WELFARE OF DOGS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 30 December 1936, Page 2

WELFARE OF DOGS.

VALUABLE INFLUENCE OF SHOWS.

DUAL PURPOSE BREEDING

The kennel correspondent of the Lon don Times writes:—

Considering that nearly 1400 shows are held in the course of a year and that the ranks of exhibitors are being enlarged continually, it may not be out of place to inquire wliat effect, the movement has had on dogs in general. Shows began by receiving the active support of sporting men, and at all periods gooa sportsmen have amused themselves with exhibiting. There have been times, however, when critics have condemned in unmeasured terms the influence of shows on working breeds. Latterly we have not had so much criticism, and in all probability more people than ever are breeding dual-purpose dogs—good lookers and good workers. Strictly speaking, gdvocates of working dogs can take little exception u> i*ie standard of points drawn up lor show purposes. In all of these, features are emphasised that should improve the ability to do a good day’s work. Sound legs and feet are essential, as are deep or well-sprung ribs, strong backs, short couplings, and so on. Under most judges a dog that does not move freely is either discarded altogether or heavily penalised. As a concession to aesthetics, a shape of head and placement of ears may be required on a show dog that arc of unimportance to workers, and in certain, breeds colour is by no means negligible. RICH COLOURING. A .Welsh springer, for instance, should have dark rich red patches on a white ground, a Sussex spaniel has to be a rich golden liver, the colour markings on a Clumber are of a lemon shade, Irish water spaniels are a dark, rich liver-puce, and Irish setters must flaunt a rich golden chestnut. It will be noted that the adjective “rich” is worked hard, but it is expressive, answering to the dictionary definition of “mellow, deep, full.” In the field it matters not at all whether a dog exhibits these colours or is mismarked, but obviously we must have some standard of perfection to which show dogs should conform, and this should embody the characteristics of the breeds. When we come to consider the welfare of dogs in general, a strong ease can he made out on behalf of shows. The effect of shows has been to educate the public in the care and management of dogs:~ Exhibitors soon discovered that the appearance of the exhibit was not merely a matter of cultural breeding. However promising a puppy might be, its future could be marred by faulty rearing, wrong feeding, and neglect of proper grooming and exercise. By degrees a considerable volume of literature sprang up telling people about the correct methods of treating their pets, and in the course of time its educative influence extended to ordinary domestic dogs. The lot of these dogs is infinitely more enviable than it was half a century ago. They are fed more sensibly, most of them are groomed every jda\, and washed when necessary. They; get more human companionship and must be altogether happie:.