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Otago Witness, Issue 2255, 20 May 1897, Page 35

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• . • I understand that the gentlemen in Australia who were asked to judge our ensuing show have been obliged to decline the invitation owing to prior engagements. It follows, I presume, that a local judge will be chosen, • . I am informed, too, that the " exhibition" dog show is not the only one to be held in Dunedin this year, bub is to be supplementary to the. ordinary show in August. * . * The Waterloo coursing meeting is to be held during the Record Reign week. • . • Mr Lethaby has ( aken his two greyhounds Deceit and Faster and Faster to Auckland to run in the next stakes, and probably will be away from Dunedin for come time. • . • Favonins, favourite for the Challenge Stakes here, has, I am sorry to say, gone wrong, and is very unlikely to run again this season. • . • " Canis" in his letter thi3 week msntions 9, big deal — and in some respects a regrettable one from this colony's point of view — viz., the sale of half a dozen crack fox terriers from Mr R. Triggs's kennels for transfer to Australia. The purchase includes Darkie Dominie, who is just out of quarantine. • . * Some time back the Stockkeeper, when referring to the proposal that an all-round judge of dogg. should be invited, to visit Australia, mentioned that Messrs George Riper and L. P. C. Astley were the only men in England

competent to act in such a capacity at an important Australian show. This statement has created quite a stir in fanciers' circles at Home, and several exhibitors have written letters to Our Dogs advocating the claims of Messrs Marples, Gresham, Ashton, and other all-round judges. Replying to the above complaints, the Stockkeeper says :—": — " We were referring to a .desire that had been expressed by the Australian fancy to import a judge from England, at great cost, to judge a whole show — not 20 or 30 breeds, but the lot. The idea was that a thoroughly-competent Englishman would be able to lay down the standard law in every variety. For such a purpose a common or garden all-round judge would not have sufficed j a man of the greatest experience, as well as judgment, would be required, and of such men we could think o£ only two whose opinions might be accepted without cavil — they are Mr George Raper (who is not on our staff, but eminent in our esteem as the best general judge in the world) and Mr Astley, who, although he is our appreciated reporter-in- chief, is not the le3B capable for that fact." Speaking further on the subject, the same journal classes judges as follows :—: — "When an ordinary show committee choose their judges they endeavour to divide the popular breeds among eminent specialists, and after a while they have odds and ends of different varieties left over, and these they gather up together and put them in the bag of an allround judge. For the purpose of lucidity we would divide tho judicial body as follows :—: —

" (a) The novice judge (who will perform because he has given a special, or give a high price for a public dog, or because he is secretary of his club, or because he calls himself a sportsman and fancies himself), " (b) The specialist judge (who has brrd and made cne or more varieties hU special study).

11 (c) The reporter-judge (who is asked to propitiate the pres*, and because it is hoped that ho will temper the blast of his criticism to the shorn lambs of the show beech). *

" (d) The all-round judge (who knows some breeds intimately, and is on bow-wowing terms with all cf them). " (c) The master judge (who has been initiated into tha mysteries of the faucy ; has passed successfully thrcugh the stages of breeder, exhibit or, handler) critic, and ha« made such progress in the craft as to entitle him to be raisecf to the degree of umpire and referee in cases of dispute)."

*. ' Fanciers generally, particularly those likely to exhibit m Victoria, will bo interested in the followii g with reference to the Victcriau Poultry and Kennel Club's amended cod", of uiles relating to championships (revised 1897): "The committee ot the Victorian Poultry and Kennel Club shall fr(.m rime to lime forward to the governing bodies of all shows held under the club's rulf-s a list of shows selected by them n.s being worthy tj rank as twc-poinl shows. A first prize f\t any one of such shows shall, tcr all purposes of a winners' class qualification, count two points. A first prizo at any other show held under the Victorian Poultry and Kennel Club's rules shall count one point. No dog shall be qualified to compete iv a winners' class that has won fewer than six points ac slows held under the rules of the Victorian Poultry and Kennel Club, or at shows registered iv and for the ' Kennel Club Calendar and Stud Book'; and no «og shall compete in an open class that is qualified to compete in a winners' class at any hhow where winners' classes are provided for that, breed. The prizes must bs won iv open classes provided for dogs of any breed or in varieties of the same breed, divided by weighs, colour, sex, or age, in adult classes ; and one of the prizes mush be won at a show held by the Victorian Poultry and Kennel Club, or the' Kennel Club of New South Wales, or at n. championship show held under the rules of the English Kennel Club. The cbow3 of the Victorian Poultry and Kennel Club, the Kennel Club of New South Wales, the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria,, the Victorian St. Bernard, Mastiff, mid Newfoundland Club, and of the Southern Fox Terrier Club ohall rank as two-point shows. All other shows held under the rules of the Victorian Poultry and Kennel Club shall rank as one point shows. The committee of the Victorian Poultry and Kenuel Club may select each year two shows to be called championship snowa, the show of the Victorian Poultry and Kennel Club to be one of them. At these chows a championship prize certificate i-hall be provided in such breeds or varieties of breeds as the committee of the Victorian Poultry and Kennel Club ehall determine, and shall be competed for without any extra entry fee by the ficsb prize-winners in the winners' classes and the open classes of each of the breeds or varieties selected, the sexes to he judged separately. A winner of two championship prize certificates at championship shows shall have the title of champion. N.B. — These rules, as amended, shall come into operation upon June 1, 1897, and any dog which shall have qualified previously to chat date to compete in a champion class must compete in a winners' c!asir where such claea is provided. Any dog entitled to be called a champion before thab date shall not be deprived of his title."

• . • A committee of the English Kennel Club make the following recommendations, which will no doubt be actsd upon: — A dog shall be disqualified from winning s prize, or from receiving one if awarded, at any show held under the Kennel Club rules, save and except in such ca es as are specified hereunder under the head of " Exceptions," if it bs proved to the committee of the show : (1) Thdt any dye, colouring, whitening or darkening matter has been used and remains on any part of the dog. (2) That any preparation, chemical or otherwise, has been used which remains on the ooat during the time of exhibition for the purpose of altering its texture. (3) That any oil, greasy or sticky substances, water or any other fluid has been used, and remains in the coat during the time of exhibition. (4) TLat any part of a dog's coat or hair has been cut, clipped, singed, or rasped down by any substance. (5) That the new or fast coat has been removed by pulling or plucking in auy manner. [Note. — The coat may be brushed and combed, so that old or shedding coat and loose hairs maybe removed). (6) That any cutting, piercing, breakiog by force, or any kind of operation which destroys the tissues of the ear or shortens the tail has been practised, or alters the natural anatomy of the dog, except -in cases of necessary operation duly certified to the satisfaction of the Kennel Club committee. (7) That the lining membrane of the mouth has been cut or mutilated in any way. The exceptions referred to are :—(1): — (1) Shortening the tails of dogs of the following breeds will not render them liable to disqualification — Spaniels (except Iriah water), fox terriers, Irish terriers, Welsh terriers, old English terriers, airedales, old English sheepdogs, poodles, toy spaniels (except Japanese), Yorkshire terriers, schipp6rkes, or such varieties of foreign dogs as the committee may from time to time determine. (2) Dogs of the following breed may have their coats clipped i Poodles. (3) The long, stiff, wiry hairs (known as whiskers) growing out at the sides of the lips and those similar to them on the cheek spots may be removed in great Danes, bull terriers, white English terriers, black-and-tan and toy terriers ; and dogs of the aforesaid

breeds which have been cropped prior to March 31, 1895, may have the hair removed from the iusidc of ears. (4) Dewclawa may bo removed in any breed.

I * . ' The distinction attained and tho 1 strengthening of the status of the Kennel j Club of New South Wales by their union with the Kennel Club of England, which is recognised aB the dominating body in the doggy world, ba3 led other canine socioties outside of Great Britiau to eeek the same honour. Mitny applications have been made to the English Club to be granted affiliation, but only one so far has been accorded the privilege — i.c , La Societe Centrale of Francs. This society, which is a very important one, whose objects are similar to thoss of the English Club, has secured a decision of the committee of the Kennel Club of England in their favour. The following is tbe application made by them and granted:— "To the President of the Kennel Club. Sir, — Having received the decision of your honourable committee relating to the • affiliation of foreign societies of a similar nature with the Kennel Club, we have the honour to ask you to add Li Societe Centrale to the number of those affiliated with : the Kennel Club, and that you will recognise such society to the exclusion of all others in ! France. Our society was founded iv 1882, and ! has regularly carried out its functions since that | date. We send with our request the list of ! our members and a copy of our rules. Wa shall scrupulously respec 1 ; all the measures of ! reciprocity taken for the welfare of ouc two [ societic3. — Your faithfully, (Signed) Bkrthur, PniNrcE de Wagham, President ; Leos d'Halboy, Vice-president. February 18, 1897 " • . * Ninety classes are provided for dogs in the schedule of the Essendon show, to be held on June 10 12. AH the popular breeds are liberally catered for, and classes have been added for Dalmatians and old English sheep dogs. Iv addition to a number or special prizes donated by fanciers, the silver medals of the Victorian St. Bernard, Mastiff, and Newfoundland Club will be offered for competition. The new rules of the Victorian Poultry and Kennel Club, under which the former champion classes will Isß known as winners' classes, will come into force in connection with this show. The judges are Messrs J. C. Coupe, C. S. Turner, and J. Morrip, and entries closed on May 15, THE ST. BERNARD. The following is the standard adopted by the English St Bernard Club :— Head. — Large and missive, circumference of J skull being more than double the length of the head from nose to occiput. From stop to tip of nose should be moderately short ; full below the eye and square at the muzzle, with great depth from eyes to lower jaw. Lips t Deep throughout, but nob too pendulous. From nose to stop straight. Stop : Abrupt and well defined. Skull: Broad, rounded at top, but ! not domed, with a somewhat prominent brow. "Bars — Of medium size, lying close to the | cbeek, but strong at the base, and not heavily ' feathered. Eyes. —Rather snull and deep set ; dark in j colour, and not too clo3e together, the lower eye- j lid drooping so as to show a fair amount of haw. Nose. — Large and black, with well-developed \ nostrils. Teeth. — Level. ; Expression. — Should betoken benevolence, j dignity, and intelligence. Neck. — Lengthy, muscular, and slightly ' arched, with dewlap development. ; Shoulders. — Broad and sloping, and well up j at the withers. ; Chest. — Wide and deep. ; Body. — Back level as far ,as the haunches, slightly arched over the loins. Ribs well rounded and carried well back. Loin wide and very muscular. Tail. — Set on rather high, long ; and, in the long-coated variety, bushy. Carried low when in repese and, when excited or in motion, sightly above the line of the back. Legs and Feet. — Fore legs perfectly straight, j strong iv bone and of good length. Hind legs ; heavy in bone and well bent at the hocks. | Thighs very muscular. Feet large, compact, ; and with woli-arched toes. ; Size. — A dog should be at least 30iu in heigh <■ i at the shoulder and a bitch 27in (the tailer the \ better, provided the symmetry is maintained) ; j thoroughly weli proportioned, ana" of great sub- i stance. The general outlino should suggO3i< ] great powpr and capability of endurance. ] Coat. — In the long-coated variety should V>s j dense and flat, rather falter round the neck, j Thighs feathered, but not too heavily. In the i short-costed variety, shonid be dense, hard, j flat, and short ; slightly feathered ou thighs I and tail. j Colour and Marking. — Red, orange, various I shade 3of brindle (bus richer the colour the ''• better 1 ), or white wilh patches on body of either j of the above-named colours. The markings i should be as follows : — White muzzle, white | blaze up face, white collar ruuml neck, whit« ■ chest, forelegs, feet, and end of tail ; black shading on face and ears. If the blaze be wide and run through to the collar, a spob of body colour on the top of tbe head i 3 desirable. OBJECTIONABLE POINTS. 11l temper, split nose, unlevel mouth and cankered teeth, snipy muzzle, light or staring eyes, cheek bumps, wedge head, flat skull, wall eyes, domed skull, badly set or heavily feathered ears, too much peak, shorfa neck, early cost, curled tail, flat sides, hollow back, roach back, ring tail, open feet or hare feet, cow hocks, straight hocks, self-coloursd (a self-ocloured dog is one that has no black shadings or white markings). | DISQUALIFYING POINTS. j Dudley, liver or flesh-coloured nose. Fawn, if whole coloured, or with" black shading only. Black, black and tan, black and white, black, tan, and white, and all white. WELLINGTON KENNEL NOTES. Wellington, May 14. I heard the other day of a rather singular event in a breeder's experience. A bitch owned by the well-known dog and poultry fancier Mr Alfred Elkins, of Masterton, Wairarapa, pupped six puppies at the proper date, and exactly three weeks afterwards she gave birth to three more. Have any of your readers known of a similar occurrence ? What is certainly the biggest deal ever recorded in canine circles in this colony has just taken place, Mr Thompson, the president of the New South Wales Kennel Club, having purchased from Mr R. Triggs, of Wellington, in one lot the following crack fox terriers — viz. : Dusky D'Orsay, Darkie Dominie (just out of quarantine), Harewood Torment, Harewood Traitor, and Harewood Treachery. The price has not transpired, bafc of course it must be particularly stiff, a3 the team, in the opinion of all competent judges who have seen them, cannot be equalled this side of the line, and Australian fanciers will have to look out for squalls when they appear in the ring. A meeting of the New Zealand Kennel Club was held on Thursday evening, the 13th inst. In the absence of the president (Mr Moorhouse) through illness, Mr R. Triggs was voted to the chair. Delegates were present from Auoklandj

Wellington, Marlborough, Christohurch, Danedin, and Invercargill. The cchedulea of the Southland and Marlboroagh Socioties were submitted and passed. Correspondence was read from the Victorian, Queensland, and New South Wales Kennel Clubs re the importation of an all-round English judge, and the general opinion was expressed that, considering the expense, tho time had not arrived for euoh anexperiment. The Chairman expressed his opinion, which was endorsed by the delegates, that the time had arrived for the appointment of a number of judge 3 selected by the affiliated societies and approved by tho Kennel Club from which each society could choose. The qualifications of these men would be carefully investigated, and the judging could not fail to'be much more satisfactory than under the haphazard system at present in vogue. Fanciers here are anxiously inquiring for Dunediu schedules, and as the time (less than six weeks) i 3 shorb, they naturally wish to select their candidates and give them tho special attention necessary to ensure a creditable j appearance in tho ring. Canis. i