KENNEL NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 46, 23 January 1939, Page 5

KENNEL NOTES

THE DOG IN LITERATURE. (By “Kuri.”) English writers quite often in their modern novels introduce canine characters into their stories, and a source of added interest is provided for the doggy people. An example of this is to be found in Agatha Christie’s ‘The Dumb Witness,” a murder story in the current style, in which a wirehaired forx terrier is the witness. The writer’s apparent knowledge of the dog’s mentality and accomplishments is a pleasing thread as the reader follows the plot. The murder described is connected with the trick often perlormed by the terrier of rolling a ball down a stairway to a friend beneath, who would throw it back to the dog. Such a trick would be fairly easily learnt by an intelligent I'oxic, and, although the title of the story mentions the dog, it is only incidental to the tale. The conversation between the detective’s assistant and a doggy servant in the house where the terrier is kept is interesting, as the writer displays her intimate technical knowledge also. In many of the modern novels we find the writers showing this fancier’s knowledge of the requirements of popular breeds of dogs. In most of Lady Kitson’s books we find a dog, usually an Alsatian, and in such instances w r e also find an instructive and intelligent chapter or part of a chapter concerning the breed. The “Berry and Co.” talcs by Dornford Yates arc' also excellent for the dog lover, because the stories always concern doggy people, and the dogs described’are always of some particular breed, upon which the author converses intimately and correctly. Most readers of thrillers will remember the schoolboy tales of Sexton Blake and his remarkable bloodhound. To fanciers versed in a long, study of the standards of some of the established breeds of dogs the intimate little pieces found in a good story which are given to a description of the appearance or character of a pedigree dog are a very happy accompaniment to the pleasure of reading a good yarn. The doggy person feels that he can relax in the firm knowledge that ho or she is with friends. THE DOG IN ART. To-day one can purchase china

ornaments of dogs much different from the dreadful monstrosities sold in othei days as representative of the canine race. The best of the modern dog ornaments are modelled from living dogs, usually world-renowned champions wellknown to all well-informed fanciers.

There arc second-class copies of this typo of ornament to be seen in the shop windows, too, hut a fancier is not likely to have one of these in his house. The really good ornaments are excellent reproductions of the dogs copied from, and fanciers get a real pleasure from owning such models. They are usually more perfect than the dogs to be seen at shows, and are for this reason useful in demonstrations of breed requirements. One interesting feature of these ornaments i-s that in my opinion the almost life-size door-stopper ornament of a black and white wire fox terrier is modelled from a puppy, not an adult dog. Beneath some of the china ornaments of the best class I have seen cards giving the names of the dogs represented, and they bring to mind records we have read of the dogs’ show careers. We find that calendars are now produced of actual photographs of well-known winning dogs, and they make useful pictures for the fancier. The full-size pictures and ornaments are the only ones of value to a fancier, and the animal must be standing in a correctly-posed attitude. The nice-looking ones of dogs sitting with birds in their mouths or in some such position are of little use when you wish to use the photograph or 'model to demonstrate. and they have not the same intrinsic value to the specialist in any of the breeds The best models we have seen have been of j wire fox terriers. Scottish terriers. Airedales and cocker spaniels, and there is also an excellent model of a somewhat different style, of a bulldog which is very good, too. AROUND the kennels.

The writer had a brief inspection of Miss Nathan’s kennels during the wo u! and found conditions very interorfir.g. Three bitches, all with families, a Dacshund with five puppies, a Scottic with two. and a wire fox terrier with five. All the puppies looked marvellous, and the Dacshund puppies were particularly intriguing, as they were the first we had seen of this fascinating breed. They were very much like miniature bloodhounds and much different from other puppies. The two Scotties wore black-eyed, cheeky little fellows of excellent promise, as they should bo.

considering that their sire is famous champion Erich Creation (Imported). The wire stud dog champion Milo Mercury was found to he in the best of condition, looking even bettor in some respects than when he was being exhibited to secure his title. We also had an opportunity of looking over Mr A\ . JL. Kelly’s rough-coated collie recently, and we think lie should win his share of prizes if shown in good order. A nice-sized dog of the right type. Another good one, in our opinion, is the black cocker hitch owned by Mr R. J. Andrew. Should she come into good condition this hitch will be interesting to follow. J should like to see her when in first-class order brought out against the best in the country. Competition in cockers is fierce, and the standard is very high amongst the place-getters, hut this black hitch should hold her own when Tii good fettle.