to resign. Mr. H. Collis then took over the duties till 1897, in which year the number of members stood at 45- In 1910 the muster roll had risen to 124. Mr. Collis was succeeded by Mr. G. M. Hicks, M.A., who held office for a dozen years, resigning only on account cf the illness of his wife, who later died, and who also was a most enthusiastic fancier. Mr. Cornish Bowden, M.R.C.V.S., then took up the reins, and under his jurisdiction the present excellent revision of rules took place. In the last week of May, 1907, the first annual show of the Pomeranian Club was held — a function which found such favour that it has since been held yearly At the time of the formation of this Club Pomeranians were divided as now — by weight — into two sections : the over-weights and the under-weights — otherwise, dogs over 81b. and dogs under 81b. Four championships were granted by the Kennel Club, one each for the different sexes in either weight. In igo8, to the consternation of fanciers, the championships were reduced by the Kennel Club to two, possibly in consequence of the small number of over-weights exhibited. Appeals were repeatedly made by the different clubs to that " august body " to reconsider their decision and to restore the four championships, which favour was eventually granted and greatly rejoiced over, for Pomeranians usually take a royal place in schedules. However poor the entries may be in some specialist classes, those given to Pomeranians almost invariably fill satisfactorily, and form a large factor in the pecuniary success of dog shows. The above-mentioned revision of the rules of the Pom- eranian Club had become a very necessary matter, as in the first issue, of 1892, there were to be found loopholes for faults which the more extensive and careful breeding among so much larger a number of dogs of improved type rendered possible of ehmination. Great strides had been made in the de\-elop- ment of those points which had long needed improvement. It is unnecessary for us to recapitulate the old rules ; but a slight comparison of the former scale of points with the revised version may be of interest to the novice. In 1892 we had the coat described as " silky." This adjective was replaced by " glossy " ; the term " glossy " again altered in 1897 to " glistening," and the mane and frill were to be of " long, straight, glossy hair." This description gives one an idea of a very " soft coat," a fault that in the show ring 01 the present day would stand greatly in the way of a dog's success. The revision also required the top coat to be " harsh " in texture, this harshness being a very important factor, for however dense the fluffy undercoat may be, unless the top coat is of this hard, wiry character, it has a tendency to hang, instead of standing straight out from the body. Another of the now obsolete descriptions relative to the shape of the head was causing great discontent among those breeders who had "moved with the times." The "stop" and the round skull and larger round eye which the old description sanctioned in the very small specimens were fast disappearing under the careful selection of experienced breeders, and Were giving place to the rather flat skull and smaller eye as required in the heavyweights. Toys with head points as perfect as those of the best of the large dogs now became the rule instead of the exception. The recent division of weights was at first a sore point. A change was required. Endless discussions took place, for neither individual members nor individual clubs (for here I should point out that with the growth in popularity of the breed in all parts of the country, had sprung up district Pomeranian Clubs in the North of England, Scotland, Mid- lands, Ireland, etc.) seemed absolutely in accord as to the division of weight most desirable. Popular fancy turned to small dogs, and 51b. was suggested as a suitable division, only to be rejected. There were not many heavyweights, but beautiful dogs of between six and eight pounds were meeting with little encouragement, however typical they might be, or however great their value as stud dogs, the prizes being mostly annexed by the more diminutive specimens. The majority of the members of the different clubs finally came into accord, and submitted the matter to the Kennel Club, the result being that the divisional weight now stands at 71b. instead of 81b. This more rational division retained the most useful dogs in the list, both as show dogs and sires, while not excluding the smaller specimens, which continued to hold sway on the show bench — dogs of from 4 to 5¥-^-' — and are still popular, when sound. CHAPTER II. RESUME OF THE BREED AND ITS MOST NOTED OWNERS FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS. Whites. It is not necessary to refer to the dogs shown from 1885 to 1887, when Mr. Crang's Hizza was exhibited at the Toy Dog Show. Hizza's name is found in many present-day pedigrees where the genealogical tree is lengthy and aristo- cratic. In 1891 Miss Hamilton, of Bath, was the principal breeder of white dogs, and in 1911 she still owns the largest kennel of this colour. Rob of Rozelle and Koenig of Rozelle both became champions, Kleiner Rob of Rozelle following, and many other inmates of the kennel gained great distinction. They were singularly pure in colour,, and good in texture of coat. Later on Miss Hamilton devoted much of her time and interest to the breeding of smaller white specimens, and was very successful in this respect, Delme of Rozelle, Marvel of Rozelle, Fairy Sprite of Rozelle, and Starlight of Rozelle being among the best of her home- bred midgets. Oranges, too, claimed much of Miss Hamilton's attention, though as yet they had not become popular. Browns also she added to her kennel, but the white dogs always held first place in her affections. Miss Cresswell was showing at the same time as Miss Hamilton a good kennel of whites, and her Star of Devon, Sir Amyas, and Little Snowflake were notable winners. A later fancy of Miss Cresswell's was the oranges and sables which she added to her kennel. Mr. Duckworth's magnificent brace of creams, Park Swell and Park Masher, had a fine career, and were sold to Mr. Riley, who for a short time continued exhibiting them. MRS. E. E. POPE'S LITTLE KING OF THE STARS (WHITE), MR. J. WALLACE'S SCOTLAND'S PRIDE (WHITE). Mr. Duckworth was a keen fancier, but died early ; the last important dog he showed was Park Emerald, a large, mag- nificently coated, warm cream. Miss Chell, of Belper, was a great breeder and exhibitor of white dogs, and certainly the greatest winner in this colour. Their name was legion, and the number of their prizes the same. Belper Bounce was 281b. in weight ; but in those days, when there were no extra small ones. Bounce could and did win much glory. Belper Flossie, the first bitch to win a championship, carried off in all 18 of these certificates. Ch. Belper Snow and Ch. Belper Fritz each won 22 championships. Ch. Belper Sprite was perhaps the prettiest of them all ; he won his full title, and died in the prime of his career. Peggie, Racer, Squib, Spider, Blossom, Stacey, Chips, Milita, and Snowflake (all with the prefix of Belper) made their reputations at our large shows. Miss Chell, too, was not satisfied with white dogs alone, but kept ahead of the times, and in due course added both shaded sables and blacks to her kennel. Miss Nina Arm- strong, of Bath, showed a lovely extra small white in Caer Bren Wee White Wonder ; his plume was phenomenal in length and profuseness, as was his name ; but he showed badly, and instead of the tail being carried on his back, it was usually sweeping the floor, giving no idea of the real beauty of this tiny dog. Miss Armstrong does not confine herself to white dogs alone ; she, too, went in for colours. jMrs. Pope has an exclusively white kennel, and she has benched some very beautiful clear white specimens in Little Lady- smith, Little White Star (who died after winning his first championship), Ch. Queen of the Stars, King of the Stars, Polar Star, and Prince of the Stars, a wonderfully small and perfect specimen. Miss Bland put a heavily coated white on the bench in Royale Blanche, who Won her full title. A very clear pure white is Mrs. Dyer's Ch. Afon Bolo, who in a short time won full honours. The Princess Dhuleep Singh showed a small and charming white in Bambino ; he was seldom benched. Miss Lee Roberts also kept a very small and choice kennel of. whites. Ch. Tatcho was a beautiful dog with a profusion of clear white coat ; her Lady Verna and Frou Frou both had a good record. Miss Gillet, after- 10 MRS. L, C. DYER'S CH. AFON BOLO (WHITE). MRS. KNIGHT GREGSON'S LOLOMA OP LOWLYNN (WHITE), 11 wards Mrs. Goodall-Copestake, always kept and benched a few handsome whites ; but of late years her interest has been given to shaded sables and blacks. White Ruffine and Ruffino Babette were among Miss Waters's winners. Miss Kearn's White Cherry and Miss Gilpin's White Mist were both winners. A lovely little winning white came out in Mrs. Pepper's Tiny Snowdrop. Other breeders of small specimens are Mr. Maskell, Mr. Medley, and the late Mr. Blenkinsop, of Liverpool. Miss Mungeam has done well with Dom Phillippe and Timothea Titus. Mrs. Seton owns a beautiful brace. Prince Charming of Crutchfield has come very near championship, " reserve champion " having often fallen to his share. His kennel mate, Ninon of Crutch- field, had Won two championships, but died young. Mrs. Nicholson, whose prefix was Fonthill, showed some very fine dogs, Fonthill Admiral being one of a selection of good ones ; but some years ago Mrs. Nicholson gave up her kennel. Britannia Joey must not be omitted ; he was not only a winner, but a good sire, and became the property of Mrs. Pope after Miss Waters died. Hunstanton Charles, also belonging to Miss Waters, Was a good winner. Blacks. , One of the first notable names that We find in the ancestry of black Pomeranians comes from a venture of the Hon. and Rev. Canon Dutton, who mated a white dog with a black bitch, from which union he formed the strain that produced the bitch Hizza, who, mated to Mr. Crang's Nubian King, produced Bayswater Swell, a beautiful, small, black dog who, though he had a good bench career, never became a champion. Canon Dutton showed various blacks ; among the first he benched Was Fiirst, and later on a pretty bitch in All Alone. Bayswater Swell's virtues as a sire were great, for he pro- duced that never-to-be-forgotten winner, Ch. Tina, also Ch. Prairie King, Nubian Prince, Indian Prince, Mrs, Horner's tiny brace Musa and Merry, Kilburn Exchange, Fiend, Aigburth Prince, and Brown Bruin, who in his turn gave to the canine world such winners as Prairie Grace, Alresford Pickles, Marland Queen, King Gem, Arlesbury Brown Bobs, 12 ME. HALLEY'S AEROPLANE (BLACK), MRS. HALL WALKER'S NIPPER'S OWN (BLACK). 13 Reigate Brownie, and Bruno of St. Wolstans. In 1891 Mrs. G. J. Thomas brought out an imported specimen in Black Boy, who soon won his title of champion. He was a small, sturdy, handsome dog, and there are few pedigrees of our best solid- coloured dogs of the present daj' in which his name does not occur. Another imported dog introduced by Mrs. Thomas was King Pippin. He, too, won his championship, and Was sold to Mrs. Hall-Walker. Among others that he sired were Little Billee Boy, Halliford Billy, Sirdar of Tring. Flash, Pansy Girl, Toffee of St. Wolstans, etc. The Princess Dhuleep Singh's fine black dog, Joseph, was a well-known winner, though there is little mention of him in pedigrees. Her Highness had an objection to the small specimens, and only kept overweight dogs, considering that the large ones at that time showed better type than the midgets. Mr. Houlker had always a good black or two in his kennel. Black Prince won all before him, together with two championships, but at an early age retired into private life, being purchased at a high price (£200) by Mrs. Taylor, merely as a pet. He was the sire of a very small and beautiful black bitch in Rustic Kelpie, who became a champion, and was immediately retired by her breeder, Mr. F. Gilchrist, of Newcastle, who had other winners from the same source. Miss Bland, of Norwood, has always owned a choice kennel of small blacks ; Ch. Marland King (who sired Arcadia Blackie, etc.), Marland Queen, Marland Carnival (who sired Ch. Wee Brownie), Marland Berry, and Marland Frou Frou are all Well known. Mrs. Body, whose prefix is EUesmere, breeds and exhibits black dogs, and she owns some good specimens of this colour. Arcadia of EUesmere, who later on in America did much winning as Endcliffe Raven, was from this kennel. Mrs. Bowler's kennel is a prominent one in blacks; Shamrock's Duke, bred by Mrs. Morton, soon became a full champion. Many lovely dogs were benched by Mrs. Bowler ; Arcadia Blackie as a puppy, shown once, sold for a high price to America ; Wee Tiny, reserve champion- ship winner ; Wee Brownie won full championship title ; Shamrock's Scamp won well, and passed into the possession of Miss Burton ; Shamrock's Wee Blackie, a gem of a dog, passed into Mrs. Dennis's hands. Shamrock's Popsy, too, is another of Ch. Shamrock's Duke's progeny ; she had a splendid 14 MRS. BOWLER'S CH. SHAMROCK'S DUKE and SHAMROCK'S POPSIE (BLACKS). MISS BLAND'S MARLAND BERRY (BLACK). 15 ■winning career, inclu 'ng a reserve championship and special for best bitch of all breeds in show ; she Was then exported to America, and as Oak Hill Poppy continued her winning career. Kew Marco is another very lovely dog, who after a successful career, winning his full title as champion, was exported to America at close on £200, where Mrs. C. Wieder- sheim continued to win first honours with him. .Mrs. Allen, of Dublin, benched a winner in Oliver Twist ; he won his title, and it was interesting to ringsiders to watch the contest when Ch. Shamrock's Duke and Ch. Oliver Twist (dogs of equal merit) met in the ring, to see who would make the most of his virtues and show himself the best. Little Dorritt and Ireland's Mite, very small black bitches, were both shown successfully by Mrs. Allen. Sad to tell. Oliver Twist died in his prime. He was not a strong dog ; still, he left some good stock to perpetuate his memory, notably Mrs. Scott Kerr's Merry Oliver, who did a fair amount of winning both in England and Ireland, and was exported by his owner. Mrs. Allen supplied Ch. Oliver Twist's place by a good black dog in Gold Ring, who did fine work on the bench. Mr. Lindley's black dog, Little Flyaway, has done good work both on the bench and as a sire ; among his progeny were many notable black, brown, and sable dogs, the principal being Flyaway's Diamond, sold for £100 (who had a splendid career as a puppy, and Was sold by his owner (Mr. Green) to the kennel of Mrs. F. Smith, of America). Flyaway's Aeronaut, Aerial Flight (sold to America), Aviator, Magic Maid, Whitby Queen, were among his progeny ; also Wee Ina Bueno (sold to Canada), Chocolate Aeronaut, Aeroplane, Lovecharm, Grist, Wee Brown Jossy, Sherdon Flyaway, Flyawa3?'s Aeronaut, Haughty Cora, Chocolate Belle, all very noted winners. Ch. Hatcham Nip, after winning full honours, went to America. The name of Mr. Canning's Malwood Marco will be handed down to posterity as a noted sire of good blacks with sound, profuse, outstanding coats, who have held their ground well. Notable among his progeny are Ch. Kew Marco, Malwood Marcorona, HoUybush Swell, Bapton Benjamin, and many others. Mrs. Ainscough has a well-known northern kennel of jet-black small dogs; she has won well with home-bred 16 MRS. PARSONS'S ELMSGATE STOKER (BLACK), MR. C. WRIGLEY'S CH. YOUNG NIPPER (BLACK). 17 specimens. Her best stud dog was Seedhill Perfection ; he won many prizes, but rarely made the most of himself in the ring. Mr. Wilfred Hirst is another successful northern breeder and exhibitor; one of his home-bred dogs, when exported to America, became a full champion, by name Banner Prince Charming. He was an inmate of Mrs. F. Smyth's kennel, as was another of Mr. Hirst's home-bred dogs, Banner His Lordship, who also had a fine American record. Stocksmoor King, too, won and sired well. Mr. Charles Horner had a very large kennel of mixed colours, and among them benched many good blacks. He exported Beautiful Billy, who soon became a full American champion. From his kennel came Redland Romney, Beautiful Belle of Bolton, Magic Maid, etc. Mr. J. Fowler's Dashing Billy was yet another winner doing well in America after he was exported. Colley Jasper, too, was a notable dog. Mrs. Parker owned Rikki-Tikki, a very small black ; he won equal second with Halleford Billy, another wonderfully smalt dog (purchased by Mrs. Hoot on) ; he was sold for a high price to go to Paris, won there, and was finally purchased by an Egyptian Princess in Cairo. Mr. Wilson, of Manchester, owned the small black dog Cheetwood Swell, from whom he bred Ch. Dragon Fly, and many other winners. Mr. Wrigley owned that noted black dog. Little Nipper, not often shown, but the sire of some of the most famous sable stock, including Ch. Sable Atom, Ch. Sable Mite, and that fine black overweight, Ch. Young Nipper, the latter also the property of Mr. Wrigley. Ch. Young Nipper, bred by Mr. G. Moseley, is the sire of Gateacre Rival, Gateacre Twilight, Nipper's Own — a beautiful little dog, and a championship winner, — and the overweight Elmsgate Stoker, who has won one championship. Mr. F. Norris is an enthusiastic breeder and exhibitor ; he bred Ch. KeW Marco, Kew Pearl, Kew Superba, and various other winners. A sound, small, black dog, never shown, who won his laurels through his progeny, figures much in pedigrees in Mrs. Kipling Walters's Tufnell King ; he sired Mr. Hooton's Ch. Crimbles Duke, Crimbles Duchess, Hahiford Pat, etc. Mrs. Claude Cane's Delta of St. Wolstans, from whom she bred Ch. Queen of the Fairies, is a litter sister to Tufnell King. 18 MR, ATHEKTON'S DAINTY NIGGER (BLACK). MRS. WEIDEESHEIM'S CH. (BLACK). KEW MARCO 19 Kensington King passed from the hands of Miss Fox White (now Mrs. Briggs) to the Hon. Canon Button, and from him to Mrs. Barnett ; he was the sire of innumerable small winners, among them Ch. Marland King, Ch. King of the Fairies, Brown Fly (championship winner). Blue Prince, King Monkey, etc. Mrs. St. Lo Malet's King Khama, a handsome black, was also seldom shown ; his son. Prince Khama, was a northern winner, and produced some excellent stock. Mr. H. Bridge's overweight, Ch. Carmen, Don Caesar, and Don Jose, were all handsome and notable specimens. Mrs. Dyer's Zaida was one of the prettiest of bitches ; and her well-coated dog, Smut, went out to America, as did Mrs. Seaman's Ch. Walkley Queenie. Gateacre Zulu, a typical dog belonging to Mrs. Hall- Walker, won his full championship, but we do not see his name much in pedigrees. Mrs. Hall-Walker added to her kennel two beautiful little blacks in Nipper's Own and Gateacre Rival, both dogs with a probable future before them. Miss Chell had a choice small kennel of blacks, and broughl out some very pretty winners, among them Belper Imp, Belper Birdie, Belper Dainty, Belper Shrimp, Belper Blackie, and Belper Tossie, the latter exported to America, and shown successfully by Miss Anna Sands, who also 'mported Pom Patch May Fly, a good English winner (by Ch. Pomeria Chocolate Fly), who soon qualified as a champion in America. Mr. Harvey bred Prairie Grace, who won one championship. Mrs. Mappin bred and exhibited some good blacks in Billee Tee, Cobham Dot, Cobham Jackanapes, Sir Peter Sniffkins, and Jack Spratt, who, as Pom Patch Tuffnell, has won much honour' in America for Miss Sands. Mrs. Ashby benched some good blacks, among them CoUey Jasper. Mr. J. Fowler's Dashing Billy, Miss McEntire's Anglesea Boy, Mrs. Nicolas's Shelton Imp, Mrs. Geddes's Offley Blackthorn, and Miss Ives's Solomon, have all been in the front rank. A good northern kennel was that of Mr. Laxton, who owned the little, heavily coated dog Ambition ; he won, but was not often benched, being a bad shower, but for which his prize hst Would have been much more imposing. He was an excellent sire, among his progeny being Ambition's Dainty Knight and Young Ambition, the latter sold to Mrs. Macpherson, of 20 MRS. LANGTON DENNIS'S SHAMROCK'S WEE BLACKIE (BLACK) MRS. CHAS. ALLEN'S THE LATE CH. OLIVER TWIST (BLACK). 21 Kingussie. This dog grew an enormous coat. Ambition's Dainty Knight Was one of the principal Northern winners, and had a long list of prizes. Mr. Halley showed another notable dog in Aeroplane, whom he exhibited with Aerial Flight very successfully, winning many cups and prizes in keen competition. A lovely dog was Mr. Atherton's Dainty Nigger, who won exceedingly well and was one of the best blacks in the North. Many big offers were made for this dog, who was eventually sold to America. Mrs. Heptonstall was a well-known and successful breeder of winners. Among the principal overweights was Elmsgate Stoker, championship winner. A black who on several occasions took the " special for heaviest-coated dog in show " was Mrs. Fred. Brown's Administrator, also exported to America. Mr. Barlow's Hotpot, Mr. Day's Nipper's Model (who died at the zenith of his fame), Mrs. Dittmer's Lisadel Judy, and Mr. Houlker's Haughty Magnet, Haughty Carl, Haughty Max, and Haughty Dolly, are noted winners. Mr. Kelsey's Prince Egerton was not often benched, but was a capital sire of blacks and sables, having to his credit much winning stock, including Lady Dreadnought, Rudding May Fly, Beautiful Belle of Bolton, Aberdare Sable Duchess, Tiny Tina, Sable Queen, Pomeria Woolly Fly (a winner in both England and America), Little Lustre, Holmeside Belle, etc. Another good sire was Mrs. Heydon's Billington Prince ; and yet another good show and stud dog was Mrs. Jones's. Darwen Minx. Dainty Stella (Mrs. F. Brown's bitch) and Mr. Traylor's Signorina and Signoretta were a trio of excellent winning bitches. Mrs. Claude Cane showed a heavily coated, compact dog in Ch. Eros, and a showy little one in Little Derrick. Mrs. Birch had Hollybush Swell. Mr. Youngman bred many small, black winners, including Corsair, Capture, Chancellor, Coun- cillor, Consequence, and Corporal, all winners, together with Cinderella, the blue, and all with the prefix of " Little " well deserved, for all were small. Mrs. Soorn showed a brace of sound blacks in Little Elf and Little Imp, the latter the sire of Pretty Boysie, Little Elf, Little Derrick, Son of an Imp, Clayton Imp, Miss Dot, Chocolate Vena, etc. 22 23 Browns and Chocolates. Among the early breeders of browns and chocolates was the Hon. and Rev. Canon Button, who had taken great interest in this colour, purchasing from Mrs. Ross (now Mrs. Morris Mandy, of New York) the handsome winning dog, Thirlmere Bronze, who, although he won well, has left little notable progeny. Indian King and Goldielocks were also well-known winning dogs in the Canon's kennel. Mrs. Home showed a team of very small browns, including Musa, Merry, and Mischief. Mrs. Horner's dogs were very even in size and colour, and seldom above 4lb. Mrs. Pettitt owned the first brown brace in Prairie King and Indian Prince, the latter (bred by Mr. Harvey, who Was also the breeder of Ch. Prairie King and other good ones) being sold by Mrs. Pettitt to Canon Button. Mrs. Percy Foster, whose prefix Was Moorland, kept a team of nice-quality browns, and bred some notable winners. Moorland Brownie was sire of Ch. Moorland Pixie, Moorland Witch, and Moorland Elf, all small, dark-brown, heavily coated dogs. Of late Mrs. Foster has been absent from the show world. The Messrs. Judge (father and son) had a wide experience in this breed, benching and breeding some good stock ; among others in their kennel was Kilburn King, a name well known ; he was the sire of that finely coated brown, Addington Bandy Bick, the property of the Hon. Rose Hubbard. Mrs. Claude Cane owned an excellent kennel in Ireland of mixed colours, among them the magnificently coated brown dog, Ch. King of the Fairies, and the diminutive Ch. Queen of the Fairies, one of the smallest adult Pomeranians to win this title — smaller even than Miss Ives's Ch. Tiny Brown. Coldhurst Beauty, the rich deep chocolate, quickly added her full title to her list of wins. Pomeria Jean, after winning at the large shows, passed into the possession of Mrs. Cane, and became a breeder. Knight of Kildare, another deep, even chocolate, has scored one championship for Mrs. Cane towards his full title. Thirlmere Bo Peep and Thirlmere Bearie did Mrs. G. Hicks good service as breeders ; sound and handsome winners, too, when shown. The late Canon Black- burne imported a brace ; the dog Fritzskin carried a truly 24 iES. CLAUDE CANE'S CH. COLDHUEST BEAUTY (CHOCOLATE). MR. CHAS. E. HORNER'S MATCHMAKER (CHOCOLATE). 25 marvellous coat of the harsh, wiry texture so much admired. This particular merit he transmitted to his progeny, and they to their descendants in a marked degree. He was not much used at stud, being kept as a house pet. Mrs. Bowler brought out a pretty small one in Wee Brownie, who soon Won her full champion title. A beautiful bitch with a plentiful coat was Mrs. Body's EUesmere Nan, who retired into private life. In this colour Ch. Tina stands pre-eminent, by BaysWater Swell ex Mrs. G. Hicks's Kitsey. She had a wonderful career, winning more championships than any other Pomeranian dog or bitch. She was never beaten except on one occasion, when Ch. Boy Blue took premier position. She is the only Pomeranian who has won the grand challenge cup outright, and her portrait, taken in the grand challenge cup, with the rest of her cups and trophies around her, is very charming. She Was not a deep chocolate, but a very pretty, small, cobby, dark brown. In brown or chocolate dogs Mrs. Houlker's kennel heads the list. After Ch. Prairie King, the small brown, and Aigburth Prince, the chocolate who did good service on the bench and at stud, she purchased from Mr. F. Gilchrist the brown bitch Haughty Muriel, and from her many winners were bred, notably Ch. Haughty Prince, by Aigburth Prince, an excellent winner and a remarkably fine stud dog — none better. In England and America he sired five champions and innumerable winners. It is difficult to pick out his best stock, but Ch. Haughty Queenie, Ch. Pomeria Chocolate Fly, Ch. Shelton Brown Elf, Seedhill Perfection, Beaver Queen, Haughty Dimple, Chocolate Model, Pomeria Jimmett, Nibs, Saucy Jacky, and Wendy, may be mentioned ; and in this shght list we omit many other well-knoWn dogs. Of the four champions Mrs. Houlker has owned, two were home-bred, and We doubt if up to the present time any other kennel can claim to have earned such an honour. In Miss Ives's kennel was Ch. Tiny Brown (a rich chocolate sired by Mrs. Paterson's Reigate Masher) and Ch. Pomeria Chocolate Fly— not often benched on account of ring shy- ness ; he was, however, a good sire, among his progeny being Ch. Pom Patch Mayfly, Little Flyaway, Lilla, Little Surprise, Nut Fly, Stilletto, Kimberley Beauty, Chehern 26 MKS. C. HODLKEH'S CH. HAUGHTY WINNIE (CHOCOLATE). MES. BOWLER'S CH. WEE BROWNIE (CHOCOLATE). 27 Pomeria Boy, etc. Brown Fly was a golden brown ; he won one championship, carried a phenomenal coat, and died early. Pomeria Jimmett Won well in overweights, and was a good sire of winners, including Beautiful Little Coquette, purchased from Mr. Horner, and winner of two championships ; Pomeria Ivy, exported to Miss Browning's kennel in America for £60, her bench career in both countries being excellent ; Tariff Reform, Mrs. Bowdler's winner, and others. Pomeria Jean won Well. Mr. Charles Horner showed many good winning dogs of this colour. Golden Tina won her full championship, and was on the bench, winning first prizes with Miss Smith, of Bath (who purchased her from Mr. Horner) till an advanced age. Golden King has sired many winners, and stamped his personality upon his offspring. Money Maker, Match Maker, Merry Maker, and Mischief Maker are all well-known winners as Well as good sires. Mrs. Nicolas showed a beautiful bitch in Ch. Shelton Charm, who after winning her title retired from the bench. She also owned the small, heavily coated Shelton Brown Elf, whom she exported to America for three figures, where he continued his winning career. Mrs. Fred. Brown won well with Little Pebble, who, early in life, was exported to America, there doing good service as a sire. Wee Tina, too, was another of her winning chocolates, as Were Wee Brunette, Chocolate Nipper, Little General, and Dainty Irene. Mrs. Parker has a lovely chocolate dog in Grist, Who should exert a good influence as a sire, bred by Mr. Sleigh, who was also the breeder of that lovely bitch. Chocolate Belle, who died after her first appearance, when she won much honour. Mr. Prox had a good show and stud dog in Haughty Jacky, as had Mrs. Earl in Nibs, both deep sound chocolates ; the latter passed into the possession of Mrs. Pendleton. Mrs. Earl's Wendy was another well-coated winner, as was her Earlybird. Mrs. Morton was a very successful breeder with Victoria's Chocolate Shamrock, and many were the winning dogs who left her kennel for other homes in both England and America. A' promising young one came out in Wee Brown Jossy. Mrs. Soorn showed a cobby, well-coated brace in Little Charm and Marchioness. Little Cherry Picker, by 28 MISS TEMPLE'S SOLHEIM LITTLE DOEEITT (CHOCOLATE). MES. PAEKEE'S GEIST (CHOCOLATE). 29 I,ittle Admiral, had a short but good winning career, and other dogs were also sired by little Admiral. A notable breeder, though a rare exhibitor, was Mr. Midgley Marsden, the all-round judge, and some fine winning dogs of various colours passed at times through his hands. He interested himself in Pomeranians as early as 1892, when judging at Munich. On his return journey, visiting Stuttgart and Manheim, he purchased three specimens. Later on he made several more visits to the Continent, purchasing Pomer- anians on each occasion, which found ready sale in England. He owned Minnie, by Fritzkin ex Blanche, who proved a gold- mine, and was the dam of manj' noted winners. For years Mr. Marsden kept bringing forward good dogs which sold for high prices. One of the principal all round judges — Mr. Theo : Marples — was the first fancier to show Miniature Pomeranians in the North of England, the blue, Ch. Chocolat, afterwards sold to Mrs. Harcourt Clare, being his first venture. Blues. A colour that attracts much attention is the Blue, or Slate. There are numbers of breeders of this shade, but on account of the difficulty of keeping the colour clear, it has never been very popular. Mrs. Harcourt Clare's Ch. Chocolat, bred by Mr. Theo: Marples, was one of the first to be benched, attaining his full title of champion ; he was a small, profusely coated dog, with good plume. Then came Mrs. VaUance, a great enthusiast. Among many other blues she owned a pretty brace in Cracker and Squib, the latter the hghtest blue adult We have ever seen benched. They sired a number of blues, but transmitted to their progeny a scarcity of coat on ears, back, and tail — a defect they themselves possessed. Mr. Harvey owned Blee, one of their descendants, a typical bitch as regards shape, colour, and style ; she, too, was deficient in coat, and some of her progeny inherited the fault. Miss Robson showed several very small and good specimens in Blue Prince, Maid of the Mist, and Blue Mamie ; the two latter purchased by Miss Ives, and exported to America in 1890. Up to this time the scarcity of coat had been a drawback to the advancement of this colour ; 30 MISS rVES'S THE LATE BLUE CHEEUB (BLUE). MRS. PARKER'S BIT OP BLUE (BLUE). 31 but with the institution of Miss Ives's kennel, and more careful breeding and buying, this fault was speedily corrected. Mr. Loy, of Grange-over-Sands, showed some lovely dogs, clear and unshaded, with very heavy coats ; Moleside Blue Bush, Grange Princess, and Grange Blue Bell did a great deal of winning. From his kennel came Bluecoat Boy (purchased in igoi by Miss Ives), who, after sweeping the boards, died the same year. Miss Ives also purchased Blue Peggie and Blue Princess, both sold to Mr. Oldham for America, as was the very small, heavily coated blue. Lulu, and all were winners. In 1893 the colour became still more popular, the two last- named breeders keeping exclusively to the heavily coated strain coming from Ch. Black Boy, a grandson of Hizza. In 1895 Miss Ives placed Mouseley on the bench, one of a blue brace bred by Mr. F. Gilchrist, who at the same time was winning with her blue litter brother, Rudolph. Mouseley won all she could in this colour, with two premierships at the Ladies' Kennel Association Shows (equal in value to the championships of the present day). She was shown for several years, never losing her colour, always winning ; and at 13 years of age she was again benched, not having lost one tooth, the whole set being white and firm. She died at the age of 15. In 1898 Queen of the Blues was bought from Mr. Baldwick ; she was one of the lightest, clearest, and heaviest-coated blues ever benched. She won championship at Cruft's, and Was then withdrawn for breeding purposes. As a breeder she won the gold medal at the Crystal Palace. Up to 14 years of age she still retained her even, light colour and heavy coat. She was more of a lavender than a blue. Following the bitches came Blue Jacket and Blue Bertie, litter brothers, bought from Mr. Duckworth, of Accrington. Blue Jacket won many prizes, full premiership title, and two championships. Blue Bertie not being much behind with a long prize-list. As a brace they created a sensation — heavily coated, perfectly sound dogs. Both died suddenly and in their prime. Then followed Ch. Boy Blue, bought as a puppy from Mrs. G. J. Thomas, and of the same strain. He was perhaps the best Pomeranian dog ever benched. He won 16 championships and many premierships. He Was modelled by jewellers, and his photograph Was reproduced 32 in innumerable publications both in England and abroad as the true type of a perfect Pomeranian. He was sire and grandsire of an immense number of winners, among them the winning blues of the present day. Pomeria Blue Boy and Pengwerne Blue Mite came out in 1906 ; after winning weir at three London shows, and scoring a number of cup wins, they were exported to America and Australia at good prices. Blue Lass won a good deal, taking out to Australia with her a long list of prizes. Pomeria House Fly and Pomeria Blue Fly also won Well, the latter passing into the possession of Mr. Blarney, one of the secretaries of the North of England Pomeranian Club, who continued to bench and win with him. In igo6 Miss Ives brought out Blue Cherub, a magnificently coated overweight, not often shown, but scoring many prizes and 14 cup wins at the large southern shows. Following him, in 1909, came Young Boy Blue, the last blue son of the famous old champion ; he also was not often benched, but won remarkably well, and was an unusually light, sound blue. In less than two years he scored a long list of premier honours, mostly won at championship shows. In igii Miss Ives dispersed her kennel of blues, in which she had been all through greatly assisted by her partner, Miss Hornby, retaining only Young Boy Blue in this colour. Many other winners had passed through her hands, but space forbids us to mention them. A keen upholder of blues was Mr. Wolstenholme, of Clayton- le-Moors ; he bought Prairie Blue Grey, bred from Mr. Harvey's Blee and Ch. Boy Blue. He was rarely benched, but used principally as a sire. He made a name for himself. Among his progeny may be named the winners Blue Star, Blue Shell, Blue Flower, Moonlight, Hyndburn Prince, Read Topsy, Grandpa's Pet, and many others. The Hon. Mrs. Cross bred Lennox Silver Queen, giving much attention to this colour when she commenced her kennel. Mrs. Ashby's CoUey Mist, Miss de Pass's Blue Wufhe, Miss Adams's Leyswood Blue, Mrs. Quick's Sergeant Blue, Mr. Ford's Harebell and Eyebright, were all good winners, and typical animals, each of their owners breeding this colour carefully, as did Mrs. Chawner, whose principal winners were Blue Sprite and Little Miss Blue; she annexed the- 33 MBS. PAEKBK'S PAEKSIDE QUEBNIE (BLUE). MISS IVES' YOUNG BOY BLUB.' (BLUE). 34 Breeders' Cup. Many others of this shade came from Mrs. Chawner's kennel. Miss Ruby Cooke was also an enthusiast in this colour, and kept a nice collection, breeding many good youngsters ; her principal winners Were Bits Kiddie (who passed into the possession of Mrs. Fielding), Periwinkle, Blue Angel, Zoe, and Marion, the latter bought from Mr. Adams, of Stockport, who bred a number of good young stock, mostly sold in their youth, and several times winning the Breeders' Cup for blues. Other notable Northern breeders and exhibitors were Miss Appleton with Eagleton Blue Gown and Eagleton Twilight, Mr. Birkinshaw's Blue Moon, Mrs. Cane's Sweet Lavender, Mr. Hargreaves' Blue Magnet, Mr. Youngman's Cinderella, Mr. G. Harrop's Broughton Fairy and Blue Dainty, Mr. R. Horner's Blue Blossom, Mr. Thompson's Blue Mite, Ocean Blue, Petersfield Blue, etc. Mr. Blamey won with Pomeria Blue Fly, an excellent sire, and from the blue bitch. Lady Palmer, bred some excellent stock. Mrs. Howard, of Manchester, bred from Ch. Boy Blue that lovely bitch. Lady Bird, a most typical animal, par- ticularly clear and Well coated, with a perfect head, who annexed two championships, and passed into the possession of Mrs. Patten, who owned the orange kennel. Mrs. Bowdler, of Shrewsbury, also bred and owned some winning dogs. Ireland's Bee Bee was bought at a high price (£150) by the Marquis of Anglesey. From Miss Ives she purchased the brace. Blue Jane and Ireland's Boy, litter brother of Blue Cherub ; from these she bred successfully, exporting her winner, Pengwerne Blue Mite, to America, where he again did honour to his breeding. Mrs. Parker kept a fine kennel of blues. Cinders, by Ch. Boy Blue, was almost her first Pomeranian. She Was mated back to her sire, producing five blues, all of them winners, and among them the overweight, Quicksilver, one of the lightest ever benched ; he won whenever shown, but unfortunately died young. From the same litter came Blue Beauty, who won many firsts in Any Colour classes. Miss Cooke's Periwinkle was also bred by Mrs. Parker. Since that time Cinders has sired many blue winners, among them Starlight and Young Boy Blue. Even at ten years of age 35 she was still breeding. Bit of Blue was by the same sire and dam — a beautiful, little, clear-coloured, good-coated dog, who made a sensation and Won all he could, though he was not shown very often. From him came St. Anthony, Little Bit, and many good blues that Were sold into private hands. Bit of Blue died at the zenith of his career. Blue Star was a bitch of exceedingly good quality, and very showy ; she was sold for a high price to America, after winning two champiortships. She was by Prairie Blue Grey, as were Moonlight and Blue Blossom, one of the best Mrs. Parker owned. Moonlight was shown once, and bought at a high price to go to Paris. She met a tragic fate. She never made friends with her new mistress or her servants ; when exercising, she slipped her lead, and was lost for a time, but recovered. The same accident occurred again, but this time she was never traced. Beavers. Beavers have never been a popular colour, neither has anyone made a great speciality of them. They frequently shared their classes with the blues, and in these cases the blues took the principal prizes. The soundest- coloured beaver without shadings was Mrs. Scholes's northern winner, Selborne Kaiser, bought by Mrs. Watson. She won well in the " Any Other Colour " classes with him at southern shows, and then sold him. Miss Appleton's Eagleton Dora did very well ; a showy, stylish bitch with good coat. Mr. Stafford's Beaver Queen was also very sound, and did a fair amount of winning, as did Little Prince Arthur (a beautifully coated dog) and Stockport Dandy. Mrs. F. Brown showed a small, heavily coated bitch in Dainty Masher. Mrs. Cane's pretty bitch. Cosy of St. Wolstans, made infrequent appear- ances, and a very handsome, sound heavyweight in Fog, owned by Miss Walton, made just one appearance, scored premier honours, and was not again seen. Mrs. Knight Gregson, who bred very small specimens, benched Light of Lowlynn. Miss Lane, too, was a beaver breeder, and benched several in the south, as was Miss Law. Mrs. Yates's Dot, a breeder of 3lb. weight, was very pretty, but too shy to show. 36 MISS HAMILTON'S MAFEKING OF EOZELLE (PARTI-COLOUR) 37 MRS. TAYLOR'S STOCKPORT BOBBY (PARTI-COLOUR). MRS. NICOLAS'S SHELTON NOVELTY (PARTI-COLOUR). 38 Parti-colours. Among our first parti-colours were Mr. Temple's rich red-and-white, heavily coated Leyswood Tom Tit, a beautiful dog, as was Mrs. Harcourt Clare's black-and-white, Magpie. Miss Hamilton showed the profusely coated Mafeking of Rozelle. Mr. Charles. Horner has several of these broken colours in his kennel Beautiful Bramble Meg and Merry Magpie made a place for themselves on the bench ; the former was sold to Mrs. Edwards (now Mrs. Newsome, of Bray), who was much interested in them, and formed a small kennel, so that at a few shows she was able to bench a team ; a typical-headed black-and-white Was among them in Sweet Nero. Mrs. Kidson's team, Birkin Beppo, Birkin Babette, and Birkin Billie, were beautifully marked black-and-white dogs with profuse coats. The prettiest parti-coloured bitch ever benched was Shelton Novelty, very small and evenly marked, black-and-white, with a particularly heavy coat. Mrs. Taylor's Stockport Bobby was another handsome dog, brown-and-white ; he was shown once or twice, won the cup for parti-colours, and died young. Mrs. Sharpe's Queen of May, a very small black-and-tan, exceptionally pretty, headed her classes for a little while, and then she, too, died. Lady Paget showed two pretty dogs in Shelton Gaiety and Mirth ; but, taken all round, parti-colours, though attractive, are not popular. Parti-colours must have the colours or patches of colour evenly distributed over the body. A dog with white chest and white feet is not a parti-colour, but a mismarked dog. Judges would do Well to remember that whole-coloured dogs in Vv'hole- coloured classes should take precedence of light shadings and white hairs, however profuse the coat may be. Shaded Sables. The first shaded sable to win the full title of champion was Mrs. Barnett's Ruffle, the wolf-shaded dog who was exported to the kennel of Mrs. F. Smyth, of America, at a big price. Ten years ago sables Were not considered to be a fashionable colour, and not meeting with particular favour in England, some good ones found their way abroad. Mrs. Hall- Walker Was one of the early admirers of this colour, her kennel 39 MB.S. HOULKER'S HAUGHTY GOLDFINDER (SABLE). ^^^ ^^^i ^^^^^^^^1 ^^^^^Kr^ ~^j:A i^ -'^^H ^^^^^Kr „m^-.^ .JmfL J«^ -r '^^^^^H ^^^^^■■k .^mt WK ■•^ i ^^^^^^m ^^^.jip^lMll \f ^ ^^H W ^ ^^m f i^^^^m j^^^^^ BBHHBaH||M||Br >jt, .f^ 1 JH^^^^ I^BMI^HiBI^W ■— ■ ****■ >J<< J^B^^^^^! ^^^^HHk '^ *" t" J^^^^^^^B Hlgi MR. OLDHAM'S SUNNY BANK PRINCE (SABLE). 40 •containing some choice specimens. Among them was the. dog Ch. Dainty Boy — the second Enghsh champion in sables, — Lupino (the red dog), Ch. Bibury Belle, Gateacre Dainty Belle, Sable Sue, Gateacre Hope, Gateacre Buzzing Bee, Gateacre Petite, and others of note were all inmates of her kennel. Mrs. Nicolas was the first exhibitor to own a large kennel of wolf sables, and she really brought this colour into fashion. Her first champion was Nanky Poo, purchased from Mr. Birkinshaw, the breeder, with whom she won well in over- weights, eventually selling him to Mr. Carr, of Tring. Next came Ch. The Sable Mite, bred by Mr. P. Hirst from Mr. Wrigley's Little Nipper ex Laurel Fluffie, from whom he was purchased by Mr. Wrigley and sold to Mrs. Nicolas for £150. From this dog comes a host of first-class winners, the principal being Ch. Shelton Mercury, a dog who rapidly won his title and carried a phenomenal coat. Ch. The Sable Mite later on was purchased by Miss Burton. Ch. The Sable Atom was the next addition to Mrs. Nicolas's kennel, also sired by Little Nipper, ex the blue bitch Cinderella, bred by Mr. Fielding. His show career was even more glorious than that of Sable Mite, and he has laid the foundation of many of the noted sable kennels of the day. Mated to the Dragon Fly strain, he introduced the warmer colour into the wolf sables, which makes them so attractive, though they must not be confused with the brilliant tint of the orange- shaded or genuine sables. Ch. Shelton Sable Mite is the sire of Mr. Fowler's lovely Ch. May Duchess, one of the lovehest sable bitches ever benched, or indeed in any colour, who died in her prime, Ch. Offley Sunny Atom, Ch. Offley Saucy Atom, Ch. Honey Dew, Shelton Merlin, Duke of the Sables, Countess of the Sables, Sable Rondo, Haughty Goldfinder, Shelton Spark— in fact, his winning progeny are too numerous to mention. While in Mrs. Nicolas's kennel, "these two wolf sables, Ch. Shelton Sable Atom and Ch. The Sable Mite, were shown as a brace ; alike in size and colour, they were the admiration of every fancier, and won all before them. It is said that Mrs. Nicolas refused a price somewhere in the vicinity of £500 for this pair when in their prime. When Mrs. Nicolas dispersed her kennel (retaining only Shelton Mercury), 41 MR. RICHARDSON CARR'S ATOM'S DOUBLE (SABLE). MR. RICHARDSON CARR'S HAZELWOOD KING (SABLE) 42 MR. RICHARDSON CARE'S SHELTON MERLIN (SABLE). MR. E. HORNER'S ATOM'S IDEAL (SABLE). 43 Mr. Carr purchased Ch. Shelton Sable Atom. In 1911 Mrs. Nicolas returned to the show bench with a good young dog in Mighty Atom. Contemporarily with Mrs. Nicolas, Miss Ives brought out Ch. Dragon Fly, whose lovely colour, orange-shaded sable, took all hearts by storm. He was eminently successful both on the bench and as a sire, laying the foundation of the orange-shaded sable as distinct from the wolf-sable colour. Among his winning stock we may note" Ch. Afon Gem (a full champion both in England and America, to which country she was expatriated for the handsome sum, for a bitch, of £100), Ch. Pomland Dragon Fly, Ch. Pomeria Fire Fly, Offley Bumble Bee , Pretty Jane, Pomland Pandora, and Pengwerne Sable Jewel, all championship winners ; Brocklyn Gold Mine, Clydesvale Queen, Belper Pallie, Nipper's Model, and Little Dorritt (both black), Sabrinetta, The Favourite. Best Friend, Gateacre Buzzing Bee, Littl& Comet, Prettj' Girlie, Ivy Winsome, Clifton Fly, Orange Fly, and many other well-known winners, for he was a wonderfully prolific sire, propagating over 200 winning sables, besides winning dogs in orange and black. Pomeria Will o' the Wisp, a diminutive son of Ch. Dragon Fly, too nervous for the show ring, sired Afon Crack (sold for over ;£ioo). Glint of Gold, Bright Banshee, Pengwerne Sable Girl, Rascal, and other winners. Pomeria Orange Fly also was a fine sire, but equally nervous, therefore unshown. The next winner after Ch. Dragon Fly was Pomeria Fire Fly, bred by Mr. G. D. Harrop, of Manchester, and purchased from Mr. Marsden. After a successful show career Miss Ives sold him to Mr. W. Jackson for £100, in whose hands he won his full championship. Young Dragon Fly followed, bred by Mrs. Gorton from Maycliffe Gold Drop, and purchased from Mrs. Fisher. He was never out of the money during a short and brilliant career ; and, after winning his first championship at Birmingham, was purchased for £180 by Mrs. Langton Dennis, whose kennel in 1910 held pride of place in this variety, this lady owning and breeding some big winners. In her possession at various times were Ch. Offley Sunny Atom (sold to Miss Sturges, of New York, for £180), Ch. Venus of Offley, Ch. Adonis of Offley (who won one championship with Mr. Horner, one with Mrs. Dennis, and 44 MES. HALL WALKER'S GATEACEE HOPE (SABLE). MRS.LANGTON DENNIS'S CH. OFFLEY SAUCY ATOM (SABLE). 40 one with Mrs. Cummings, his latest owner;, Ch. Honey Dew, Offley Honeysuckle, Ch. Offley Saucy Atom, Offiey Bumble Bee, Ch. Mite's Sable Fly (bred by Mrs. Morton from Mite's Leader), Merlin's Double, Love in a Mist, and many other winners, for she devoted much monej., time, and care to the breeding of this most fascinating variety. Many dogs were exported by her to win honours on the Continent and in America ; Offley Bumble Bee was sent to Mrs. Caner Wiedersheim, of New York, at the price of £60, where he was almost a champion in 1911 ; Mite's Sable Fly, bred by Mrs. Morton, became the property of Mrs. Pultz, of New York, with whom he became a full champion ; Offley Honeysuckle went to Paris ; Offley Dairyman passed into the Scotch kennel of Mrs. Geddes, The fancy has never owned a more enthusiastic member than this lady. For some time she bred from the strains of the two champions, Mite and Atom ; but, wishing to introduce new blood, bought Young Dragon Fly, the orange-shaded sable, in 1911, by Goldmine, whose sire was Ch. Dragon Fly. It is a regrettable fact that though owning one of the best collections of dogs in England, Mr. Carr, of Tring, never exhibited his Pomeranians. He breeds youngsters who become champions, and owns champions ; the latter pur- chased in order to breed stock of the finest quality. He owns, besides Champions Nanky Poo and Sable Atom, and Shelton Merlin, Ch. Offley Honey Dew, from Mrs. Dennis ; Atom's Double, a replica of his sire, bred by Mr. Parsons, of Sheffleld ; Hazelwood King, bred by Miss Burton ; Shelton Imp, and many others of rare merit. Although never again benched after reaching Mr Carr's hands, these dogs are kept in the finest of show form, and by appointment can be seen by any fancier. Miss Burton, who purchased Ch. The Sable Mite, still occasionally benches this fine veteran " Not for Competition." He Was in 1911 still siring as good stock as in his most youth- ful days. Hazelwood Merry Mite, Hazelwood Princess, Shelton MerUn, Hazelwood King, Wolvey Mite, and Shelton Ruffle were among his later winners. Molly Bawn was another winner, who unfortunately died in early youth. Miss Burton has a high-class kennel of sables, but not often 46 MRS. VALE NICOLAS'S CH. SHELTON MERCURY (SABLE). 47 MR. FOWLER'S THE LATE CH. MAY DUCHESS (SABLE). MRS. LANGTON DENNIS'S OPFLEY SAUCY MITE (SABLE). 48 showing, giving much of her interest to breeding. Mr. Birkinshaw was another fancier of this shade, and the breeder of Ch. Nanky Poo. Mr. Birkinshaw bought Sable Atom at five weeks old, selling him to Mrs. Nicolas five months later ; he also sold to her both the future champions, Saucy Atom and Sunny Atom. Dare Sable Mite was another of his. breeding. Sable Sample, Beauty Boy, and other good dogs passed through his hands. For a time he showed Mrs. Nicolas's dogs, and never were Pomeranians better handled or put down in better form. Mr. Horsfall and his daughter, Mr"?. James {nee Miss Alice Horsfall), began with black and chocolate dogs, eventually devoting themselves to the forma- tion of a sable kennel. Sable Midge, a pretty wolf sable, was among their first of this shade ; then came Brooklyn Gold Mine, bought from the breeder, Mr. Richardson Carr. After winning well, he settled down to private life as a sire of lich orange sables, and after doing wonderfully good service in this respect died fairly young. He sired Ch. Brooklyn Princess, Brooklyn Goldspeck, Scamp, Fly Bird, Pomeria Buttercup (a big winner in America, to which country a pile of doUars attracted her), Gold Nut, Maycliffe Gold Drop, Goldmine's Sunbeam, and that most lovely little brace of winners, Mrs. Carlin's Eastney Monsieur and Eastney Queen. All the above were either orange or orange-shaded sables, and well known. They are but a few of the winners sired by this dog. The wolf sable, Brocklyn Jupiter, was a later addition by Sable Atom, and bought also from Mr. Carr. The dogs brought out were mostly home-bred. Mrs. Wearing and Mrs. Dyer were long-established breeders, of this colour, their strains coming through Frau Senta, Frau Brunhilda, Frau Gundelinda, and Herr Hans. Mrs. Dyer's best sable was Ch. Afon Gem, and the next Afon Crack, the home-bred dog who won well and was sold for a very high price as a puppy. Then came Sabrinetta, bred by Mr. Kennerley, who, after winning remarkably well in England, was sold to Mrs. Mallory, of Paris. Afon Squinny followed ; he did remarkably well as a young dog, and was a glorious colour. He was eventually sold by Mrs. Dyer to Mrs. Smyth, of America, for £^0. Mrs. Dyer was one of the oldest and most extensive breeders, keeping all colours. 49 MR. WINDER'S FREEHOLD OPAL (SABLE). MR. HORSFALL'S CH. BROOKLYN PRINCESS (SABLE). 50 MRS. DENNIS'S YOUNG DRAGON FLY (SABLE). MRS. SMEDLEY'S GOLDMINE'S SUNBEAM (SABLE). MRS. ROY GEDDES'S CH. POMERIA FIRE FLY (SABLE). 51 and always showing a good dog. In igii she was invited and accepted, to judge at the first American Pomeranian Speciahst Show in New Yorlc — a great compliment paid to the old country and to this lady's ability. Mr. Houlker did not pay much attention to this colour ; but for a time showed a very good one in Beautiful King of the Sables, who scored one championship, and died young. He was succeeded by Haughty Goldfinder, a winner and sire of winners. Mr. G. D. Harrop rarely benched a dog, but did excellent service in the advancement of the quality of the breed, and some fine stock came from his kennel. Mrs. Chas. Brown, Mrs. Judge-Brown, and Mrs. Fred. Brown all benched good types of first-rate sables, as did Mr. Laxton with Sable Fox, and Mrs. Howard with King Fox, who was the richest orange-shaded sable at that time on the bench in the north. Mrs. Schofield bred sables for many years, and produced a number of winners who did well in England. Some were exported, and kept up their reputation in America ; among them were Excelsior, Timber Hill Kitty (championship winner in America), Ideal Sable, and Timber Hill Boy. Mr. Horner's Beautiful Fairy Fox also did good Work on the bench — a profusely coated dog with sweet head. Mr. Winder's Freehold Opal, and Mr. Oldham's Sunnybank Prince, Were well-known winners ; as was Mr. Pember's Jinny's Pet (overweight), winner of two championships; Mrs. Parker's Pretty Nan, who also won two championships ; and Mrs. Bowdler'sPengwerne Sable Jewel, one championship. Mrs. Smedley's Goldmine's Sunbeam, noted for his lovely bright colour, was also a good winner, as was Mr. Winder's Freehold Opal and Mr. Oldham's Sunny Bank Prince. Mr. Deane Willis owned the winners Bapton Elfkin and Storm Cloud ; both died very young, the latter after winning one championship. Mrs. J.J. Fowler's Dazzle was another showy sable who won one championship. Bridport Sable Mite was attractive, and scored honours. Among Miss Chell's sables was Rene, the brood bitch, and a notable stud dog in Belper Pallie, who made his mark both on the bench and as a sire — a very richly coloured dog. Among the heavy- weights we must mention Mrs. Liversidge's Tilton Sable Imp, winner of championship at Cruft's ; Mrs. Greatorex's Sable MRS. LIVERSIDGE'S TILTON SABLE IMP (SABLE). MISS HAWLEY'S WOLVEY MITE (SABLE). 53 M O g o O C6 O m P u 54 Monarch, Sable Marvel, Narcissus of Offley, and Carnfield Sable Sen Sen. Mrs. Morton with the miniature Victoria's Orange Thistle, Mite's Leader, and Victoria Sable Skipjack, was breeding much good sable stock. Mr. Whetton kept a mixed kennel : he bred, exported, and exhibited freely winning blacks, browns, and sables. A good Scottish kennel of sables was that of Mrs. Geddes, of Colinton, who owned the best in that country in 1911 — Little Comet, Offley Dairyman, Parkneuk Sable Model, Phul of Phun. Later on Ch. Pomeria Fire Fly was added to her circle, with Eastney Queen (these two dogs costing considerably over £200 the two), Mrs. Carlin's small, heavily coated sable, a beautiful bitch, who was awarded two championships before she was 14 months old. A very persevering breeder was Mr. Rogerson, of Carluke, who bred and won well with Clydesvale Queen, bringing out later on a beautiful dog in Clydesvale Atom, but indefinite in colour, not being sable, fawn, nor cream, but a reddish fawn ; his type was perfect, and he won well in Scotland. Mrs. Carlin's Eastney Monsieur, with whom she Won well, a very small well-coated orange-shaded sable, passed into the hands of Miss Ives at a big figure. Carnarvon Mite, a fine wolf-shaded sable, the property of Mrs. Birch, died young in the midst of a good show career, but had time to leave some good progeny. Sable Marvel is well worthy of notice, both as a winner and a sire. Wyndham Urchin scored two championships. Mrs. James still showed Brock- lyn Gold Speck, a successful sire. Among his progeny were Matchless Raffles, St. Juhen (sold to Mrs. Langton Dennis for £150), Orange Scamp, Eastbank Sable Midge, Enchantress, Sable Laddie, Little Speck of Gold, etc. Miss Hawley was for some time the owner of a choice kennel of sables, the principal being Wolvey Mite ; but he died early, and she retired from the fancy. In 1911, Mr. Fowler brought out a beautiful ^vinning wolf sable in Phenomena. Oranges. Oranges were a long time before they made headway, fawns and creams frequently being misnamed orange ; in fact, very little attention was paid to this colour five years ago. Miss Hamilton had their interests at heart, and ga^■e 55 MBS. JAMES' BROOKLYN GOLD SPECK (ORANGE). MR. RICHARDSON CAER'S CH. OFFLEY HONEY DEW (ORANGE). 56 two cups to the Pomeranian Club for red, orange, or fawn dogs. She owns Orange Count of Rozelle, Orange Baron of Rozelle, and Rozelle Red Rufus, the latter a very rich colour, and sire of winners. Mrs. Hall-Walker had a trio of oranges in Gateacre Philander, Lupino, and Orange Girl. At that time this colour was so little recognised that no classes were provided. Mr. W. Brown, of Taunton, made a hobby of breeding and exhibiting this variety, guaranteeing classes at the various shows, in which effort he was later on seconded by Mrs. Parker, who was equally an enthusiast in the same shade. Mr. W. Brown confined his kennel to this colour, benching a small, rich, clear, heavily coated dog in Tiny Boy, who had no white shadings ; he was just a little broad and high in skull, or he would have reached championship honours. However, a reserve fell to his share, with a long list of prizes. Tiny Boy was also sire of numerous progeny. Mr. Brown showed a good team, including Tiny Boy, The Boy, Orange Boy, Tipperty, and Fairy, and at times others were included. He did much to bring forward the clear shade of orange ; but unfortunately, a fall from his trap was attended by serious results, and since 1909 he has benched no dogs. A particularly clear orange was Mrs. Paynter's Mon- mouth Ruffle ; his points were perfect, and altogether he was a beautiful specimen. He won well for a time, but died in his prime. Mrs. Birch's Cheriwinkle and Rufus Rusticus followed, neither of them being brilliant in colour, inclining more to warm fawn ; but as a sire Rufus Rusticus frequently produced the bright shade in his stock. Mrs. Patten had a fine kennel of bright oranges, and showed many home-bred winners. She gave great care, time, and attention to breeding and the elimination of the white shadings on chest and breech- ings that is so undesirable, and which, together with the liver nose, militates against the success of these dogs in the ring. Red Hill Tulip, Red Hill Marcia, Red Hill Queen of Hearts, Red Hill Young Tulip, and many others, were brought out b}' this lady. Unforfunalely, late in 1910 a severe attack of distemper almost decimated this kennel, killing 25 of the inmates ; but notwithstanding this severe drawback, Mrs. 57 MRS. PARKINSON'S GOLD (GEANGE). MRS. PARKER'S CH. MAES (ORANGE). 58 Patten recommenced breeding with undiminished ardour, and doubtless her kennel will again be replenished with new stock. Indeed, she quickly stocked her kennel with the winners, Red Hill Gold Reef and Red Hill Cherub. A very deep rich orange, the deepest on the bench, with practically no light shadings, was shown in Mr. Koertze's Orange Nibs. Mr. Whittam exhibited a verj' small compact bright-coloured bitch in Polam Primrose, who twice won the Pomeranian Club's cup for oranges. Miss Appleton, with Eagleton Primrose, won well, and also with Brighton Bobby, her overweight, who was a truly glorious colour. Ch. Offley Honey Dew, a remarkably heavily coated and typical little dog of perfect points, was lighter in tone aU over — a very pale orange indeed. Bungalow Sable Jewel was much the same shade ; he won well, but died in his prime. Yellow Aster, St. Anthony, and Bittersweet were shown by Mrs. Parker, who later on brought out a typical heavily coated dog in Ch. Mars, brilliantly clear in colour, and with particularly high-stepping action. He was most successful as a sire, and held a grand bench record. Among his progeny were Gold, Zenith, Fame, Elmsgate Flame, Dividend, Token from Mars, Marsuma, Mar Reflex, Winterbourne Orange Fly, Redhill Marcia, Redhill Marquis, Eagleton Shrimp, Eagleton Mercury, etc., all first-rate winners. Gold was purchased by Mrs. Parkinson from Mrs. Parker, and very early made a name for himself in the dog world. He is a replica of his sire — the same beautiful colour and good carriage. Mrs. James's {nee Horsfall) Brooklyn Gold Speck carries an unusually heavy coat ; this is only one of his virtues, but it has brought him several times " special for best-coated dog in show." He is a rich bright colour, has done a great amount of winning, and proved himself a rehable sire. Among his progeny are Matchless Raffles, Little Speck of Gold, Eastbank Sable Midge, Enchantress, Sable Laddie, Orange Scamp, St. Juhen, etc. Mrs. Arundel's Dandy d'Or is another clear orange, small and good. Mr. Horner's Offley Prince of Orange, an over- weight, carries a wealth of briUiant coat. Mrs. Salt's Pretty Boysie is a gem— very small and typical. Unfortunately, he is rarely benched, and the pubhc is thereby deprived of the 59 ME. C. E. HORNER'S BEAUTIFUL FAIRY FOX (ORANGE). i MRS. CHAS. BROWN'S JO-JO (ORANGE). pleasure of seeing one of the best. A Token from Mars, Orange Bertie, Bentham Orange Lilly, Orange Babsie, Failsworth Fancy, Merry Kit of Twickenham Park, Orange Finch, Miphansi, Maycliffe Gold Spark, Offley Oranger, are all young dogs coming to the front, all winners, all possessing the brilliant orange colour (without the slightest trace of fawn), and with black noses and eye-rims. Mrs. Brooks' Bright Banshee, Mr. Edkins' Clifton Fly, and Mrs. Clarke's Rudolph Rassendyl are dogs of the right colour, first-prize winners, and likely to make a name for themselves. They are already good sires. One of the most notable dogs of this colour is Mrs. Chas. Brown's bright orange overweight, Jo-Jo, who is home-bred. He has annexed one championship and several reserves for that honour, together with a host of prizes. He is also proving himself a sire of good winning stock. 61 62 CHAPTER III. BREEDING. It is a matter of regret to breeders of sound colours that from about the year 1907 to 1911 the rage for breeding sables seriously interfered with the long lines of sound- coloured ancestors that up to this date had been traceable through the pedigrees. Blues were bred to browns ; browns with light shadings were bred to sables, under the delusion that they would breed sables ; blacks were bred to sables and fawns with a like idea, until it became the greatest difficulty to supply an order for a purely bred black, brown, or blue- The black and brown strains that have been kept pure for five or six generations could be numbered almost on the fingers of the hands. It would be well for novices who are taking up Pomeranians, before buying stock for the purpose of breeding whole colours, to consult the pedigrees for several generations, verifying the colours with the assistance of old exhibitors. The crossing of browns and blacks is excellent ; the blacks keep sound, and the admixture of black with the brown strain has pro- duced the much admired rich deep chocolate. The science of breeding may be reduced tersely to two golden rules : — (i) The use of a stud dog who is a producer of typical well-coated stock ; (2) the choice of a brood bitch not only bred from a few generations of reliable ancestry, but whose points, colour, and coat coincide with the standard arranged by the Pomeranian Club. The most desirable weight to breed from in bitches is between 5 and 71b., though some bitches of 8 and lolb. weight will breed very small progeny. No more mistaken idea could exist than that the merits of the stud dog will correct whatever points are 63 lacking in the shape and type of the bitch. Should the latter be undershot, she may (we do not say she will) re- produce that fault in some of her progeny ; and an undershot mouth is one of the most undesirable of faults. Anyone who knows the breed can tell in a moment, even when standing by a ringside, whether the under] aw is or is not in its proper place. In buying a brood bitch, particular attention should be paid to the ears. They must be small, and should a bitch be overdone in this respect, let the owner choose for her mate a dog with very small ears, and, if possible, of a small- eared strain. The indiscriminate breeding already alluded to, of which we have seen so much of late, though it may produce sables of curious, varied, and very pretty graduations of colour, is undesirable. We have seen bitches of every recognised colour paying visits to sable stud dogs — a fact which is likely to produce unsatisfactory results in time to come. The progeny of such mixed-colour unions will be of little reliable value, either as stud dogs or breeders, nor can one be sure whether as adults (if black, chocolate, or blue) their colours may prove to be sound. The blacks are likely to be flecked with grey hairs ; the chocolates light in tail and breeching ; and the blues bronzy. Very strongly do we advise breeders to keep the sound colours clear from sable mixtures. Blacks can be mated to blacks and chocolates, and vice versa ; sables to sables and oranges ; and blues to blue. An occasional blue cross with the wolf sables or oranges does no harm to the sables, but greatly interferes with the blues, who with time, when bred from such unions, become a little bronzy on shoulders and haunches, and light in tail and breeching. A cross (at long intervals) of a light clear cream will improve and lighten the blues. The grand-dam of Ch. Boy Blue was a warm cream, or light orange, hence the frequent appearance of sable and orange dogs in his progeny, and that of his sons and grandsons. The breeding of sables needs thought and care to carry it out with good results. Wolf sables bred to wolf sables do well until they become too light or too dark, in which case breed a light bitch to a darker dog, and vice versa. When 64 the wolf sables have been too frequently bred to each other, thereby becoming very dead or weak in colour, a cross of orange or orange-shaded sable lends warmth to the undercoat without overwhelming the colour. It is well to breed the orange- shaded sables to their own colour, which method enriches and deepens it. Should the tippings become over-dark, so that they overwhelm the brilliant orange undercoat, then take a cross of orange that has not too much light or white shading, as the breeching and tail "turnup " in the orange- shaded sables should be a rich cream. There have been some lovely varieties in the shaded-sable dogs, and some exquisite graduations of colours. Given a sable class well filled, the ring seems full of sunshine, and the eye turns from dog to dog, each more beautiful than the other. No wonder sables fill the eye and are the fashionable colour of the day — the varieties are endless, full of colour, and nothing is abso- lutely wrong provided it contains the three shades required in the colour rules set down by the Pomeranian Clubs for a shaded sable. The orange-shaded sables, in their bright varieties of colour that make them so popular, are sunshine itself as they trot round the ring. The mixture of the wolf sable and the orange-shaded sables has produced an ex- quisite medium warmth of colour in the wolf sables — just the one thing they needed, as they were at first too grey and white. The chocolate-tipped sables have never been particularly popular, in spite of the fact that some beautiful dogs have been bred in these shades. Their liver-coloured nostrils and eye-rims give rather a weak expression to the face, lessening the character of the dog. This same defect at first appeared in the oranges, but of late they have lost this fault, and the black nostrils and eye- rims are now far more frequent than the liver-coloured noses. In breeding oranges, choose the sire and dam as dark as possible, and with as iew shadings as can be found, letting the colour be briUiant, without any suspicion of fawn about it. As an assistance to sable breeders, we mav say that orange- shaded sables are often born black, with just a suspicion of orange behind their ears and on their breeching, often caus- ing owners who are unaccustomed to the breeding of sables to reject them as " wastrels." A brace of the prettiest sables we ever saw had been picked up in this way for just a few shillings. This transaction gave the breeder a forceful lesson, as they sold for a high price later on. Blues need breeding with great care, and keeping strictly to their own colour, when they breed absolutely true to ■colour generation after generation. Queen of the Blues, mated to Ch. Boy Blue, Premier Blue Jacket, and Blue Bertie, bred 26 litters of pure blue pups ; only one puppy out of the 26 litters had a white hair on it, and whichever of these litters was exhibited they never failed to win first prize in variety litter classes. Pure-bred blues are born the colour of new silver, and a lovelier sight than four or five of these pale pearl-grey atoms cannot be seen in dogdom. The blues that come occasionally from black, brown, or sable dogs are simply " flukes," and cannot be relied on either as stud dogs or brood bitches. Their produce frequently reverts to the colour from which they were bred — if from black, they are too dark, and might almost be called bad blacks ; if from browns, they become bronzy when adults ; and if from sables, they turn yellowish on haunches, and develop shadings. It is most surprising that a colour so soft and delicate as a pure-bred blue should not have greater attention paid to its breeding, for the pure colour which has been transmitted by Ch. Boy Blue to his progeny still remains absolutely clear and unmixed in their descendants. Very often the blues darken in colour with the adult top coat, the undercoat retaining its silvery appearance. Mrs. Vallance's Squib, Mrs. Parker's Quicksilver, and Miss Ives' Young Boy Blue never changed their beautiful colour. With regard to bitches coming in season, they may do so from seven months old, but if mated at that early age they may not breed, being imperfectly developed internally ; or, on the other hand, they may have a htter at nine months old. If the owner has a good puppy that he means to use as a breeder, it is advisable to mate her at the first heat to ac- custom her to the dog, even though she may not breed. The safest time and the most desirable for mating is about two or three days after the coloured discharge has ceased. Some bitches show no colour at all, and in con- sequence (by novices) often get passed over or called " non- 6(3 breeders." Such bitches require coustant observation, as the owner (in this case) can only tell by the swelling of the vulva if the bitch be ready or not. Should the bitch be strong, healthy, and kept under favourable conditions, she may be bred from three times consecutively, and then given. a rest for six months. To breed from her at every heat is. too great a strain on her constitution, and in this case nervous. Weedy puppies may be born. Some owners like their bitches- to have two services, some only one. The stud dog, certainly if belonging to a careful owner, should not be used too often ; three services one week, and two the next, or even one, will ensure him being a more lasting sire than if used too frequently. It is advisable in breeding to choose a bitch with small ancestors, otherwise some of the progeny may throw back to the larger-sized dogs. Even though the bitch herself be a shade large, if she comes from small ancestors her progem? may take after them. A brood bitch is seldom a show bitch. She may have been a winner before she bred, but after taking up maternal duties she will as a rule so completely cast her coat that she has no chance to regain it fully between each litter of pups, and also her coat may in some cases lose its desirable harsh texture and become a little soft and wavy. Some few there are who have reappeared on the bench after their maternal cares looking as blooming as they ever did ; but they are few and far between among the great majority of breeders who are lost to the show bench. Very frequently at the spsciahst shows " brood bitch " classes are scheduled^ and in them we see such perfect types that no one can wonder at the extreme beauty of the typical Pomeranians on the bench at the present day. We may here mention that spring litters are the most desirable, the puppies having all the summer ahead of them in which to grow to maturity, and a far better chance of making a strong and healthy dog than youngsters that are born in the winter, with severe climatic changes to face for several months in their early puppyhood. 67 CHAPTER IV. WHELPING AND CARE OP PUPPIES'. It is desirable to take the bitch when whelping right away from all other dogs, giving her an open box or basket with low sides, so that help may readily be rendered to her. Put in plenty of soft bedding, but no sawdust, shavings, or peat, nor any- thing that could adhere to the bitch or puppies ; small blankets are best. In cases of prolonged whelping, two or three drops^ of sherry in a teaspoonful of warm water will help her a little ; also the same quantity of Ergot of Rye given every hour or so is very useful. Raising her shoulders and stroking the hand down her back as the pains come on may also be helpful. Frequently the legs of the puppy are born first,, and the bitch seems to have a difficulty in passing the rest of the puppy, in which case take a soft towel, fold it lightly- round the pup that it may not slip (as it would in the bare hand), and each time the bitch presses down, draw gently on the pup, not drawing at all except during her attempts to- expel it. When the pup is born tear open the bag in which it is enclosed (if it has not got previously broken) with the- fingers, very carefully raise the head of the pup that it may gasp clear of the mess in which it may be lying, and let the mother lick its face. Then lift it right out of the bag and. draw very gently on the navel string, which may still be attaching it to the dam ; cut the string one inch from the stomach of the puppy. The after-birth may or may not come away with the puppy ; if not, carefully insert your finger and draw it away yourself when the next pain comes on.. It should never be left in the bitch, as it may set up blood- poisoning. She should be watched, and not allowed to eat it, as is frequently done. Should the head come first,, and 68 1he Litch not be able to expel the body, try the same treatment. If she cannot, after three or four hours from the time the labour pains begin, give birth to the pup, seek the advice of a veterinary surgeon without delay. A few things are needed beside the nurse when a bitch is whelping who requires careful attention. A basin of warm water, plenty of warm soft flannels, a sponge, towel, some waste paper, and a pair of scissors. Get rid of the after- birth into the waste paper, and she may need some of the flannel to raise her or to wrap the first puppy in while you and she are attending to the birth of the second, and so on. After she has finished whelping, give her a little thin gruel or Benger's Food with a few drops of brandy in it, and let her rest half an hour, when she should have her wet bed removed and replaced by a clean dry one. If the puppies refuse to suck, open their mouths by a little pressure of the warm fingers, gently holding it open with your finger and thumb at the sides. Take a good hold of the teat with the finger and thumb of your left hand, and plant the open mouth of the pup right on to the teat, holding it there while you milk the teat into its mouth, until it can draw the milk for itself — in fact, teach the pup to suck if it won't suck alone. This process wants repeating every half hour till it draws properly, only you must see that the milk flows freely from the bitch. Some- times, if you try the teat the milk will come before the pups are born, and in this case it is a much easier task for them to draw it ; sometimes it does not flow till after the birth. Should the bitch have no milk at all — and this is sometimes the case, — a small foster-mother in the shape of a cat or any breed of small dog might be used ; and there are various apphances — little stone bottles with teats attached, etc., — advertised in the columns of Our Dogs. A\-oid too much dry food for a bitch before she whelps ; plenty of milk, tea, and gruel seem to help them. In the case of very small brood bitches the lower part of the abdomen may be rubbed gently daily for a week or two before parturition, with linseed oil, but not to make a dirty, greasy mess of her. A most valuable drug in these cases is the " Mother Tincture of Pulsatilla," giving as follows for three weeks before whelping. One drop in a teaspoonful of water in the morning, and two 69 drops in a teaspoonful of water at night. This quantity will suit bitches of from 4 to 71b. in weight. It is an invaluable medicine, and procurable at any homoeopathic chemist's. Purchasers must ask particularly for " Mother " tincture, as the ordinary tincture of Pulsatilla is of no use at this time. Do not exceed the amount of the dose given above, as the drug takes effect on the internal organs, stretching them slightly. If overdoses are given, when the pups are born the womb also may come down. When this drug is ad- ministered carefully in the above quantities, the bitch readily gives birth to her offspring. Sometimes the puppies do not suck all the teats, and one or two may be discarded, in which case after a few days the milk hardens, giving great pain to the bitch. These teats should be milked by the owner several times a day, until all the hardened milk has been extracted, and the teats are soft enough for the youngsters to suck. They must be made to suck them by covering the others, so that they have no choice in the matter. Once they begin they will go on. The bitch never objects after the first minute or so (when she will squirm a little) to let you milk the hard teats, finding relief as the overcharged glands are reduced. When the pups are weaned she must again be watched, and if the milk does not of itself dry away, but settles and hardens the glands, they must be massaged twice a day with marsh- mallow ointment, obtainable at any chemist's. Novices must remember that puppies are born blind: some open their eyes at nine days old, some not until they are a fortnight old. As regards feeding, the babies may be tempted to lap warm milk or Benger's Food at three weeks old ; it takes a little of the strain off the mother. At a month old, arrowroot biscuits melted and beaten up in warm milk or tea may be given three times a day — about a teaspoonful. A little raw scraped meat, Virol, and cod hver oil capsules bring on a weakly pup well ; also the malt and cod hver oil extract. At six weeks old they can leave the mother, but they will then need four meals a day instead of the two which prevailed from three to six weeks old. Two of these meals should be composed of arrowroot or Plasmon biscuits, with a little warm milk or Benger's Food poured over them. The other 70 two meals may be of scraped raw meat or well-stewed mutton and gravy (with all the fat taken off) — about a dessert- :spoonful to each puppy, though ordinary discretion should he used as regards the quantity of food required by pups, of different sizes. Many people argue strongly against giving Pomeranians meat, saying that " it gives them skin disease and makes -them savage." From personal experience I find that meat is needed to grow coat and strengthen a dog. A juicy lightly .grilled steak with all the gravy in it is a fine thing for a dog who is much used at stud ; and a bitch who is bred from at •every heat for a time can do with the same support occasionally. For a good diet, the following system might be followed : — Two warm meat meals a day for an adult, allowing i|lb. of meat a week for each dog or bitch — 2lb. if he be a stud dog, — preferably stewing steak, with an occasional change to a leg of mutton, the meat to be very lightly seasoned, and stewed till tender. A small quantity should be taken with a little gravy, to which may be added Force, Grapenuts, rusks, puffed rice, brown bread, white bread, vegetables, etc., never two consecutive days the same. For a kennel of four or iive dogs, yVo. a Week might serve, coming in twice a week ; and the days it comes let them dine on scraped raw meat. They want large bones like ribs and legs of mutton to play "with — it helps to keep their teeth clean ; but never rabbit •or chicken bones, which they can chew, and which when swallowed might lacerate the intestines and set up gastritis — a most dangerous disease to cure, and which can also be brought on by cold. If a dog be allowed to crouch or sit on •damp grass, wet stones, or cold floors, he is liable to contract this complaint, which begins with white frothy sickness, •deepening into canary yellow, with diarrhoea, dark and tinged with blood. Then is the time to stop food, apply hot -flannels, and call in the vet., for this ailment is most serious .and makes rapid strides. Eczema often attacks dogs who are indifferently attended -to, or in a kennel where there are too many dogs for the ■owner to give them close personal attention, and whose beds are not kept in the pink of cleanliness. There is dry eczema, -when the skin goes dry and red, and has a minute freckled 71 appearance. Wet eczema has the same appearance, but has .a dampness over it. Both forms will give way to the regular apphcation of a non-greasy lotion. That made up by the late Mr. E. Thorburn, of Blackpool — who left the recipe with his assistant, Mr. Webster, — is invaluable in these cases, and useful always to have beside you when grooming, to dab on any suspicious places, from which it will soon take away any redness ; and in the worst cases of eczema, used twice a day for two or three weeks will effect a cure, ■except in cases of mange. There are many other preparations, but this one being without grease, is unobjectionable, and leaves no dirt behind if the dog sits on a cushion. It is also a good coat grower. Another form, of skin disease, and one very difficult and tedious to cure, is white spot. Nothing can be seen but a tiny white speck under the skin, no larger than a pin point, but which is evidently most irritable. Puppies are often so troubled ; possibly it may arise from •damp beds. It will, however, give way to repeated appli- cations of sulphur ointment, with dry sulphur rubbed over it to absorb the grease. Canker in the incipient stages re- quires boracic powder dusting into the ears with a camel-hair brush twice a day. It is well to do this after washing a dog, in case the water may have got into his ears ; and also if he has been out in a keen wind, lest he catch cold. It will take down any inflammation, should he be scratching his ears. Mange begins with redness and pustules, and in this case ,a vet. must be consulted. The teeth require a great deal of attention, especially in .stud dogs. They should be brushed daily with a very small tooth-brush, generally obtainable from a veterinary surgeon -who devotes his abilities to treating small breeds. There are many very clever men who are greatly interested in Toy breeds, and most successful with them, making a speciality ■of certain diseases. A good wash for the teeth can be obtained from any of these surgeons. Pour some into a teaspoon with the least sprinkle of dry alum, dip the brush in, and apply to the teeth ; but know in your own mind before you put the brush into the dog's mouth exactly which side of the mouth, and whether top or bottom teeth, you are going to brush first. Work in the same way always, and the dog will know what to expect, and how near to finishing you are : First the top front teeth inside and out, then the upper-jaw double-teeth inside and out, then the lower jaw ; and lastly, the lower front teeth, which, owing to the thinness of the jaw, are always the first to come loose. This is a most difficult task, but a very necessary one. It keeps the dog healthy, enables him to eat his food, and keeps his breath sweet, not to mention the most important factor of all — the preservation of the teeth. It may be necessary to ask some- one to hold his feet down, for he naturally raises them to- protect his face as he stands between your knees to suffer what he considers a very terrible operation. He will choke, bite, spit, and struggle at first, and it will be necessary to tie a bib round his neck to keep his frill dry ; but he will gradually get to know what to expect, and beyond a few fairly strong pinches of your fingers while you are holding his jaws open (which under such circumstances you cannot possibly punish him for), he will behave fairly quietly. If you begin to brush a dog's teeth without a sure knowledge of which jaw you mean to brush, and your dog is not in a secure position, but loose and kicking about, then you may excoriate the skin of the mouth and set up an ulcer, which will put a stop to your brushing, for you must cure the results of your uncertainty before you use the tooth-brush again. There must be " no fooling about " in a dog's mouth. If you are hoping to rear a stud dog, very careful watch- must be kept over him. From seven months to a year old he is in a transition state from the puppy to the adult dog. According to the temperament of the dog, it may or may not be desirable to allow him to run with the bitches ; if he gets over-excited a fit may be the result. It is unadvisable- to use him at stud before he is ten months old, even though he may wish to mate the bitch. Often a great deal of patience is required to teach some dogs their duty, and if ever a timid dog has been checked, he will back away from the bitch as though fearing punishment. In these cases nothing but everlasting patience and persuasion will avail. A smart smack will simply ruin the dog. Worms are a peril both to puppies and adults. They may. however, be got rid of easily and freely without danger to 73 the animal. There are uncountable remedies advertised ; but from personal experience the following treatment has never failed, and as regards after-effects the dog is very well and the worms very ill indeed. For a week or ten days give a cod liver oil capsule at ii a.m., and another last thing at night ; at 3 p.m. give a small teaspoonful of Kepler's malt and cod liver oil extract. Before the ten days are over you may see sections of worms coming away, for they have an abhorrence of oil, which loosens their grip on the bowel. When you decide to worm him, let him dine at the ordinary time in the middle of the day, giving no more food or drink. At 10 o'clock next morning give a Freeman's B capsule, and one hour afterwards another olive oil capsule. This treatment is admirable for dogs between 3 and 51b. Dogs of from 5 to 71b. might take one A and one B capsule for a dose. From 7 to lolb. two B capsules might be used. If the dog is inclined to be sick, put him on the lead and take him for a walk ; he will then be too much occupied to worry about being sick. Don't give heavy food after the worms have evacuated the dog — just a little gravy or warm milk is enough for that day, every three hours, so that he does not get too much exhausted. With regard to giving puppies of six or eight weeks old doses of worm medicine, we may just say : Be careful, don't do too much ; a few drops of very good and tasteless olive oil dropped on or into every meal, beginning at six weeks old, will often expel the Worms without using drugs. At eight weeks old, however, the A capsules are perfectly safe, but still use the drops of ohve oil in the food before dosing. It acts admirably in conjunction with the worm capsules. Keep the capsules in a warm place ; don't let them get hard, or they do not dissolve well. 74 CHAPTER V. GROOMING, WASHING, AND SHOWING. Grooming. If the dam be a novice in maternal duties, or if she have a number of puppies in the htter, she may not have succeeded in washing them all thoroughly clean, and the dampness of birth may still cling here and there to the roots of the hair, particularly on the tips of the ears and the tip of the tail, in the form of a dry glazed skin. This must always be looked for and brushed out with a very small brush, even at the tender age of six or seven days — that is, if you wish to have all the litter with equally lovely coats. The brush must be fairly hard in the bristle to do its work properly. A small moustache brush will answer the purpose admirably. The task of grooming a Pomeranian is no light matter. It is no mere whisking a dog's coat about with a brush ; it is a business that requires unlimited patience, much " elbow- grease," good eyesight, and a discriminating choice of brushes. Not only must the skin be free from all discolorations, spots, and scurf, but it must be as clean as one's own well- washed face. Few people seem to realise that dogs change their coats twice a year, the preface to this change being a loosening of the old skin, which the body throws off as refuse previous to the coming through of the new hair. Unless this loose skin is entirely brushed out of the coat, and the skin itself made perfectly clean in order that the freshly growing shoots may readily penetrate it, the reahsation of a " glorious coat " is likely to prove an untouched ambition, and particularly in the later years of a dog's Hfe, when there is a waning of vital power. Serious trouble may result from leaving dead skin in the ■coat — lice readily breed under its covering ; eczema, too, may develop, and neither, perhaps, may be noticed until the dog begins to scratch. It is a necessary thing to remember that dogs do not ■scratch unless something ails them ; it is either scurf, skin ■disease, vermin, dirt, or overheating, and the moment a ■dog raises its leg to begin to scratch it is advisable to find the reason for the irritation. As regards the science of grooming, use two brushes — one •with short hard bristles of uneven length, the other of similar make, but rather longer in the bristles. Lay the dog on your knee with its head pointing outward, and begin by brushing the side of the shoulder, dividing the hair in straight lines from the head to the shoulders with the brush, so that every fraction of skin and every separate hair feels the action •of the bristles, which should be sufficiently penetrating to loosen the scurf from the skin, when it can be brushed off the hair with the longer brush. Never allow dead hair to mass in the brush ; keep clearing it out with the comb. Continue dividing the hair and brushing in lines as the dog lies flat, from the head half-way down the body, turning him gradually on to his back as you progress and reach the under part of neck and stomach. Be careful also to clean the under part of forearms and joints of legs. When the fore-part of the animal is well cleaned, turn him round with his head to your waist, and groom the lower part of back and hind legs, still dividing the hair with the brush in straight lines, so that you can assure yourself of the cleanHness of the skin, which should show neither spot, redness, nor blemish of any kind. Particular attention should be paid to the ears, which ■cast their skin right to the tips in the same way as the body, and also throw off the dead hair. The two together form a 'dusty white paste all along the edges of the ear, which if left alone cause cracking, and eczema sets in. Therefore be as careful with the edges of the ears as with the rest of the body. In some cases where the scurf has not been removed, and the ears neglected, the tips will require massaging with good 76 Lanoline night and morning until they feel soft and pliable ; then, if the ear-flap be entirely stripped of hair and refuse,, washed with emollient soap, warm water, and a soft nail- brush, the ensuing crop of hair will surely be a good one. When brushing your dog, should the small hard brush not bring up the scurf sufficiently well to clear the skin, use a sharply pointed steel comb, and gently scrape the scurf up with the points held in a slanting direction. Very lightly indeed must the comb be held, or it may excoriate the skin, which is undesirable, as the next time the dog is brushed one might fancy the redness was the sign of a coming attack of eczema, instead of the results of a somewhat too energetic grooming. It is advisable to brush the dog in this manner three times a week. It would be well if novices realise that no Pomeranians have loose hair except while casting coat, or there is a diseased condition of the skin, and in both cases whatever hair may be loose should be combed out, otherwise it prevents the free growth of the new hair, or becomes niatted among the quickly growing coat. Many fanciers will say that they neither comb nor wash their dogs, but trust to the brush, the dry cleanser, and spraj'ing with the divers lotions advertised to harden the coat, etc. All we can reply to this argument is, that such a course of action is not hygienic, nor will it preserve a fine coat to a good old age ; and though it may, for a time, satisfy the owner, the skin will eventually become clogged with the natural grease and refuse that the body throws off, and in mature age it is more than probable that the dog will carry an indifferent woolly coat, and be more than a little objec- tionable as regards smell ; in fact, unless coat and skin get extreme care, in later years his absence may regrettably- become preferable to his company. It may be of use to breeders of blue Pomeranians to enter into closer details as regards their grooming. If there be any tendency to bareness or thinness of the coat on head, ears, back, or tail, brush daily till the skin is warm. Never allow the edges of the ears to grow hard. Massage them with a good Lanoline, wiping off the grease afterwards with a soft dry cloth. After doing this for a week, scrape off the scurf 77 and dead hair that have accumulated round the edge of the ■ear, and wash the ear flaps in warm water, using a good soap. Never expose a blue dog to over-much sunshine, or allow the ■coat to get wet and forget to dry it. Never put any grease •on the coat under the mistaken impression that it will grow •coat. It won't. It will simply spoil the purity and clearness •of colour so much prized by breeders. Should you get eczema into the skin of a blue dog, you may resign yourself to shave the dog quite close, and grow .a new coat after the disease is cured, for in this case the hair turns a reddish brown. There is no deceiving an experienced breeder of blues. He can tell by a glance at the coat if the dog has skin disease or not. With no other colour can we say the same thing ; but eczema literally draws the colour out of the hair. Very dark blues are not desirable ; the ■colour should be as near that of a Persian cat or a pigeon as possible. No disinfectant of any kind should be used to wash blue dogs if the colour is to be preserved, neither spraying with any mixture out of a bottle — just the glycerine and boracic acid powder, and a good toilet soap in the washing water. Breeders must not forget that in showing blue dogs they are entermg on a difficult task, but by no means a thankless ■one, for it is a greater honour to put down a clear beautifully toned blue in good coat than any other colour. The other ■colours can take care of themselves in rain, sun, and damp, with the exception of browns, which require equal care ; not so the blue dog, for his colour depends much on the care and attention of his owner in this respect. Washing. Cleanhness is a virtue that takes a high place in the scheme of civilisation, and among Toy dogs is as necessary to health as food and shelter. For all dogs we recommend the use of the bath-tub. Unless the dog has a skin disease, use neither a disinfectant in the water nor a disinfectant soap ; either may discolour or burn the hair. All you require to do is to wash the hair and skin clean from bodily and atmospheric impurities, in order that when benched the colour may be 78 brilliant and the hair have a sheen on it. White and sable- dogs who live in towns often require to be washed the night before a show, otherwise it is advisable that the washing should take place four clear days previous to the show, as. for a few days afterwards the coat may be limp and soft, though this depends much upon its texture. Should it be- naturally harsh and stand-off, it will rise by itself ; if not, one of the lotions in vogue may help it considerably. To wash a dog for show, the following directions may be useful ; — Mix two tablepoonsfuls of glycerine with two of boracic acid powder to a paste, and gradually put this into two gallons of warm water in the bath. A good emollient soap- is very pleasant to use with this preparation. Soap the dog all over, rubbing the soap well into the coat with the tips of the fingers ; in fact, using the finger tips as you would a nailbrush. Rinse and soap the dog several times, lift o'ut,. squeeze the running water off, give a slight rub with the towel, and let the dog shake itself. Then lift it on to a towel on your knee, and in front of the fire brush and comb until perfectly dry. Don't rub it again ; rubbing with towels breaks the hair. A steel comb must be used as the hair dries, but not while it is wet. See that the brushing and combing reaches the roots, so that every separate hair is groomed. ^^'hile drying, the position of the dog must be constantly changed, so that all the hairs are brushed straight, and not allowed to dry bent or waved. Dogs may be washed every three weeks, but much, however, depends on the cleanliness of the neighbourhood, and of the beds and cushions. It is a good plan to have blankets of a different pattern, for each dog, and, of course, inadvisable to have the night blanket in the kennel during the day. The night blanket should be taken out in the morning, shaken, and placed on' the rack to air, and the day blanket put in the kennel. Kennels are best enamelled white inside, so that they may be washed each night, and be re-enamelled once or twice a year, as they require it. Enamel presents a more impervious surface to the location of germs than wood, however often the woodmay be washed. Fanciers are at times unfortunate enough to buy Pomer- anians that are infested by lice of one kind or another. These- parasites are easily caught and easily cured. Dogs who- sleep on straw or a damp blanket often are subject to them ; also dogs who get exercise in long field-grass where sheep or fowls are feeding often bring home some of these undesirable^ visitors. The minute pink lice (so small that they almost require a magnifying glass to see them), and the small blue sheep ticks, can easily be exterminated by McDougall's sheep- dip, used with discretion. Two washes (a day between them), laying the dog for a few minutes .flat in the bath, so' that the water covers all but the head, will make a cure. The head, however, which cannot be immersed, must be carefully looked over for parasites when brushing. A piece of "dip" the size of a walnut should be sufficient for a bath holding six or eight quarts of water. To use too much " dip " is to kill the dog, as he would absorb the poison through his skin. Showing. Twenty years ago our grandmothers considered it infra dig- for a lady to be seen in the show ring. Nowadays dog shows are not only a fashionable but a pleasurable hobby for ladies of high degree and the lesser luminaries of middle-class life, not to mention the fact that some of our highest-quality Toys are bred in the cottages of the artisan. Dog shows (for the time being) are great levellers of class distinctions, and " Milady " will gratefully take hints from the working- man who is a successful rearer of the breed she may be inclined to buy in order to form a kennel. Just as there are transient petty jealousies in all professions and trades,, so there are among dog exhibitors, each one striving to own or breed the best ; but taken all round, exhibitors are a kindly, helpful, cheery set of people, and one might "go farther and fare worse " in the selection of a hobby. Puppies and shy dogs may be readily accustomed to the lead, and taught to show well at a very early age, with ordinary care and kindness. The best plan is just for a time to regu- larly feed the puppy on small bits of raw meat or cooked chicken, held well over the body to make him throw up his- head, and thereby shorten his body. Allow him to see and smell the food, but do not let him taste it until you have 80 put on his collar and lead. He will then understand that the lead is associated with something pleasant, and is not an instrument of torture to drag him about with. Just a little practice, and he will hold himself in good position until the dainty bit of meat is brought to the level of his nose, without allowing the head to lower or his gaze to leave your fingers. It is a serious mistake to allow any food to drop on the floor, as he will immediately relax his muscles, and nose about among the sawdust. Some dogs there are who reduce their unfortunate owners to the verge of despair, for they flatly refuse to show them- selves. Occasionally this arises from unwise, and possibly harsh, training with the lead when young, and also from the indifference of the owner to the temperament of the dog, who may be nervous, and not seeing any reward forth- coming for the annoyance of being dragged about on his haunches at the end of a tight string, may conceive a deeply rooted hatred of such exercise, and either drag, sprawl, or lie down every time he enters a ring. Such dogs, however good they may be, are best left at home. They have a tendency to make their owners wish to murder both them and the Queen's English. Some dogs require keeping in their baskets till within a few minutes of the time when their class is due to be judged, or they are so terrified by the succession of strange faces that their one desire is to crawl out of the ring ; and some like a good look round them to settle an overplus of activity. This depends much on the temperament of the dog. We have seen novice exhibitors at the agricultural shows trailing their dogs about the field till judging time to get them " accustomed to the show," and when the dog at last met the judge's eye he was so fagged out that he showed little of the vivacity that distinguished him earlier in the day, and behaved more hke a sick dog than a well one. 81 CHAPTER VI. ON ODD MATTERS CONNECTED WEfH SHOWING DOGS. The Pomeranian Club was the first speciaUst Club for this breed. Anyone wishing to join it and to participate in the chances of winning its beautiful cups and trophies which are offered at numerous shows in the United Kingdom, and at times beyond its precincts, should communicate with A. Cornish-Bowden, Esq., M.R.C.V.S., 127, High Street, Becken- ham, Kent; or M. F. Beadel, Esq., 9, Albert Road, Regent's Park, N.W. The entrance fee for each member joining the Club is half a guinea, with a yearly subscription of one guinea, payable on election and on January i of each subsequent year. The scale of points fixed by this Club has been adopted by the North of England Pomeranian Club, the Midland Counties Pomeranian Club, and the North-East Lancashire Club. The North of England Pomeranian Club takes rank next to the Pomeranian Club. It has an entrance fee of 2s. 6d. and a yearly subscription of ids. 6d, The Midland Counties Pomeranian Club, founded in 1910, has an entry fee of 5s. and a: yearly subscription of 5s. The North-East Lancashire Pomeranian Club, founded in 1904, has a yearly subscription of 5s. Scale of Points of the Pomeranian and Pomeranians Miniature. As adopted by the Pomeranian Club, the North of England Pomeranian Club, and the Midland Counties Pomeranian Club, December 10, 1909. Appearance. — The Pomeranian in build and appearance should be a compact, short-coupled dog, well knit in frame. He should exhibit great intelligence in his expression, activity, and buoyancy in his deport- ment 10 82 Head and Nose. — ^The head and nose should be foxy in outhne, or wedge-shaped, the skull being slightly flat, large in proportion to the muzzle, which should finish rather fine, and be free from lippiness. The teeth should be level, and should on no account be undershot. The hair on the head and face should be smooth and short -coated. The nose should be black in white, orange, and shaded-sable dogs ; but in other colours may be " self-coloured," but never parti-coloured or white lo Ears. — The ears should be small, not set too far apart, nor too low down, but carried perfectly erect like those of a fox, and, like the head, should be covered with short, soft hair 5 Eyes. — The eyes should be medium in size, not full nor set too wide apart, bright and dark in colour, and showing great intelligence. In white, orange, shaded- sable, and cream dogs, the rims round the eyes should be black 5 Neck and Body.— -The neck should be rather short and well set in. The back must be short, and the body compact, being well ribbed up and the barrel well rounded. The chest must be fairly deep and not too wide, but in proportion to the size of the dog. . 15 Legs. — The forelegs must be well feathered and perfectly straight, of medium length, and not such as would be termed " leggy " or " low on leg," but in length and strength in due proportion to a well-balanced frame. The shoulders should be clean and well laid back. The hind legs and thighs must be well feathered down to the hocks, and must be neither " cow- hocked " nor wide behind. They must be fine in bone and free in action. The feet should be small and compact in shape 10 Tail. — The tail is one of the characteristics of the breed, and should be turned over the back and carried flat and straight, being profusely covered with long, harsh, spreading hair 5 83 Coat.— There should be two coats — an undercoat and an overcoat ; the one, a soft fluffy undercoat, the other a long perfectly straight coat, harsh in texture and m. covering the whole of the body, being very abundant round the neck and forepart of the shoulders and chest, where it should form a frill of profuse, standing- off straight hair, extending over the shoulders. The hindquarters should be clad with long hair or feathering, from the top of the rump to the hocks . . 25 Colour. — All whole-colours are admissible, but they should be free from white shadings. At present the whole-coloured dogs are : — White. Black. Brown, hght or dark. Blue, as pale as possible. Orange, which should be as deep and even in colour as possible. Beaver. Cream, which should have black noses and black rims around the eyes. Whites must be quite free from lemon or any other colour. A few white hairs in any of the self-coloured dogs shall not necessarily disqualify. Dogs other than white, with white or tan markings, are de- cidedly objectionable, and should be discouraged. They cannot compete as whole-coloured specimens. In parti-coloured dogs the colours should be evenly distributed on the body in patches ; a dog with white or tan feet or chest would not be a parti- coloured dog. Shaded-sables should be shaded throughout with three or more colours, the hair to be as uniformly shaded as possible, and with no patches of self-colour. In mixed classes, where whole-coloured and parti-coloured Pomeranians com- pete together, the preference should, if in other points thej' are equal, be given to the whole-coloured specimens 15 100 84 Regulations as to the Registration and Eligibility FOR Competition of Pomeranians and Pomeranians Miniature. A "Pomeranian" must exceed 7lbs. in weight. A "Pomeranian (Miniature) " must not exceed 7lbs. in weight. Dogs exceeding ylbs. must be registered as Pomeranians. Dogs not exceeding 7lbs. should be registered as "Pomer- anians " when under twelve months old, and re-registered as "Pomeranians (Miniature)" at that age, or any subsequent age, previous to exhibition if still under the weight hmit. If not under the weight limit the original registration holds good. Puppies not exceeding 7lbs. weight can, in the first place, be registered as "Pomeranians (Miniature)," at owner's risk. Dogs registered or re-registered as "Pomeranians (Minia- ture)" can never compete in classes for "Pomeranians," whatever weight they may subsequently attain. In classes for "Pomeranians and Pomeranians (Miniature) Mixed," all dogs of any weight, and whether puppies or not, can compete. In classes for "Pomeranians," all dogs exceeding 7lbs. weight, whether puppies or not can compete. In classes for "Pomeranians (Miniature)," all dogs not exceeding 7lbs. weight (except puppies) can compete. In classes for "Pomeranian Puppies," puppies exceeding 7lbs. weight only can compete. In classes for "Pomeranians (Miniature) Puppies," puppies not exceeding 7lbs. weight only can compete, whether registered as "Pomeranians" or "Pomeranians Miniature." Should you wish to attend a show, there is a list of forth- coming events in Oiir Dogs, and detailed advertisements issued by the committee, printed on the two or three first pages of the issue, which will supply you with the particulars you wish to know, the haU at which the show is held, the name of the judge, and the name of the secretary, to whom you will write for a schedule. The entry form is inside the schedule, and you will select the classes in which to enter. Very careful attention must be given to the definition of classes. A class for Puppies under 12 months and sometimes one for Puppies under six months are often given at specialist shows. A Maiden class is one in which no dog is entered that has previously won a prize. The limitations of Novice, Special Novice, Limit, and Special Limit, also Graduate classes, must be carefully studied before entering, in order to see whether your dog (if you have bought a winner) is eligible for them. Having made your entries, on arriving at the show have your number and exhibitor's ticket ready, also the metal tally where you can easily get at it, for though you may not be asked for it at every show, you will be at some. On entering, take the dog out of the basket, that the veterinary surgeon may inspect it and examine it as to the possibility of its suffering from disease. Having passed the vet., you are free to seek your numbered pen, find some straw, put up your hangings, and settle to brushing your dog or leading him about to get him acquainted with his surroundings. It is advisable to line the pen all round with newspapers before hanging up the dressings — it is a safeguard from any contagion ; and also to lay a newspaper over the top. This plan I have always pursued, and never brought a disease back from any show. Neither is it advisable to let your dog smell indiscriminately of posts, etc., where other dogs have been ; if you wish to exercise, see that it is in a quiet corner which no other dog has previously found. It is well also to ascertain where the judging ring is, and take your dog and your basket to it, to be there when your class is called for. Seats are generally provided. Don't take a dog in the ring with a ribbon bow on, or a bow of any kind, or a mark of identification of any description. The bow stamps the exhibitor as a tyro. The dog must rely solely on his merit as a Pomeranian and his aptitude as a shower to gain his distinctions. He and his pen may be decorated all over after the judging is finished. If you are entitled to any special prizes, be at hand when they are awarded, which is usually immediately after the class judging is over. If you are absent and have to be sought for all over the show, it is more than possible some special for which you are ehgible may be awarded in your absence. 86 Never argue with a judge about his awards ; you are there to abide by his decision, and you have your remedy if you don't hke it — avoid exhibiting under him in future. Owing to the differences of opinion amongst judges, and these generally quite honest differences, dog showing is frequently on the see-saw principle — first you go up, then you go down. If you go down at one show, you may go up at the next, and it is this sporting spirit of hoping to " go up next time " that attracts even the disappointed exhibitor to yet another trial of fortune's wheel. One thing needs remembering — viz., that it is not etiquette to speak to a judge, or rather to hold a conversation with him, before the judging or during the judging. Dog showing is for the time a great leveller of class dis- tinctions, and the " lady of high degree " will discuss doggy matters on a friendly footing \\-ith the artisan who may be the successful breeder or owner of the \\inner. Apart from the very transient jealousy of the defeated, there is much kindness and camaraderie among fanciers, and no one now loses caste by attending a show. Her Majesty Queen Alexandra frequently honoured the Ladies' Kennel Asso- ciation Show \\ith her presence, and in 1910 was a visitor to Cruft's Show. She is a great lover of dogs, and much honoured did those exhibitors feel ^\'hose pets she caressed and noticed as she made her royal progress between the pens.