KENNEL NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 168, 17 June 1936, Page 7

KENNEL NOTES

THE PEKINGESE. (By “Kuri.”) No toy dog in all time so completely captured the hearts of English doglovers as did the little Eastern. aristocrat, who camo to England in the second half of the nineteenth century, and that popularity .has never waned. The little Lion dog has always been the true friend of man. AVith subtle flattery it has always perform! human company to that of its own species. Dogs of other breeds are always regarded with scorn and animosity; it is essentially a one-mail dog. During tho Chinese war of 1860 si group of young English officers captured from tho ladies’ quarters of the Chinese court about half-a-dozen of these favourites, and one of these was presented to Queen Victoria and remained her dear companion until its death in 1872. It was not until 1894, however, that the general public welcomed tho Lion dog at the Chester Show. All the pedigrees of presentday dogs can be traced to tlie follow ing five dogs: Pekin Peter, All Cum, Mimosa. Pekin Prince and Pekin Princess. Added to these there has been other and more recent importations. Their charm is really not lo be wondered at when wo think of tho years of royal intercourse they have had, as they were identified as tho Lion Dog in Korean bronzes of 2000 B.C. In the very early days the Palaco dogs wore not known as Pekingese but as Lion dogs. In the first century when China embraced Buddhism, the Buddha lion became their sacred symbol. Lions are unknown in China, but Chinese tigers are large and majestic; thus the curious tiger-lion of art of that period—and who should supply artists’ models but the dogs. Tims tho little. Lion dog camo into the pictuie, and lor 2000 years of Buddhist art in China has remained there. Their breeding was entrusted to the Chief Eunuch and was impeccable. Tho Emperor’s own dogs; never left his side, and the damage or theft of a rova.l dog was punishable by death by torture.

The Dowager Empress, T’zu Hsi, did much lor the breed. Tlieir points bad to come from their breeding, not from any faking, n practice common oven then. And from the pearls of wisdom dropped by the Imperial lips the standard" as it is now in England was originally framed.

lii 1898 the Ladies’ Kennel Association first put on a .Pekingese classification. and thereby secured for the Palace dogs their corner in English show life. They came, they were seen, they conquered. In 1904 a separate club was formed and thus the Pekingese Club came into lining and now they perform very creditably in all breed obedience classes. The skull should be wide and flat between the ears, neither domed like a King Charles, nor rounded like a pug-dog’s. The head is massive; the nose black, broad, very short and flat; the eyes large, dark, prominent, round and iustrous; Ihe stop deep; the ears heart-shaped, not set too high and long and drooping, but not so long as to reach below the muzzle. They are equipped with long feathering. The muzzle is verv short and broad. The body is heavy in front, broad in chest, ■and is lighter behind, giving a lionlike appearance. The short forelegs are heavy and bowed out at elbow; coat, long, straight and flat with a thick undercoat. The plume is carried high on the loins in a loose curl. Now-a-'days miniatures are worth their weight in gold. Well-known dogs of both types are Ch Ku Uni. the American Ch King j Pippin, Ch Humming Bee of Alderbourne, Ch Bracklev Biondino, Ch Chucrh of Alderbouvne, fi-mous .showman of his day. and many others. If they were always termed Linn dogs instead of toys they might be more appreciated for their true character ,:f | a staunch, loyal companion. QUERIES. Any questions or matters of interest pertaining to dog matters “Kuri,” C o the “Standard" will be only too pleased to answer through this column.

“Household l’et” asks two questions :

(1) “We have a puppy that will cat tilth. What is the cause and how can we stop it r” (2) “The same pup. only ten weeks old and just taken from the mother, whines at night though no think he is

very comfortably boused. Can you suggest a remedy?”

To the first I think the eauso can bo traced to the presence of worms; if not that, a lack of lime. Doso the puppy with a reliable worm medicine, flood results can be obtained from proprietary mixtures or your local veterinary surgeon will supply you with medicine. Follow the directions carefully as a puppy’s constitution is a delicate mechanism. Give a little limewater or cod liver oil in bis food. To tho second I should suggest a lint-water bottle carefully wrapped up; if the pup is very much given to chewing a brick, warmed and. carefully wrapped, should servo the same purpose. Give him a drink of warm milk last thing before you go to bed. HOUSING DOGS. During these cold days I wonder if many people think of their dogs. According to tho dog the ideal place to live is inside, but this is not alwavs practicable. If the dog lives inside do not let him lie too close to the fire, as it is bad for bis eyes; also, he is far more likely to catch colds if he gets overheated and is then turned outside for his last walk before going to bed. If your dog is kennelled don’t keep him in a warm room all the evening and then expect liim to sleep in a cold kennel and remain healthy. If he is living outside, see that he lias plenty of warm, clean bedding, and don’t let him sleep on concrete: boxes are not au expensive as all that.

If he is tied to a kennel outside during tho day, raise the kennel off _ the damp ground with three or four bricks; face the opening away from tho prevailing wind, and place it in the sunniest spot possible. See that his collar fits him, and is not 6o small that it chokes him or so big and heavy that it rests and rubs bis ears every time he lias a drink. A dog’s neck grows with the dog, so look at the collar everv now land then to see that it is comfortable. Never kennel a dog up when wet—a rub down with a towel or sugar-sack doesn’t take long and is well worth the trouble. See that he has plenty of fresh clean drinking water. A dog very seldom howls at night if he is comfortable and well fed. DOG PARADE SOON.

The Ma.na.watu Kennel Club held a meeting recently. Tire Show in Noveml>er was discussed as was a forthcoming parade (which will be advertised in this paper) to which we hope all our readers will bring their dogs.