KENNEL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIII, Issue 10653, 14 May 1895, Page 2

KENNEL NOTES.

(Canterbury Times.)

An intercolonial conference of fanciers was hold at Sydney on Easter Monday, New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland being represented. Amongst the matters dealt with were the conditions for the eligibility of dogs for competition in champion classes. The Victorian rule on this head was altered two years ago, and speaking on this subject Mr Beilby moved that Open Class winners only should be eligible to compete in the Champion Classes. This was agreed to after a considerable amount of discussion. The present system of points gained at different shows being counted towards eligibility for the champion classes was discussed at very great length. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Beilby, by 10 votes to 4 (a substantial majority) that “ English Championship Rules ” should govern all the “ big” shows to be held in future in the respective colonies, and that the bast dog in the show (of his breed) is entitled to championship honours. The Westminster Fennel Club’aShow in New York was most successful. Abpat 1400 dogs were benched. This exhibition, as a fashionable fad, ranks next to the New York Horse Show, and brings to its support the wealthiest and moat exclusive society. The exhibit of this year was uncommonly fine, and in the collection were to be found first-class specimens of every canine known in any portion of the world. It will not be remembered, however, for this so much as for the perpetration of the most dastardly crime ever recorded in connection with. dogs. On the morning of the last day of the show it was found that eight beautiful little Toy Spaniels of various breeds, of great value, the property of a lady, Mrs Senna, had been poisoned, and that poison—strychnine—had been placed on the benches of other dogs belonging to the same owner. The club at once offered £SO, afterwards increased to £2OO, reward for the discovery of the miscreant, and a subscription was started to recoup the owner for the loss of her pets.

Most of the principal winners were either owned or bred in England. The famous St Bernard, Sir Bedevere, was victorious in his section. Collies formed a great show, and Sefton Hero, Wellesbourne Charlie, Chorltoa Phyllis, the nineyear - old Christopher, Woodmansterne Trefoil, and Eufford Ormonde took the leading honours. The bred Pointers and Gordon cotters were better than the English; ,Irish setters and beagles about the same, but most other classes not nearly so good. j A peculiar ease came before the English Kennel Club Committee on Feb. 26. A lady charged a breeder with having withheld a bull-bitch from her after having agreed to sell it to her, thereby making a large profit from the litter of the bitch. The defence was that he did not send the bitch as she had turned savage, and afterwards he understood the lady did not then want her. Verdict—-Not proven. At the same meeting an exhibitor claimed prizes won by a dog that was not registered at the time of entry at a show, the claimant’s dog being second. It wap found that the dog had- been passed as registered by the mistake of a clerk, and this had not been discovered until past the time allowed for protests to be lodged. There was some, discussion on the matter, during which it was pointed out that the committee of the Kennel Club make all these inquiries and lodge objections for the general convenience of the public, but that they do not contract to lodge any objections. The decision was that no steps could be taken in the matter. The secretary of the Whito English Terrier Club wrote withdrawing his club’s petition against the proposed non-cropping rule, as more than half of the members were in favour of non-cropping. The Great Dana Club petitioned against the abolition of cropping as far ss their breed was concerned. The Irish Kennel Association forwarded a resolution requesting the Kennel Club to take steps to prohibit cropping in all breeds. The Bull-terrier Club requested the insertion of a rule : "No Bull-terrier whelped after Dee. 31, 1894, can, if cropped; win a prize at any show held under Kennel Club rules.” At the club’s general meeting on Feb. 27 Mr S. E. Shirley, the chairman, proposed, and Mr Edgar Farmaa seconded, the following resolution, which was carried unanimously :No dog born after March, 1895, nor Irish terrier born after Deo. 31, 1894, can, if cropped, win a prize at any, show held under Kennel Club rules.” This resolution is inserted in the laws of the English Kennel Club as Rule XSII., and is recognised throughout the kennel world. Mr J. T. Hincks, of Leicester, moved an amendment to include docking and other mutilation in the original resolution. In advocating this, ha stated that he had lost many dogs, which had died through , the operation of docking, that is, from having their tails cut. Ha also drew attention to the cruelty!!!,of docking the Schipperke,

which has its tail taken off close up to the backbone to round off the animal for show purposes. Mr Joachim said this was true, the tail of the Sohippetko not being simply docked, hut “carved out.” It has to be done by a veterinary surgeon with such nicety that if he goes a little too far the spinal cord is touched, and-the puppy dies in a moment. Later Mr Hincks stated that he had discontinued the practice of docking his spaniels. Colonel Platt and Mr Hickman expressed their sympathy with Mr Hincks’a motion, but at the request of the former it was withdrawn, with, the understanding that Mr Hinoki would bring it forward again at the next general meeting.