KENNEL NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7300, 2 December 1910, Page 10

KENNEL NOTES

(By ‘’Fitzroy.") OFFICIAL ORGAN OP THE WELLINGTON KENNEL CLUB. Correspondence Is Invited from canine fanciers and others interested iu this column. Letters will be treated con* fidentially, and questions answered (through the column) at the earliest oi£ portunity. Correspondents are requested to sign their names, but a nom do plume may also be used if necessary. Letters should reach this oifice not later than Wednesday for reply in the follow* iug Friday’s issue. The ears of Scottish terrier puppies should become erect at seven months old, after which their doing so is hopeless. Erect cuurs are ■indispensable in tile show ring There is no age at which dogs are absolutely immune from distemper, but they rarely take the disease alier three years of age. In reply to “Brisbane," communicate with Mr T, J. O’Laughlm, Stanmore, Now South Wales; also’ Mr Smith, 4, City road, Darlington, Sydney; or 10a, Cathedral street, Woolloomooloo, Sydney, The secretary of the Sydney Silky Terrier .Club is, I believe, Mr Moss, care of Kennel Club Rooms, Sydney. The-bull bitch J’adestone, the property of Mr Scully, Hastings, has been sent to Auckland on a visit to the imported dog King Billy. A world-famous bullbitch champion, 'Silent Duchess, died recently iu England, Another noted bullbitch, Terpsichore, is also dead. The former won Considerably over a thousand frizes and twenty- three ch a nipi ous h i ps. NEW BULLDOG STANDARD. By the last English mail, through the courtesy of Mr Armstrong (2V, Green hill street, Grcenhcys, Manchester), 1 received a .booklet *on “The Bulldog : Grandard of Type, as compiled by the Allied Bulldog' Clubs of .Grcat'Entaxu.” Tho new standard, which has been endowed and adopted by twenty-two bulldog clubs of Great Britain, with a total roll of 1080 v members, is practically most thorough and completed fimipdatkm cf its kind. As there arc scores of bulldog owners interested in the new standard 1 intend to publish the complete standard iu scries as space will permit, commencing as follows : THE BULLDOG, A standard definition of the correct type and appearance of a. thoroughbred British bulldog, as compiled on the 27th day of June, 1910, by the Allied Bulldog Clubs cf Great Britain; for i the guidance of thenr members and judges. This definition is set forth in three sections, to each of which is allotted a certain number of points, making up an aggregate 'of three hundred, as follows'; — . ' Points. General appearance , 60 Head pioperties 130 Body properties ..... HO Total 300 v The number of .points so allotted to each section is further apportioned amongst the subheads into which that section naturally divides itself. Although judging uy points is.not recommended, it is, nevertheless, convenient for the purpose of instruction and reference, that the value ox the numerous properties, to be considered in forming a judgment on any bulldog, should] be appraised m numbers, with the object or deciding the relative value which perfection in one property has to perfection in another. GENERAL APX S EARANCE (60 Points.) In appraising the merit of any bulldog, it is 1 ot -the first importance to take into account the impression its general symmetry as a whole makes on cue mind of -tine judge, due allowance ’being made for sex, as the female is seldom so massive or well developed as the mule. : . In this general survey should be noticed to wna*t extent all properties are in due harmony with, and in pro.portion to, each other. A perfect enow' specimen should be of uniform merit throughout, and should not excel in one point more than another, although animals possessing certain points superexcellent are useful for breeding purposes.

It should also be observed whether or not the animal is totally blind, totally deaf, castrated, ■ spayed, or suffering from an infectious or contagious disease so to wholly disqualify it from receiving a prize (see Kennel Club rules); or whether it is blind, deaf, lame, deformed, mutilated, or unsound to such a partial extent that the defect only weighs severely against its chance in competition. Next should be considered the several characteristic properties of the animal, as follows : ' • DESCRIPTION. Formation, shape, make, dtyle, muscularity, temper,; expression, action (30 points, over and above jhjiuts for perfection iu properties in detail;. —A bulldog is a smooth-coated, thick-set, and compact dog; enveloped in a loose skin, apparently too large for .it,' round footed, low in . stature, but conveying the idea of activity, muscularity, and immense strength. ■ Its head square and strikingly mas-, rive in proportion to the animal's size, as well as, when compared 1 wffch that of any other animal, well broken up by the clearly defined "stop'* and “furrow" and well wrinkled.

Its' face extremely short; with. broad, blunt muzzle, distinctly' inclined /-upwards. ‘

Its body, deep at chest, with well rounded ribs; limbs, about and muscu- . lar; hindquarters .higher,and of a slighter build than, its ; more 1 heavily made -foreparts ; the couplings short. The back, rising from the shoulders To the loins, thence falling awaj l, more rapidly to the stem, thus forming the “roach" or “wheel" back, an essential characteristic of the breed. The tail set on low and never-carried gaily. (To be continued.)