THE KENNEL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 267, 10 November 1899, Page 3

THE KENNEL.

(By Cam's.)

Canis will be pleased to receive from br e Cl .evs and fanciers any interesting ems of canine news, such as a-uthen--1 , dates of births of pedigree pup•niec importations, etc.. etc. He will ilco 1.-. pleased to answer any questions and give advice on diseases, etc.

T went out to Mr E. Bailey's Kennels, Archhill. the other day to have a look aT . a litter of Collie pups from the Vlton bitch. Sable Queen. There are four -of tlwm. and are by Great Scot. Finer or prettier pups I have never . eC n they are a beautiful sable with even'white markings in the face, and three out of the four have perfect -ivhite collars.

I am pleased to hear that the pro- \ position made by the Auckland Kennel Club representatives in Wellington the | other day at the annual meeting of the js Tew Zealand Kennel Club went through with flying colours, viz., That at all future shows the matter of championships be left entirely in the. ihands of the judges to award wherever they (teem there is sufficient merit in either dogs or bitches. This will do nway with the competition between <log~ and bitches. At the same meetjn<? Mr Murdoclv McLean of Auckland was elected president of the N.Z.K.C, and Mr Atex. Clifford, secretary.

Mr Hall, of Queen-street, asks me to state that he still has a lot of unclaimed medals, certificates, etc., for both this and the previous years Kennel Club Show's. I hope the successful exhibitors will fake the hint, as MiHall is anxious to be rid of the responsibility.

Mr Hall has recently been favoured with two litters of Fox Terrier puppies, one by Harewood Terrier—Very Sure, the other by Rowland PluckLady Norah. With the latter he had bad'luck, only one I believe living out of four.

Mr Gavey writes me that he has a very nice litter of Airdale Terrier puppies. A reference to my last week's Ascription of this breed may be useful.

A tale of the extraordinary sagacity of a dog comes from Switzerland, A gentleman had occasion to ride out on business to a town three hours' journey from his home, his bitch following him. Whilst there she gave birth to four pups, which were left behind and the bitch taken home. Fancy the gentleman's surprise, on next- morning finding the bitch snugly in her bed with the four pups, which she must have matte several journeys (to carry over the three hours journey.

The following is a general description of the Sky* Terrier, a breed fast becoming popular and of which there ore .several up-to-date specimens in the Auckland district, probably the lost belonging to Mr Reid, Mo-tu-tapu:— There are two varieties of the Skye, the prick-eared and the- droop-ear*-, puppies of each sort may be found in each litter; at the same time it has always seemed to me that the prickeared variety is reklom so proportionately long in the body as the droopeared. The head of the Skye 'should be broad and of fair length, not too short and stumpy; the muzzle is very strong and powerful, and the teeth are strong and level. The eyes should be of a beautiful dark hazel colour, very keen and piercing, and there should be no discolouring of the hair from tears. The droop-ears are small, and should 'hang nicely to the head. The prick-ears should stand well up and may b»_ either large or small, but the large preferred. The neck is muscular, strong, fairly long. The body should be very long; from point of the nose to tail tip' it should measure four times the dog's height at the shoulder, a short body >is a great fault. The tail itr^lf should be short—say eight inches, carried straight, not curled. The legs are short, but straight and strong. The feet are rather large, well knuckled up, with strong nails and good sole. The' coat- should be in quantity abundant all over the body, tail and legs; even the feet should be feathered, but I do not like to see the face quite buried. There should be an undergrowth of softwarm hair, but the coat proper is straight, hard, wiry, and long. The. colour I like to see is the grey so much admired in Scotland; next to this I like the black, but I have seen some very grand dogs of a yellowish white colour. The greatest faults a Skye can possess are a silky coat, short body, curled tail, and a mean looking face. A' real working Skye has a shortish coat; the fireside favourite a much longer one.