THE KENNEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23703, 10 January 1939, Page 2

THE KENNEL

By Breeder “ Breeder ” will be pleased if dog owners and others concerned will forward him notes of interest for his consideration with a view to their insertion in this column

The Pekingese dog Nu-Dah of Windermere recently acquired by Mrs L. Wealleans of Invercargill from Mrs C. L. Ridgen, of Christchurch, was run over and killed by a motor car last week. Nu-Dah was a fine specimen of his breed, and his loss will be keenly felt as he was considered to be a distinct asset to the fancy in Invercargill. The demand for Irish greyhounds is still high. English and Scottish buyers were at Harold’s Cross Park, Ireland, at Mr M. F. Davi .’s recent sale. A catalogue, including a number of well-known track performers in Ireland, was presented. Chief interest centred in Hoye’s Heights, who did not reach hi. reserve. The bidding stopped at 500 guineas. Top price at the sale was paid by Mr M Horan for Clountabonive Gent, whelped in 1936, a son of Brilliant Bob ex Clountabonive Girl. The price was 200 guineas. Boarding kennels in Melbourne were taxed to their capacity during the Christmas holidays, and each succeeding year appears to bring an increase in business. Two wellknown establishments each provided accommodation for over 250 dogs, and another found room for over 200, and dozens of kennels with less capacity were booked out well in advance of the holidays. It is estimated that more than 2000 dogs were in boarding kennels during the Christmas holidays. The number of dogs in Germany has decreased from 3,700,000 to 2,600,000, owing to the new heavy licence tax on canines.

Puppies kept indoors and in small pens seldom if ever develop properly, but go over on their legs and feet and fall out of shape generally. Lack of exercise, which prevents their muscles from growing and strengthening as they ought, is largely responsible for these defects, but not entirely, for impure air, want of sufficient sunshine and other unhealthful influences are all active and tend to undermine the constitution and open the door to rickets. The largest breeds are the first to decline under these influences, and so difficult is it to raise them except where the conditions are favourable and abundant opportunitier for exercise in pure air and sunshine are afforded fanciers of experience generally let their bitches “ go over ” if they come in use in the fall or early winter. It follows, then, that puppies which c nnot have constant liberty must be provided with yards—the largest possible—that they may be out and playing about on pleasant days. And at leas + one side of these r-closures —preferably that facing the master’s house—should be of wire netting or narrow boards nailed on perpendicularly, with spaces of not less than lin between them and extending to the ground, that the puppies may easily see out while on all fours, for were they to stand much on their hind legs to look over or through the sides they would be quite sure to suffer deformity in those parts. The yards should be invariably ’ so located that all parts of them will receive direct rays of the sun during a considerable portion of every day, because it is utterly impossible for a puppy to thrive and grow strong and rugged in quarters to which the sun’s rays cannot enter. Moreover, where the sun cannot enter, disease is sure to be lurking. THE PUG A most likeable toy dog pet is the blunt-nosed pug which may be had in black or a number of shades of fawn. Although not so vivacious as the Pom or the Peke, this small dog has one distinct advantage over them in that it has a short, sleek coat which may be kept clean with very little attention. It is said that pugs were brought to England from Holland by William and Mary when they ascended the British Throne in 1688. The pug, however, is not of Dutch origin but comes from China, and its historic advent into dogdom is somewhat obscure. Pugs have many charming ways, and it is to be regretted that there are so few of the dogs with their large, lustrous eyes, their winsome expression, and face shrouded in wrinkles. The breed is often referred to as the French poodle, but it actually originated in Germany, and for many years was to be found only as a large dog, weighing from 451 b to 601 b. Because of its rare sense of smell it was used as a sporting dog, and being a good swimmer, made an excellent hunter of snipe and water fowl. By selective breeding methods poodles were graded into three sizes —large, medium and miniature — and it is the small variety that may be seen by Show visitors. The fashion of clipping and trimming poodles was probably introduced by showmen, for the poodle ranks as the world’s best trick dog, and appears to enjoy entertaining people with its antics. A NEW DRUG Reference in the columns of Our Dogs, England, to the scourge of gastro enteritis prompted a veterinary friend to send in a few notes on the use of the newly discovered drug, sulphanilamide. in this complaint. He says:— “ Sulphanilamide is the drug which has been used with such outstanding success in the fight against puerperal fever and themeningitis in humans, and is now being used extensively in pneumonia cases. I doubt if its use is general amongst veterinary surgeons, and while I am not suggesting that it should be used, wholesale and indiscriminately by breeders, in cases of the sort I have mentioned one could do worse than to suggest the treatment to the local vet. My own personal experience of the drug is confined to the occasion when it was prescribed by the doctor for me in a case of severe septic throat, when it effected such a miraculously swift cure that I doubted whether the drug had had time to act, but I was assured that it was in this fashion that the various forms of sulphanilamide work.” NOVICE OWNERS AND NEW PUPPIES By Sims. To those hundreds of novice owners who have been presented with a puppy during the last few days has also come the responsibility of ensuring that the young animal is provided with every opportunity for developing into a healthy happy dog. . Whei the puppy is young much can be done toward its future welfare by giving it expert care and consideration. Early neglect, whether from carelessness or from ignorance of the puppy’s requirements, may leave its mark upon the animal’s constitution, or ruin the dog’s temperament for life.

The majority of ailments from wnich dogs suffer can be prevented if intelligent methods are used in the upbringing of the puppy, and ordinary precautions taken against the risks of contracting any of the few infectious complaints to which neglected dogs are susceptible. Fortunately, the fallacious belief that rough handling and haphazard treatment will tend to make a dor hardy and strong is no longer held ! v the average owner. It is now generally recognised that scientific feeding with well-regulated attention produces a finer type of dog, with a more vigorous constitution than one treated with less consideration. Young Stock Climatic conditions in Australia are usually favourable for the arrival of litters of puppies in the spring, and most of the young stock which changes hands at Christmas time varies in age from eight weeks to six months. This is, in most breeds, a desirable age at which to adopt a new puppy. At this stage a puppy is old enough to keep itself warm, and young enough to be amenable to the restrictions which must be applied for the benefit of dog and owner. Nature strongly objects to jerks, or sudden changes, and for that reason it is always advantageous, when taking possession of a new puppv. to inquire from the breeder o. dealer regarding the quality and quantity of food to which it has been accustomed. Let that menu be adhered to as far as possible for a few days, breaking away gradually to a more satisfactory one if considered necessary. Colic and indigestion may easily be brought about by overtaxing the digestive apparatus of an immature puppy. Food given in large quantities, or at irregular intervals, has often been the cause of abdominal pains in a puppy, and much anxiety on the part-of the owner.

An eight-weeks-old puppy should receive four meals a day. By giving small feeds at frequent intervals the stomach does not become overloaded. Many puppies will overeat if allowed to do so. The habit should be discouraged, for not only does the animal suffer with flatulence, but : puppy whose “ tummy ” is always bulging soon becomes unsteady on its legs, and the immature bones are affected by the weight of the body. Scientifically prepared foods containing cereals, to which_ has been added medicinal ingredients, are now used extensively by breeders and exhibitors who are desirous of raising high-grade stock. Dry biscuits and puppv meal do a double service in that they act as “ roughage,” and at the same time cause the gastric juices to come into action, and thus aid the process of digestion. Years of intense study have been done by the analytic chemists of dog biscuit factories, and, as a result, biscuits contain numerous prpperties intended to keep dogs in good condition. When a puppy is doing well he is full of life, his skin is loose, his coat shiny and bright. If these conditions are not present there is cause to suspect lack of nourishment. In the care and feeding of puppies it should be remembered that while the breed and size of the dog influence tc an extent the methods that should be adopted in rearing it. there are many points in raising puppies which may be applied to all breeds.