KENNEL NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20624, 13 August 1932, Page 4

KENNEL NOTES.

[By Caleb.]

[Queries far • answer in this column should be addressed to "Caleb," care Tot PjvZSS, Christchurch, and to ensure publication on any Saturday must be received not later than tie Tuesday preceding.]

Mr C. Taylor, of Lin-wood, has secured a very promising wire Fox-Terrier dog puppy by Wairiki Wireboy, ex Lady Cracker, from Mr E. 0. Johnson, of St. Albans.

Mr F. G. Saville, of Fairlie, has disposed of a pleasing Old English Sheepdog puppy by the imported pair Caedman of Pastorale, ex Big Gem Bobbery to Mr G. Glennie, of Gisborne. Another puppy of the same breeding has gone to Miss A. Barker, of Ashburton. Mr W. J. Bule, of Goraldine, has secured a fine grey Alsatian dog puppy by Danko Picardy, of Kilmartin, ex Copia of Tindabonna, from its breeder Mrs H. Simon, of Spreydon. Another puppy from these kennels, by ch. Bendie of Scriverton, ex Sheba of Allahdale, has gone to Mr W. S. March, of Fendalton. Mr C. V. Mcßeath, of Clifton, has disposed of the Springer Spaniel dog Sprig of Clifton, a prominont Field Trial competitor, to Mrs T. Morrin, of Hastings. This dog should do well for his new owner.

Mrs R. O. Johnson's Sydney Silky bitch, Silver Berta, has been mated to Mr A. A. Johnson's Blue Mountain Paddy. The same owner's Sealyham terrier, White Woman, has been mated to her kennel-mate, Lord Glyn Dhu. Mr A. A. Boon, of Now Brighton, has disposed of a fino Labrador Retriever dog puppy by his well-performed Don, ex the imported bitch Ingestre Sally, to Mrs E. Reid, of Ranfurly. Another puppy from the same litter has gone to the well-known Wanganui sportsman, Mr G. E. Bretherten. Mr B. G. Darby, of St. Albans, has disposed of a promising sable Alsatian dog puppy by Karl of Nowe, ex Diana of Silverdale, to Mr P. Hinchy, of Christchurch. Another youngster from the same litter has gone to Mr J. A. Jones, of Denniston. Mrs E. R. Easterbrook. of Ashburton, has secured from Mr W. A. Pattison, of Christchurch, the promising young Irish setter, Rose of Kildene, a daughter of ch. Redstone Tuta, and Patsy of Trashna. Mrs Easterbrook already has in her kennels the good dog Finn McCool, a son of ch. Redstone Tata and Kerry Sheila. Entries for Oamaru Entries for the first annual show of the North Otago Kennel Club close with the hon. secretary, Mr M. F. Woodward. Oamaru, nest Wednesday, August 17th. Long and Short Backs.

It is always perplexing to the novice when he is told that certain breeds must have a short back and certain other breeds must have a long back. In the bulldog and most of the terriers a short back is very important, whereas in the Alsatian a long back is great merit. The length of the body in proportion to the length of the limbs has, of course, a very marked influence upon the animal's gait. If the forequartors and hindquarters in a running dog are too closely coupled, the back feet are apt to collide with the frout, and in order to avoid such contact a short coupled dog is inclined to walk sideways. This would be a very faulty action in an Alsatian, and for this reason a long back is particularly desirable in the breed. It gives flexibility in quick turning, and it ensures a harmonious, graceful gait. An important consideration when choosing an Alsatian puppy is involved in the question: Does a short-bodied puppy at the age of 10 weeks mean a short body in the mature dog, or are the chances in favour of the puppy growing out of this fault! It is difficult to decide. Most certainly the bone formation undergoes many mutations in the course of growth. The vertebrae may expand lengthwise or tend to become more closely knit joint to joint. In the bulldog it is often found that the back becomes proportionately shorter as the chest and ribs broaden, and it is possible that in the Alsatian the reverse process takes place as the brisket deepens and becomes relatively narrowej with flat sides. Much mßy depend upon judicious exercise during the perifcd of growth. The Dog's of View.

One must be very firm in dealing with an obstinate dog. If you yield to his obstinacy and whims you will never get him to be obedient. It Is important however, that you should be certain beforehand that the dog understands yonr command, and is at the same time capable of fulfilling it, and not merely sulky and unwilling. No dog, for example, can be expected to eat a dißh of food that is a mass of eold hardened gravy cementing the fragments together so that there are no loose bits that he can take hold of, It should be broken up for his convenience. A dog owner failed to make her Dachshund follow her up a long flight of stairs, ignoring the fact that a Dachshund has a very long body and very short legs that do not adapt him for running up a steep staircase. He may learn to do so, but it is very unwise to insist until he has overcome the reluctance, or perhaps been helped by hand to make the first perilous ascent. To the eyes of a dog looking upward from the foot of the stairs, it may seem impossible to follow, and a little kindly instruction is far better than unreasonable scolding. One has always to consider the dog's point of view and attitude towards unfamiliar things and situations.

Sense of Smell. There are many examples of canine cleverness in scenting things which the human nostrils are incapable of detecting. If one takes advantago of the dog's extraordinary sense of smell and direct it into particular channels, it is astonishing what clever things he will do. In a way the canine sense of smell is similar to our own eyesight. Man can survey a wide landscape, and take it all into his consciousness, but suddenly his gaze is drawn to some moving object upon which it is concentrated. In the- same way the dog can take in a multitude of conflicting smells, even when running, but suddenly one special smell arrests his attention, and be puts his nose to it and follows it unerringly to its source. Kennel Clnb Dance. • Arrangements are well in hand for tho annual dance of the Canterbury Kennel Club, which is to bo held in the Papanui Town Hall on Tuesday, August 23rd. Indications are that there will be a record attendance, and a most enjoyable night should bo the result.