KENNEL NOTES

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 14

KENNEL NOTES

(By "Fitzroy.”.) The lonic, which arrived at Wellington recently from .London, brought a young black French curly-coated poodle for the Hon. Kathleen Plunket,. consigned from Lady Ranfurly. I understand the dog was bred in Ireland, and is from a valuable prize-winning strain. Mr W. H. Baines’s Scottish terrier Lum Lintie whelped on July 17 a litter of five puppies (3 dogs and 2 bitches) to the Australian unbeaten dog champion Torridon Mac (imported). The genial secretary of the Scottish and Skye Terrier Club is well pleased with his new litter, which are a fine even lot of dark brindles, and are doing well.

Mr A. H. F. Thomson's litter of pug puppies, by the black pug Laws Durban ex the fawn Marlow Gipsy, are females — two blacks and a fawn.

Mr Thomson, who is an enthusiastic Skye Terrier fancier, has disposed of three of his litter of Skye® by Shuffler ex Toodles. Mr W. Street has obtained a promising dog puppy and Mr L. M. Landsborough has acquired a dog and a bitch which, if they go on as they are at present doing, should make a name for themselves,

Mr E. Bernasconi has disposed of his young black and white pointer dog (by Wallace ex Cuban Prxidence) to Mr J. Somerville. Mr Bernasconi imported this dog a few months ago from Mr Morgan, of Ararat, Victoria. The sire, Wallace, is a champion field dog, and Cuban Prudence is from the late champion Cuban Airs and Graces.

"E. 8.” (Carterton) asks for details of the characteristics of a purebred retriever, which I will publish at an early date. In reply to another query; “E.n. " will find that most of the leading fanciers have registered their dogs' pedigrees with the N.Z. Kennel Club, although many breeders do not trouble to have their dogs' ancestry inserted in the N.Z.K.C. Stud Boole. Frank T. Barton’s book, '‘Sporting Dogs: Their Points and Management,'' will interest retriever breeders. In reply to a fourth query: If a pure-bred is mis-allied with a dog of another species subsequent litters by a sire of the same breed as the dam, will not be affected by the misalliance, and they will in no way exhibit characteristics of the dog first referred to.

The cablegram from Perth, Western Australia, dated July 20, announcing that the expedition exploring the NorthWest has discovered a species of dog tho size of a rat, is of special interest to dog fanciers. The smallest full-grown dog in the world is a two years old Chihuahua, weighing twenty-three ounces (lib 7oz), owned by Deputy Sheriff Hamilton Rayner, of El Paso, Texas, U.S.A. The Chihuahua is a breed cultivated in Mexico, where they are said to be growing scarce. The English toy Pomeranian is probably the smallest popular European bleed of the day. Many prize specimens, although full-grown, weigh only 31b, and occasionally a matured female is reported to scale only 2|lb. The once fairly numerous toy black and tan terrier averaged under three pounds. Speculation is rife a® to the type of animal the newly-discovered miniature Western Australian dog is.

Alcohol, given in the form of brandy, with milk, is reported to have cured ferrets of distemper, at Blenheim. Whether or not the distemper in ferrets is similar to the disease which assails the canine race the late E, Mayhew, M.R.C.V.S., recommended the fallowing for distemper; "The best kind of liquid food, especially during the feverish condition, is home-made beef tea or mutton broth. A small quantity of one of these may be offered every two or three hours alternately with milk. After a time, some meat extract —as Bovril —may be given either mixed with water or milk and brandy, from ten drops to a dessertspoonful, or double the quantity of port wine, according to the size of the patient, may be added to each feed.” Hugh Dalziel, the canine expert, writes: "I have found great benefit from giving pups at short intervals small quantities of chopped-up raw lean meat, beef or mutton, and when very low indeed a little weak brandy and water, followed by the meat.” F. T. Barton, M.R.C.V.8., says: "Stimulants are indispensable in distemper, so that bovril, claret, and brandy are required. Brand’s Essence is the best for nourishment. Give it in teaspoonful doses every hour. One may add the same quantity of brandy oxwhisky to it.”

Following is ft copy of a letter sent to the secretary of the New Zealand Collie Club, Napier: "As Vice-President of the Manawatu Kennel Club, Palmerston North, I would like to. draw your attention to what seems to be either a serious oversight on the part of the Collie Club, or a deliberate slight put upon our club. I should like to point out that our club is not only giving absolutely the largest prize-money of any club in New Zealand, viz., .£1 first (if even only one entry), with 2nd and 3rd prizes of 7s 6d and 5s 'if there are five entries in every class, but also is giving £2 first prize in the

open classes for several breeds, of which Collies is one. I think also that no other show provides as many classes for ’Rough Coated Collies. In addition to this the N.Z. Kennel Club has allotted the Challenge Classes for Rough-Coated Collies for this year to the Manawatu Kennel Club. I think under the circumstances some of the valuable specials of the N.Z. Collie Club might have been allotted to our show, and trust if not too late some may still be sent our way. —Yours truly, F. E. Watson. Mrs J. R. Wood, of Newcastle, N.S.W., who was formerly so well known as Miss Essie Jenyns, ie now travelling with her husband through Asia, en route to England. Prior to leaving Australia Mrs Wood sent to London by the Salamis 11 of her dogs. These were one fox-terrier Mallee Victress and two pups, one Sydney silky terrier, and seven rough-coated Australian terriers. Writing from Japan. to Mr A. F. Maier, of Stratlifield, N.S.W., Mrs Wood says: "My dogs were landed in London in the best of condition. Captain Douglas took great interest in them, and they were comfortably housed. The shipping charges amounted to about .£55. There were other expenses, of course, besides the kennel®, which I designed. Immediately on the dogs’ arrival in England they -were deported to the quarantine grounds at Harrow, where they must remain for three months. Their upkeep is £3 3s a -Week, and each dog is in a separate kennel. The place is very open —quite in the country. It will be a test during the coming winter to see if the seven little Australians and the others can stand the extreme change. Anyhow, they have started well. During the next 12 months I hope to prove the quality of our Australian terriers in the dog world of England.”

A very enthusiastic of the show sub-committee of the Wellington Kennel Club was held at Temple Chambers, Johnston street, on July 22nd. There were present Messrs I. M. Levy (in the chair), <E. Cutts, J. Somerville, Collins. W. Rogers, E. Bernasconi, W. Baine, IT Scotty Anderson, A. E. Black, H. Williams, Forster, J. F. Adams, P. Smith, W. Jan son, W. Shepherd and Kitcliing. Dr A. W. Izard, president, sent an apology for absence. A letter was received from his Excellency the Governor accenting the club’s invitation to perform tbe official opening ceremony on Wednesday afternoon, September 11th. A mass of routine correspondence was dealt with. Further contributions to the prize list were announced, including a handsome challenge cup valued at five guineas, donated by Mr T. H. Coleman, jeweller. Cuba street. It was left to the committee to allot this trophy, which by resolution was set apart for the _ best brace of pointers, to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals, and the same brace will be eligible to compete each year. The Scottish and Skye Terrier Club of New Zealand forwarded a list of no less than seventeen special prizes to be competed for by members of that club at the Wellington Kennel Club’s Show. The Scottish and Skye Terrier Club’s trophies easily constitute a record for any specialist club in the colony. They include a very valuable challenge shield. _ The Wellington Kennel Club’s prize list also eclipses all previous schedules, and in this connection the club has struck out on new lines by publishing in the schedule details of prizes offering. The schedule was submitted to the show sub-committee for confirmation, and after a few minor revisions were made and the latest donations added, the list was adopted. The schedule will be placed in the hands of the printer at an early date and a list of donated prizes will be published shortly in the "New Zealand Mail”—the official organ. Mr J. F. Adams supplemented the prize list with a donation of a challenge cup valued at two guineas' for the best brace of English setters, to be won twice in succession or three times at interval®. A generous offer was f •ceived from Messrs Thomson and Brown, estate agents, comer of Feather®ton and Hunter streets, who expressed their pleasure in placing their rooms at the disposal of the club for the taking of entries for the annual show. The offer was accepted with thanks.

A number of new members were elected, and it was decided to meet again shortly to send out the schedules to fanciers in all parts of the colony. IMPROVEMENTS IN KENNEL MANAGEMENT. (By C. J. Davis, in "Our Dogs.”) It is to be feared that comparatively few of the inmates of small kennels get sufficient exercise. The dog is essentially an active animal, delighting in a scamper across country or a run with a horse. Apart from his own feelings on the subject, however, exercise is necessary to promote health in more ways than one, and even a dog of highest breeding can withstand a lot of mismanagement in his dietary, etc., provided he does a sufficiency of work. In large kennels under the charge of a staff of kennelmen, file inmates are usually supposed to receive a regular amount of road work daily, and it is at any rate not the fault of the owner if they do not do so. The owner of a small kennel who is also his own kennelman, is the man who very often shirks this very necessary if arduous part of routine management, and thinks that if his dogs are turned out daily into a fairly spacious yard or paddock he has done all that is ilccessary. To take the big dogs first, a lot of the feet and leg troubles are due to the fact that food and exercise axe not regulated the one to the other. The kennelled dog requires his exercise just as much as the stabied horse if he is to be kept in "show form” —which is another term for perfect health and condition. Furthermore, big, active dogs like Great Danes, Deerhounds, and St. Bernards

require to do a good many miles daily on the road; and the former, at any rate, should be accompanied out by a man on horse or pony. The three ta four miles an hour of the man on foot hardly enables these dogs to keep themselves warm in winter, much less gain any benefit from the saunter. Even a bicycle is not to be despised, if the rider is careful to dismount and walk up all hills, and if he is a sufficiently expert rider to avoid collisions with his charges. We have more than once come across kennels of sporting dogs, which never left their kennels from the end of on® shooting season till the beginning of tho next. The kennels were fairly spacious, certainly, brick-built in the best style and faiiltless in every particular; yet dogs can hardly be expected to thrive if confined in this way for more than half the year with never a run out or change of scene, and the inevitable result is lameness and skin trouble. The dogs were in charge of a keeper whose duties ended when he had cleaned the kennels and fed the inmates, and it is perhaps hardly to be expected that a man should be specially kept to exercise dogs which bring no return for the greater part of the year. Their condition when they do commence their work is of course lamentable, and it takes some weeks to get them into health. A dog out of sorts loses all "nose,” and many a one has been condemned for lack of this desirable quality when the deficiency was in reality only temporary and due to "outside” causes. The need for regular exercise is so fully appreciated by all hound men that neglect of it by the owners of fancy dogs is as a rule wanton, or else due to ignorance and want of thought; and we feel sure that when once its importance is realised by those who have hitherto neglected it, they will either make arrangements to get this point duly attended to, or will reduce their kennels to such dimensions that they can include the daily walk among their own kennel duties.

Among those who wantonly neglect exercise are those persons who only exercise the few choicest specimens out of a large kennel. A dog shown fat and "soft” will not —or at any rate should not —stand such a good chance at a show as one evhich is hard and muscular and carries the accompanying bloom, and this the exhibitor very well knows, and acts accordingly. The brood bitches, on whom the whole future success of the kennel in reality depends, and the growing puppies, have to be content with the paddock as their only exercising ground. Surely this cannot be right. No animal needs harder muscular condition than the brood bitch, flacciditv constantly leading to whelping troubles, internal accumulation of fat leading to sterility, and other evils. Growing puppies, too, must have exercise if they are to grow up straight and healthy. From four months upwards most breeds are the better for a short walk abroad with the adult members of the kennel, and at six or eight months terriers can do all that the brood bitches do with the exception of rapid and prolonged exertion. All bitches which are in pup can with benefit do their regular work (even hunting dogs can hunt) for the first five weeks of their time. After this their exercise must be curtailed in pace only, not in time or quantity. If they get their walk up to the very last they will not only bring forth stronger pups but will possess more strength and vitality themselves to help them through their trouble. We always pity the bitches in kennels when from one week’s end to another they are never allowed to leave the premises. They are treated merely as necessary machines for the production of puppies, not as inctTviduals with as keen an enjoyment of "life" as any other dogs. As so much depends upon them, they should be the first consideration, and their welfare should take precedence of that of all the other dogs in the kennel.

Of all dogs, however, the Toy varieties are the greatest sufferers from want of exercise. Is this because they so often belong to individuals ivho are themselves disinclined to take the trouble of walking out with them? From whatever cause, the fact remains that small dogs are sadly neglected in this respect. Because they are small it does not follow that they are weak—in fact, there generally seems to be more concentrated vitality in a small dog than in a large one, and we have never found the former incapable of walking as far as we cared to take them, or to be disinclined for more. It is very hard to get people to understand that running about the house and garden all day is not exercise and will not take its place. True exercise must take place among comparatively strange surroundings to fulfil its utmost benefits, and toy dogs require this just as much as their larger relatives. Indeed, as they generally lead a more artificial life, living in hot houses, tempted with many unwholesome tit-bits, they require if even more than those dogs which live more or less out of doors and are correctly and regularlyfed. The reason small dogs are often so fat, so snappy, and so liverish is solely overfeeding and insufficient exercise; and we know from personal experience that even a pug can be kept reasonably slim with proper management, <and that these dogs thoroughly enjoy a daily run with a small pony carriage. The amount of work a dog will and can do with benefit would astonish some of those people who consider that the run of the two or three acres surrounding their premises is all that can possibly be required. A spaniel of our own, an animal of about 35lbs weight, and of the long-legged, old-fashioned, liver-and-wliite type, for years took jus daily run with trap or rider, doing eight miles each way, sixteen miles in all, and on the other days perhaps halt the distance. We always reckoned he did his 70 or 80 miles a week, the only times when he failed to come to tlie scratch being in extremely hot weather when his feet got tender and he was allowed to drive one way. Needless to say, he knew every water hole and pond on all the roads round, and. regularly took his bath and drink at all ot them.

This work was all done at an average pace of nine miles an hour, and the dog at eight years of age was as slim as a youngster and as' hard as nails. He is now fourteen, and still flourishing. Half the benefit of exercise lies in the interest it gives the dogs. This being so, it' is important that the animals should be taken (as already remarked) off the premises and into new surroundings. The new smells, the. meetings witn other dogs, the pursuit of some real or imaginary quarry, all stimulate every nerve in the canine body and exercise the whole organism. This is so beneficial, and is what will always be entirely lacking to those dogs which are confined to the same few acres from one week's end to . the ocher. Heie they know everv smell by heart; they have long ago exterminated all the vermin, and they therefore spend their nays lying about on the damp grass in despondency and idleness. By all means turn out all dogs into a paddock for as many hours a day as possible. Ifiey will be all the better lor the fresh air and sunshine. But do not consider tnat n will take the place of a good walk along the roads or a.ramble across the neats, because it can never do so. On occasions, and for exceptional reasons, the walk out is sometimes impossible. The dogs may then be given a certain amount of exercise m a short space of time by throwing a stick or ball for them to run after. The rapid run and the mental stiniulut-on excited by competition in pursuit of the article thrown, will do good as well as cause keen enjoyment, and a quarter ox an hour .of , this is equivalent to an hour on the road if not done so constantly as to lose some of its novelty. Bor “hardening" a- terrier nothing is better than a bail or ring thrown in a variety of ways. It may be mentioned that a horse’s fetlock ring makes a safer ‘‘toy" for the smaller dogs than a ball, and is lees likely to get; lost. Ail these “aids" to exercise to be efficient when required, must, like the child's best toy, be withheld except on special occasions. The hardy breeds of dogs should take no harm from going out in wet weather.' The only breeds which are at all likely to suffer are those .with unnatural, thin, silky coats, which get saturated in a few minutes, curl and part, and let the wet through to the skin. Even then no evil results will follow if the dog is not forced to stand about in a cold wind and if it is thoroughly dried immediately on its return to the kennel. The dog is naturally provided with a ..wiry outer coat of greasy hairs to throw off the wet; beneath which is a thick felt-like undercoat, which not only prevents moisture penetrating to the skin, but affords a.-'perfect protection against the in tensest cold. This natural coat is lost in most if not aii our domesticated varieties, in some intentionally, 'and others unintentionally, and the result is that our dogs undoubtedly suffer considerably in very cold weather, and arc in con sequence liable to a number of minor disorders unknown among their wild relatives.

In our climate (England), however, if the inmates of a kennel were obliged to stay in their kennels whenever the weather was wet they would hardly go out at all at some seasons, so the breeder should never let the weather stand in the way of the daily walk, but should provide a kennel or loose box full of straw wherein the animals can be turned to dry themselves immediately on their return. Indeed, such a place will be invaluable, and will, save the owner much of the troublesome work of cleaning if used whenever the roads are muddy. Only by regular exercise, irrespective of meteorological conditions, can the perfect health of a kennel be jnaintained. Some of our modern “improved" terriers objfect to facing rain. Such should not be pandered to (or bred from), because the sportsman’s dog, like his owner, should be prepared to face any discomforts. Bogs with this peculiarity will always be found to have thin open coats, and wet no doubt causes them much discomfort; and it is undesirable that this class of coat should be perpetuated by individuals possessing it. On the whole, dogs suffer more from intense heat than from any of the other climatic extremes; partly, perhaps, because water :is scarce and they cannot get the necessary drink and bath at intervals during a .run, and also because their livers are easily affected. Although we should certainly not discontinue regular exercise in hot weather, yet it might beneficially be curtailed if the heat is intense, and the walk should certainly take place before 11 a.m. or after 5 p.m. We have never allowed the exercise of our dogs to be entirely discontinued for any class of weather, and we have never, known any harm arise—in fact, very much the reverse—from letting the animals go out daily irrespective of rain, wind, heat, or cold.

HINTS TOE NOVICES. (By Theo. Marples.) The meat diet should be increased in the winter and reduced in the summer-, and in cold weather a plentiful supply of clean, dry wheat straw, often changed, should be furnished for the bedding of outdoor kennels. It is during the winter months and rough weather that dogs are apt to Buffer in the matter of want of exercise and too much confinement. In some cases this is unavoidable, but every precaution should be taken to obviate the difficulty by giving them the necessary amount of outdoor exercise by the provision of covered runs. Dogs ghould.never be pnt in their kennels or allowed to go in when their coats are wet. The coat should, be rubbed down and thoroughly dried before the dog is allowed to go on his bench, ©specially for the night. The neglect of this precaution is often a fruitful source of rheumatism, rickets, .and many other ailments that dogflesh is hear to.

Frequent grooming is a fine thing for promoting healthiness and suppleness of the skin, as well as improving the coat.' In the case of long-coated dogs, at is of course absolutely necessary, in order to prevent the coat from becoming matted. The greatest liability to this state is, of course, when the dog is casting bis coat, when extra care should be taken in the dog, being regularly and frequently combed and brushed, and all the old hair got out of his coat. Among the breeds that need most attention to tlieir toilet are Collies and Pomeranians, whose coats should always be combed and brushed the “wrong way of the wool,"-as I may say. Old English Sheepdogs and Irish Water Spaniels need watchful attention to their coate, or they will get inextricable, which means that the mat will have to be cut off and a lot of time wasted before the coat resumes its evenness.

Curly-coated Retrievers should not be combed or brushed. If the coat is old and ragged, the custom is to cut it off all over, which induces a smaller curl. When the coat has grown, the curls should be pressed down with the hand; this is especially beneficial when the coat is wet, and whilst it is drying. y THE HAWKE’S BAY SHOW. GOOD DISPLAY OF BOGS. NAFTER, ,Tulv 28. Tim Hawke’s Bay Kennel and Poultry Club’s annual shew was opened to-day. There is a splendid show of dogs —one of the best that has been seen in the colony. In rough -coated collies .T. G. Pa rker’s Mosgi'l King gained the challenge trophy for dogs, and Neill and Rennie’s imported Southport Sylvia the similar trophy for bitches and the trophy for best collie of either sex in the enow. In smooth-coated fox-terriers. W. A. Smith’s N-anier Snowdrop won the challenge shield for best fox-terrier of either sex, and P. -I. McShane’s Zetland Fob the trophy for the best of the male sox. The trophy for best wire-haired foxterrier was won by J. Jamieson’s imported deg Coltcsmerc Admiral. J. W. Spence’s Akavana Astonished and J. Diekrson’s Cranston Loo secured cups for be*t smooth-coated fox-terriers, dog and bitch respectively, and W. A. Smith’s Napier Scallawag the trophy for best wire-haired fox-terrier puppy. R. 11, Sheppard’s Armagh Ards gained the trophy for best Irish terrier dog puppy. W. J. Harper’s Ponsonney Kit that for bitch puppy, and Jansen and Clarke’s Eurgan Looney the cup for bestdog. W. 11. Tovnend and Mrs C. H. Ensor’s King Pluto was awarded the challenge certificate for bulldogs, and F. E. Watson’s Countess that for bull bitch.

THE SCOTTISH TERRIER. (By Frank Townend Barton, M.R.C.V.S.) Sometimes spoken of as “the diehard," a name said to have been given to thorn by G/eorge, Earl of Dumbarton, owing to the pluck of a pack owned by him. no title is certainly not a misnomer, these little terriers of Highland descent' ‘Still ha ving the gam on ess of their ancestors, though many of them at the present time are only used as ladies’ companions. The terms “Aberdeen" and “Scottish" terrier are—or should be—synonymous, though an inferior specimen of a “Scottie" has, and is, frequently sold to the unwary as an “Aberdeen." Another name is that of “Cairn" Terrier, which for itself, these dogs having been expressly bred for hunting in the cairns or spaces amongst heaps of rocks, etc. Owing to their small sizd they are admirably adapted for such purposes. Some will retrieve and take well to water; are good companions, and active house dogs. They are very hardy, consequently puppies are not difficult to rear, and fair specimens of the last named can be had at two or three guineas apiece (at Home). The following are the chief points of the Scottish Terrier: Coat.—ln points judging, 20 per cent, of the marks are allotted to the coat — so many are faulty in this respect. Outer coat must be very thick, short, and of a hard or wiry texture, and absolutely free from any sign of curl, or waviness. Hair.—Two or three inches in length. Under coat, very dense. The so-called “open" coat is a fault. The term is sufficiently explanatory. Weight.—From 141 hs. to 201 bs. for dogs and a few pounds less for bitches. Colour.—Not of great importance, but white markings are objectionable; less important on the breast, but better without any -white hail’s. White specimens are rare. Brindle, black, red, mustard, and irongrey are the usual colours, the black and brindle shades being preferred. Body.—lmportant, value 10. This should be short, so as to give the dog a sturdy, compact appearance. Some Scotties are too long in the body. Neck.—To be short and thick, ending in good, strong, eloping shoulders. Chest.—Deep, well-rounded on to the shoulders, and plump. Limbs and feet.—Legs, short, bigboned, well-muscled, straight, though generally turned out at ankles, ending m large fore feet, and smaller wellpadded hind ones. The same hard hairs should clothe the limbs. If soft, it is a fault. Bars. —Erect, or semi (half) erect. Must never “droop" at tips. Should be covered with short hair. Particular attention is paid by judges to the carriage of the ears of the Scottie. Eyes.—Te be either dark brown or hazel, giving a lively expression to the face. Heiad.—Rather long, and wide above the eyes. Most of the length is gained

from eyes ix> nose. Hair bo be hard and short (not soft). Muzzle.—Long, tapering and very strong. Sound teeth. —Exceptionally large, and tight lips are a sine qua non. Height.—Nine to twelve inches. THE BRITISH-TERRIER CLUB OF AUSTRALIA. PRIZES FOR WELLINGTON. To deal with the immense amount of work in hand, the committee has met three times during the past week, when the President, Rev. _R. McKeown, Dr Arthur B. Cox, Vice-President, and Messrs E. A. Lamb, J. Harrison, D. Logan, J. Mackenzie, G. Moreton, A. Sloan, and the hon. secretary attended. Messrs J. R. Co upland (Sydney), J. Dean (Newcastle), Dr E. Stopford, Messrs Howell, Spence, Gahagan, Shephard, Ingram, and Hall, all of New Zealand, have been elected members of the club, thus bringing the members’ roll to over 50. The following Special Prizes have been voted: —To Auckland, one guinea for the best Fox Terrier dog, and one guinea for the best bitch, and one guinea each for the best Irish and Scottish Terriers, dog or bitch. To Wellington: One guinea for the best dog or bitch of each of the following breeds—Fox, Irish, Scottish, Airedale, Bull and Skye Terriers. Letters acknowledging the care taken of members’ dogs sent to the late show were directed to be sent to the Queensland Kennel Club and to Mr Eugen Doctor, as well as to, other gentlemen in the same connection. The hon. treasurer was directed to draw a cheque for ten guineas in payment of the Special Prizes offered at the late show of the Queensland Kennel Club. The attention of the committee having been drawn to a statement, in the Brisbane “Daily Mail." to the effect that the Airedale is no longer included in the list of terriers, the hon. secretary was instructed to write asking for the withdrawal of the misstatement. A circular referring to the social side of the club’s work, and a report for the next General Meeting, were adopted and ordered to be printed and circulated. .

Near Vertilliere, in the South of France, a few weeks ago, a little girl, three years of age, strayed into the main road while gathering, flowers. At the moment a powerful motor-car came rushing along at full speed, and the child would have been killed had it not been for the courageous act of a big Sr. Bernard dog named Tuco. with which the little one was a great favourite. Tuco, on seeing his pet companion’s danger, bounded into the middle of the road, caught the child’s dress in his teeth, and pulled her out of peril just in time to save her life.

Mu- Joseph Henry Gillott. of Berry Hall, Solihull, Warwick, steel pen manufacturer, and a well-known dog fancier who left an estate valued at L61L570 gross, with net personality <£48,039, gave a life annuity of <£so to his servant, Mary Joiner, with remainder to his residuary estate, and a legacy of <£so to hi® servant, William Reynolds. Subject to these and other bequests, he bequeathed the residue of his property equally between the Dogs’ Home at Battersea and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It would appear that these institutions will receive between them a sum of not lass than £6OOO. In answer to a query from a correspondent, “Our Dogs" replied: A little white on the chest of an Iris Terrier is no detriment whatever, either for sale, breeding, or exhibition.