KENNEL NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6313, 13 September 1907, Page 7

KENNEL NOTES.

(BY "FITZROY/') By the Corinthic on Wednesday afternoon the Hon. J. Carroll, Native Minister, received a pedigreed bull terrier dog from England. The dog is a splendid specimen of his breed, and arrived in good condition. Ho Is a heavy-weight scaling alxmt GOlb, has a typical head, Roman face, very dark, small eyes, good bone, correct tail, and small semierect ears. Tho Wellington Kennel Club’s twentyfirst annual show was opened at ton o’clock on Wednesday morning at the Drillshcd, and will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 to-night. Mr C. Court Kicc, the prominent Sydney expert, judged all classes, commencing Wednesday afternoon. The official opening ceremony was performed by Lord Plunket, &nd ho was accompanied by Lady Plunket and a party from Gtoveiument House. Entrance to the Dnllbhea will be by the rear door during the daytime, but iu the evening the front gates will bo used.

In an article written on "The Transformation of the Bulldog/' written a couple of years ago, an English \vntor sa ys;—“The first good bulldog shown in America was Donald, sent over by Sir William Verner, in 1880. Donald was about the best small sized bulldog m England at that time." A picture ot Donald shows him to have been a leggy, medium fronted, terrier-bodied animal. His head does not seem to have been anything like the size of that of a modern .bulldog. The face appears short, but there is a lack of "hook,' and Donald was not as much undershot a.s even a moderately fair specimen of the present day breed.

Such varieties as fox, Airedale, Irish terriers, spaniels, etc,, require to have their toils shortened, and this should be done when the puppies are, say, a couple or three weeks old. An old, but rattier revolting custom is that of biting off the requisite portion. A sharp pair of serrated scissors, or a chisel, will do the work satisfactorily, and nothing should be done to the out end, beyond allowing the healing to follow its natural course.

There is a movement in Sydney to establish a Lost Dogs" Home. Much suffering is sometimes endured by dogs which become vagrant through being lost in a big city.

' The Christchurch Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recently asked the Tramway Board to provide dog-boxes on some of \the cars running to the sea. so that owners of dogs could take their pets,'at reasonable rates,, tor a sea bath. The Board referred the request to the Works and Traffic Committee.

The Sydney Combined Terrier Club's first show was held at the Sydney Exhibition Building last Saturday. The entries totalled 266. The Australian terrier entries totalled 123, Sydney silkies 81, and Yorkshires 62. The individual dogs were: Australians 74, Sydney silkies 51, and Yorkshires 36; total 161. It is remarkable how popular the Australian terrier is in Melbourne and Sydney, and in Wellington there are somefair specimens.

A New Plymouth correspondent asks "what points should I look for in a Scottish terrier puppy? X am old admirer of the Scotty, hut it is many years since I have seen show specimens.” In a puppy six old pick one with a slightly domed head, small eyes, and straight fore legs. In a puppy six months' old —in addition to, the above, erect ears, a good, hard, wiry coat, and medium length of body. The eyes should bo email, dark, and piercing. Fore legs short, quite straight, and very heavy in bone.

Those concerned in the movement to obtain an amendment of the New Zealand quarantine regulations .will be interested to know that there has been no case of rabies in Great Britain since 1902. five years ago, and no case of hydrophobia since 1898.

A very objectionable practice was recently brought under the notice-of the English Kennel Club Council of Representatives. It is the custom of some Home clubs not to give nass-outs to exhibitors but to stamp each person's band with a rubber stamp. At the last Cardiff show a lady, who was an exhibitor, naturally refused to have her hand branded, but eventually consented to have her cuff stamped. The practice was condemned by the council.

A Potone correspondent asks for a few hints on feeding very young puppies. When the mother' is not strong, or if there is a large litter and they do not appear to be thriving satisfactorily, the puppies should be taught to ’ lap milk mixed with warm water, two parts of milk to one of water, when about three weeks’ old. A week later the milk and water may he slightly thickened with wheaten flour and fine oatmeal in equal parts, the whole being boiled for a few minutes and allowed to .cool down. This diet may be continued until the puppies are about six weeks' old, providing it is taken freely. When it is not relished as much as it should he, broth made by boiling sheep’s head or bullock's cheek, also thickened with flour and oatmeal, may be given alternately with the milk. Before six weeks of age the puppies should he fed five times a day, and afterwards tour times during twentyfour hours until three or four months' old. and then three times daily till six months’ old.

Mr F. E. Watson, of Palmerston North, got Ms imported English-bred bulldog Greenstone out of quarantine on Monday. I saw this fine animal prior to being despatched by tram to Palmerston North. Greenstone is now sixteen months old and is splendidly developed for his age. He seems to be none the worse for his six mouths quarantine and is as full of fun as a kitten. Greenstone is by Mr Walter Jeffries’s celebrated Dick Stone, stated to be about the best bulldog yet bred, and for wide iU4Oa has been refused. Dick Stone is by British Stone ex Regina Stone; sister of champion Regal Stone (sold at -£sUO) and Rex Stone. Dick Stone is therefore a double grandson of the famed Rodney Stone. Tanribelle, dam of Greenstone, is by Dom Galors ex Ortrud. and combines the blood of Bliackwatch, brothel to champion Bromley Crib, champion Prince Albert. Bruoe IX., Rustic King, and Stookwell. Tanribelle is' dam of Telemachus and Terpsichore (both by Rex Stone), winners at the last London Bulldog Club’s show and at Wimbledom' Boldrewood Regina, sister of Mr Watson's dog, won three matches in one evening at the Wimbledon Club. Mr Wateon intends to breed stock by Greenstone. who should do much to improve the breed in New Zealand. Mr Watson has now in his kennels progeny of the imported doge Donor, Miss Crib, and it Polly, as well as strains of'the Australian importations, champions Bargee, Bruce XV., Blunderbuss, and Crnmpeall Victor.

The Wellington Kennel Club show subcommittee met on Monday evening for the last time prior to the show. Dr. A. W. Izard presided and the attendance was large. Show routine business'occupied the greater part of the evening, but some notices of motion to be brought before the New Zealand Kennel Club’s annual meeting yesterday afternoon were discussed at length. The notice of motion that rule -i of the New Zealand Kennel Club be amended to permit puppies to compete for challenge awards was not favourably viewed by the race'mg. The club’s delegates were instructed by resolution to vote against the motion, but to favour tho rule being altered so as to permit dogs nine months old to be eligible to compete for dial-

lenge awards. The committee was also adverse to a notice of motion that rule 23 of the New Zealand Kennel Club be deleted. The said rule stipulates that “In no case will any challenge prize be granted to any show whicu gives a first prize (in the challenge competitions) of less than .£l." The club's delegates wero instructed to vote against the proposed deletion of the rule. The delegates were also instructed to uphold ti o claim of tho Scottish and Skye Terrier Club of New Zealand to representation on the New Zealand Kennel Club.

"An Old-hand" writes:—"Exhibitors who are showing valuable dogs at the Wellington show this week will be interested to know that a quinine pill is an excellent thing to give a dog just before being benched and on every morning during the show. I have done this for years, and although a big exhibitor in the Midlands of England. 1 never had a case of distemper or chill in ray kennels after a show. Any chemist will sell you quinine pills, and they are worth their weight In gold as a tonic.. On returning home after the show is over i give my dogs a quinine .and castor oil mixture and let them rest quietly for 24 hours."

The 3rd Cheshire Regiment (saye Our Dogs") have lo*?t their dog Roy. H© went to camp with them at Edale, and there'died and was buried with military honours. Roy was a very intelligent dog. H© was a special pet with the bandsmen at Chester Castle, and need to carry the big drumstick when the drummer was returning from parade. His most famous trick was when anyone shouted, "Roy, you are out of barracks — guardroom!" The dog would immediately fall flat down, stiffen his limbs, -a wait to b© frog-marched to the barracks.

C. J, Davies writes:— "Scottish terrier bitches usually have eight mammae. Of these on© on each side oStcn appears to be in a partially rudimentary condition. Now, a bitch cannot do justice to more puppies than sue can suckle when lying on her tide. If she has more puppies than mamma© on each side tho struggle for subsistence, among the puppies becomes acute, with, a consequent weakly and wormy condition later. According ter this, then, three puppi€* are tho most any small terrier should be allowed to rear, as this is the greatest number she can suckle comfortably. Another fertile source of weakly puppies is a too early weaning. If we again endeavour to learn a lesson from the wild carnivora we shall find that the mothers do. not leave their offspring to fend for, themselves as soon as they can crawl. On the contrary, the young are gradually and naturally weaned, and it is no uncommon thing for travellers to report having eeen the sir© and dam of a species of this order accompanied by their nearly full-grown young. If we make up our minds only to breed once a year from a bitch, to rear not more than throe, and to leave the pups with her indefinitely (allowing her always a box on to which she can jump out of their reach, as she will not allow them to suck her much after they are eight weeks old), w© shall not be troubled with weakly puppies." .