SOME DOGS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21538, 9 January 1932, Page 4

SOME DOGS

" Gipsy the Greyhound.” By Leigh Woods (A.G.P.). London: Chapman and Hall (Os net). “ Flax: Police Dog." By Svond Flcuron. Translated from the Danish by E. Geo Nash. Illustrated by Cecil Aldln. London; Eyre and Spottlswoode (8s 6d net). “ Lost, Stolen, or Strayed: The Adventures of an Aberdeen Terrier." By Marlon Ashmore. Illustrated by Cecil Aldln. Foreword by Patrick K. Chalmers. London; Eyre and Spottlswoode (5s net).

The Greyhound Those who love dogs are continually on the look-out for books that show an understanding of dogs, that can make some contribution either to the. care of dogs, the appreciation of the qualities of .blind loyalty that distinguishes the dog from other domesticated animals, or that can tell a story which gives us, as it were, the dog’s point of view. With technical works we are not concerned here. There are doubtless many such that will tell the owner ,of a dog what, to feed him, how to train him, and the sort of powder to give him when he is afflicted with some canine ailment. It is the more human — human seems an appropriate wordcharacteristics of dogs that are dealt with in the works under review, and any of these can be recommended, ’ Mr Leigh Woods, known as “A. G. P., is recognised at Home for his authoritative newspaper contributions on canine subjects. In “ Gipsy the Greylmund "he has written a story—a novel—with a dog as the main character. The greyhound may not be immediately sympathetic to many who are fond of dogs, but that, one must assume, is because we have not all Mr Woods’s knowledge of greyhounds, his understanding of their sterling qualities, their devotion and speed. Of all dogs he has probably the farthest antecedents as a species. He is to be seen in outline, just as he is to-day, on the monuments of ancient Egypt, and in the drawings of mediaeval hunting scenes. today, especially in England, he has achieved a unique place in the public eye, on account of the sport and excitement he provides as a track racer. “ Gipsy the Greyhound" is, in the main, a tale of the Wiltshire downs, and the characters, canine and human, are well drawn, the atmosphere of the lonely, rolling country side is caught and held. Gipsy is, however, introduced to greyhound racing, unfortunately at a track run by blackguards, and on these exciting incidents Mr Woods contrives to build the sensational part of his tale. Although the book is primarily a work of fiction, Mr Woods s knowledge of the breeding, rearing, and training of the greyhound, which is continually being made apparent in the course of the narrative, will prove of practical interest to those who have to do with the breed.

The Alsatian Svend Fleuron is a writer well known in his native land. Denmark, and his “ Flax, Police Dog,’* can be welcomed as throwing light upon the character of a handsome breed, the Alsatian, which has, perhaps, more enemies than friends in New Zealand. Truth to tell, Mr Fleuron s tale suggests that possibly a distrust of the police dog is to some extent justified. Flax, who is studied with sympathy and an almost psychological intentness, is undoubtedly a fine creature. No one could deny the magnificence of the breed, and those who own an Alsatian can testify to all that' is adduced in this book to show the power, the devotion, and the self-sacrifice of which he is capable. When Flax is roused, however, he is, to his enemies and those of his master, a very dangerous character: — Flax heard stifled human sounds, hoarse, broken words, and knew that it was his distressed master’s “ fighting growl.” But he didn’t seize an arm or a leg, nor content himself with a bite in the side; no, benefiting by the fact that Drum had loosed the lead, he drew back a couple of steps and, springing up on to the poacher’s back, sank his terrible teeth into his neck. The poacher, be it said, subsequently declared that “ that puppy ” bad not hurt him in the slightest, hut nobody seemed to believe him. and Mr Fleuron. in the excitement of the narrative, is apt to describe Flax, with some justice, as a “ wolf.” This hook, which is adventurous, and, at the last, deeply moving, should be enjoyed by both the old and the young who'admire courage in human being and animal. It contains ten drawings by Cecil Aldin, hut these arc not to ho numbered among his best.

The Aberdeen Terrier Mr Aldin’s illustrations arc, in the opinion of this reviewer, best suited to depict the vicissitudes of smaller, quaintappearing dogs such as “ Woppets,” the Aberdeen terrier of “ Lost, Stolen, or Strayed.” This is a charming and a pathetic story, which is stated to be true even to the happy ending, of a stolen dog. Miss Ashmore has made, with all possible restraint, a picture of the sufferings of dogs that are lost in London. Mr Chalmers remarks that some, “ remembering that the Woppets book is a true book, may, as a consequence of reading it, do all in their power to make the stealing of dogs in London, and the subsequent disposal of them, more difficult to accomplish.” In that case, “ Woppets” will not have been stolen in vain. Mr Aldin’s 30 illustrations to this book, including a coloured frontispiece, arc delightful. McG.