NOTES BY TERROR

Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 24

NOTES BY TERROR

— The Scottish Fancier says: — "Scottish terriers, v. c are glad to say, are novs true to type. If our readers will scan our business column they will not find one long-backed terrier at stud. In all there are 15 good, sturdy, short-backed stud dogs. Long-backed ones are getting the go-bye both as stud dogs and prize-winners."

— A northern contemporary , reports that Messrs Harrison and Horrax, of Wellington, Lave recently disposed of two of their wellknown collies — Hector and Otira Bruce, the former's future Koine being Sydney, Otira Bruce going 'to the kennels of an Auckland fancier.

At Cruft's show (England), held recently, 12 white collies were benched. The white collie is evidently coming into favour. CrufVs show provided special classification for this colour, with the result that eight dogs and four bitches were shown.

— In the Windsor Magazine there appears a strikingly illustrated article, by Gambier Bolton, on "ITunny Foreign Dogs." The largest dog in the world is " the Great Dog of Thibet, or the Thibetian Mastiff. He is a giant amongst giant clogs, standing almost exactly 36in high at the shoulder. Of all the big dogs judged, measured, and photographed by the writer, this monster exceeded any in height, the tallest St. Bernard and Boarhotind or Great Dane very rarely reaching even 35in, tight measure at the shoulder. But little is known of their habits, for very few persons have seen them actually 'at home.' As pointea out by Mr Lydekker, they are used as watch- dogs in the villages and encampments in th> highlands of Thibet and the neighbouring regions, and they^ ars invaluable in protecting the flocks from the attacks of wolves and wild dogs, whilst in the more eastern portion of the country they inhabit they are used as beasts of burden as well. It is a strange tut very interesting sight to meet a flock of sheep and goats wending their way down the steep mountain passes in charge of their owner, and guarded closely by one of these huge mastiffs, each animal, slieep, goat, and dog, bearing its load on its back, and making for th'; nearest town, whence only master and dog will return, the flock and loads being disposed of to the traders there. The bard lives passed by these giant dog's amongst the mountains and snows of bleak Thibet are only equalled by those of the Esquimaux and Lap%»n& &ledge-dogs of the far north."

— We learn tl-at a dog famous in history <s '" The Dog of Aubry," that belonged to De Montdidier, a brave officer under Charles V of France He saved his master from drowning, and, finding his body some time afterwards in the forest, watched beside it for -days, unt 1 reduced almost to a skeleton from hunger During a game of tennis, Montdidier Lad a dispute with a brotlier officer, named Macaire. and the latter waylaid and murdered him in ' the forest. One day tlie dog met Macaire iv the streets of Paris, and. actuated by seine rare instinct, sprang upon him, and would have killed him had not the people interfered. Macaire wa-s suspected as being the assassin, and Charles iLhe Wise ordered the £s6S9 to be decided by a battle between the dog- and Macaire, on the Island of Notre Dame The .man was allowed a club and a shield-, and the dog a cask, to which he might retreat when hard beset. . Tlie dog boomed the pfacc of refuge, and in tlie second encounter fastened liis teetli in his antagonist's fchrpat. Macaire confessed his guilt, and was afterwards executed.

— ' I Liiink my father's stronaeic love, «moDe animals, was for dogs." write-; Mi o s Mamis Dickens, in The Ladies' Home •Journal, and what she tolls us of some of these pets would easily lead t,o the same enn viction. We have only space for tiie following — ' I find a delightful anecdote lold by Jnm or a dog belonging to a lady whom ho knew well. ' Of,' an immense, black, goodhumoured Newfoundland dog. He wine from Oxford, and had !ived all his life in a brewery Instructions were given lier thai if lie were le;t out ev-ry morning .alone be would immediately find out the river, regularly tako a swim, and come gravely home again. Tins be div.l with the greatest punctuality, but aftei; n, little while he was observed to smell of beer. His owner was so sure that he smell ed of beer that she resolved to watch him. He was seen to pome bock from his ev.im ronnd the u^naJ comer, arc! I a go up s •fiig-ht of into a beenjlipp Being instantly followed, tbe beers'lop keeppr v. *c.va to tako down n pot (pewter pol), and is heard to eav. ' Wolli old chau.

come for your beer as usual, have you?' Upon which he draws a pint, and puts it down, and the dog drinks it. Being required to explain how this comes to pass, the man says : ' Yes, ma'am. I know he's your dog, ma'am, but I didn't when he first came. He looked in, ma'am, as a briokmaker might, and then he come in, as a brickmaker might, and he wagged his tail at the pots, and he giv' a sniff round and conveyed to me as lie was used to beer. So I draw'd him a drop, and he drunk it up. Next morning he come agen by the clock, and I draw'd him a pint, and ever since he has took his pint reg'lar.' "

■ — Dogs of our common breeds were unknown in Japan until the advent of British and American visitors, but they are now quite common, as the people take kindly to all pets and treat dogs in particular much better than they are treated anywhere in the world. The dog has to modify his habits, however, in the matter of food when he reaches Japan. The Japanese name for a foreign dog is komi, or kami, which, looks Japanese enough. Really the name arose from the fact that the Japs, hearing foreigners say " Come 'ere" to their dogs, took the syllables for a name. — From a humorous article in the Strand on dogs at shows I take the following extract : — " Here are the collies. Fanciers call them the topmost of all dogs — the cauliflower of the canine race, so to speak. But they're insincere. Look at 'em. There's a whole row of them anxious to shake hands— even to attempt liberties in the way of licks, and tbis although they're all perfect strangers. They are most, effusive, they drag their chains, and hang long tongues out of friendly grins, and thrust forth paws to -shake. The collie has a diseased craving to be popular, and so he goes about doing the cordial. He'd rathf-r bite. But it takes a dog a longtime to bite himself into popularity, and so the collie licks and shakes hands— that being the shortest cut. By this means he gets so popular that he can afford a bite now aud again, and he lias it, too." , — A very important niattev upon which amatfeurs often seek advice is that relating to the management of a bitch during the period of gestation. It may be remarked, at the outset, that upon the care and attention bestowed on the motlier 'during this period will depend in a great measure the health and strength of her offspring. As a rule, the best plan is to let Nature alone — treat the bitcli as tlioiigh . her condition were nothing out of tbe ordinary — seeing to it, however, that she 3jas plenty of warm bedding, and a good supply of nutritious milk-forming food. Then, in all probability she will gi~>~e little or no trouble. Another necessary thing is to see tbat the bitcli gets plenty of exercise — plenty, but net too much. It is surprising how great a difference this makes at whelping time. The animal that has plenty of treedom will give birth to her puppies willi much less clanger than would bo tlie case if slie has been kept in close, confinement beforehand. This is especially the case with dogs of certain breeds — bulldogs, for instance, among which there is a high percentage of mortality at such times, which is due to the difficulty of giving birfch to puppies so large in Head ; and the value of exercise lies in it^ effect of relaxing and rendering flexible the muscles, so fchat parturition is effected with greater ease. Miieh trouble is also often caused by the inabiluvp of the mother, tlirouorh weakness or miscbance, to suckle her puppies ; then," of course, comes in the necessity for a fostez - -mother, and as often as not thero is not a suitable one forthcoming — a catastrophe that would probably Lave been averted had the owner anticipated the possible need of one, and provided accordingly. Whenever there are valuable puppies expected, inquiries should be made in good time, and arrangements made for a transfer in ease of need. As a rule, there is very little trouble in getting one bitcli to take another's puppies ; but, of course, the exchange should be made as early as possible after birth, before the fostec-mother really knows the colour of her own whelps.

— Of all external parasites lice are the most difficult to destroy. The 'following dressing will be found successful in"destroying the lice : — Olivft oil two parbs, jiaraffin one parb ; give the animal three thorough dressings, allowing a day between each, and finally wash off with, yellow soap and hot water, to which has been added a little soda. As already pointed out, the dressings will Lave to be repeated until there is not a nit or a parasite left.

AnotLer dressing (says the Field) which has met with success is made as follows : — Dissolve 4oz of hard soap in one quart of hot water, and add goz of oil of stavesaere , rub this preparation well into the skin, and allow it to remain for three days, then wash off with soap and hot water, to which a little soda has besn added. This, in common with all other dressings, must be repeated. Although this is an admirable insecticide it possesses the disadvantage of being poisonous when taken into the stomach, therefore a canvas-faced muzzle must be used to prevent the animal ■ licking itself. White precipitate powder is also recommended to be brushed into -the coat ; the ointment made from the same preparation may b,e used on short-haired dogs.