ROYAL DOGS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3802, 12 April 1913, Page 10

ROYAL DOGS

A CHAT WITH QUEEN ALEXANDRA’S KENNELMAN.

To those jwho are actively associated with the exhibition phase of canine culture it must bo very gratifying to know that- dogs from the Royal kennels are, again being entered for competition at important shows. It is not perhaps generally know'll that clogs of high degree# have long been in favor wit-1/ members of the Royal Family.

Queen Victoria was a great lover of animals, the horse and the dog because of their faithfulness and devotion appealing strongly to her bountiful store of sympathy and affection. Her Majesty on more than one occasion countenanced and encouraged shows by sending clogs for exhibition, and tho late King Edward VII. and Queen Alexandra also warmly supported tho canine oau.su, keeping an extensive kennel, and not only entering dogs for competition but visiting shows themselves and evincing the keenest- interest- in the exhibits.

GOOD KING EDWARD. In human affairs King Edward’s name will ever be remembered with love and gratitude because of his great influence on the nations for peace and goodwill; by those whose regard for dogs goes beyond the outward aspect and takes count of disposition and character, the memory of the late King will he revered because -of the support he gave to those who seventeen or eighteen years ago boldly stood up for the abolition of the ear-crop-ping practice. For many years this was a subject of hard controversy. It had boon the fashion for a long while to clip off a portion of the car in some breeds, to impart- alertness of expression, and quite naturally breeders thought if tin' practice were abolished those particular varieties would decline in popularity. Resolutions were brought forward at Kennel Chib meetings ( without avail, and the advocates of reform were .beginning to despair of success, when a. correspondent addressed a- letter to King Edward—then, of course, Frinc-e of Wales—and the reply was so clear and emphatic that in a remarkably short space of time car-cropping was a thing of the past. -His Majesty pointed out that, although lie had long possessed dogs, and had shown them at exhibitions, be had never allowed one to be mutilated. He further stated that it would give him much pleasure to hear that the objectionable fashion had been abandoned. Thus it was that a custom which was undoubtedly cruel and absolutely unnecessary was done away with, and one can imagine bow deep would be the gratitude of our fourfooted friends had they the gift of-un-derstanding in this matter, for King Ed wards intercession on their behalf.

A REAL DOG LOVER

There should be no need to tell that, though, also, King Edward is no more, dogs still have their home at Sandringham, and it was my good fortune recently to learn from Mr. W. Brunsden, Queen Alexandra’s head kennelman, .something about them. It- was after the excitement of the judging was over at a great championship show that wo discussed for a while dogs in general, and the Royal clogs in particular. and epute unmistakably, Mr. I!musclen revealed the fact that he had something more than a knowledge or the ways of dogs, their anatomical perfection and imperfections, and the hundred and one details in kennel management that long experience imparts. 'That something was a genuine <•nthu.sia.in for the dog, an appreciation of those beautiful attributes that, in our quest for type and prize-money, we are so apt to overlook. I thought then, as I had often thought before, that wo set too great n store by our clogs’ physical virtues —- tin- length or the head, maybe, or the texture of the coat. We forget that one can no more measure the higher qualities of the canine heart and brain by the turn-up of a bulldog’s uuclerjnw. or lack of it, than one can measure the worth of a man by the cut of his coat.

11KU MAJESTY’S SPECIAL PETS

I like to hear a man, when discuss-

ing iiK dogs, speak of other virtues than those the show judge looks for — of their endearing ways, their pluck u hen pluck is needed, and of their fitness for the special pursuit for which they were originally bred. If dogs bad nothing more to recommend them than a prize-winning career, their place in tho life of our community would have reached the vanishingpoint long ago. It was because Mr Brunsden spoke of those things that I knew the dogs at Sandringham were in dharge of one who had an affection for them, and this, no doubt, is the reason why the trust given him by the lute King Edward twenty-six years ago was renewed by hor most gracious Majesty Queen Alexandra. The kennels at Sandringham are extensive. They are comprised in a brick building a hundred yards in length, and all the fittings are of iron ; no woodwork is used. The varieties kept there are Samoyedes, collies, St. Bernards, borzois, Clumber spaniels. S’kyes. Scottish terriers, -rdugh and smooth bassett bounds, fox terriers, wire and smooth, black pugs, sebip-jK-rkes, and Poms. Formerly bulldogs were included of both the English and French variety, but the last representative of the national breed died about two years ago, and it has not been n ‘iff a fictl.

\ With tin* exception of the Scottish terriers , which belong to Princess Victoria, ail these dogs are the property of Queen Alexandra, who takes a, very rcii (interest in them, and pays them a visit whenever the opportunity occurs. Her Majesty’s special pets are, however, the faithful Caesar, the wirehaired rox terrier who was so devoted to King Edward, for Japanese spaniels, and a. Pom. To these are given the great privilege of living in the stately home iat Sandringham, and one may Ix>. sure that the favor is appreciated. DEAR OLD CAESAR. Caesar is Her Majesty’s constant companion. He accompanies her everywhere, and Mr. Brunsden assured, me that lie is everything in the way of

faithfulness and devotion to his exalted mistress that tho popular imagination pictures him to he. Doggy folk will be interested to learn that Caesar is not only a dog of tho highest companionable virtues, but a'typical specimen of his breed. He has taken his place with honor in the show ring, and won for his late master several first prizes. This is not at all surprising when it is remembered that tho famous “Oackler of Notts” was his sire.

The Prince of Wales, Mr. Brunsden informed mo, is genuinely interested in dogs, and tho success which liis Royal Highness has achieved lately at tho Crystal Palace, Bristol, and Cardiff will no doubt give zest to his fancy for the smart and game little terrier which is identified wit-li the country from - whence the Prince takes liis title.

It must not be thought that there there is any sentiment with Royal successes at dog shows. A veteran judge, Mr. C. H. Lane, who is well known to, and deservedly respected by, the older generation of exhibitors, assured mo that, though he has awarded prizes on many occasions to dogs shown by the late Queen Victoria. King Edward, and Queen Alexandra, their successes were entirely duo to merit.