NOTES BY TERROR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2387, 30 November 1899, Page 43

NOTES BY TERROR.

—It is the custom of not a few breeder*, when they have very large littera thai they must weed out, to sacrifice the bitches whether or not they are superior to the dogs in size, form, markings, etc. There is, of course, *» better market for their choice, but still, such a hard and fast pulo is to be deplored, for far better a good bitch than an indifferent dogy oven if the litter will sell for a little more ;r; r ■ and when there are two doubtful specimens ill a litter —a' bitch awl a dog — and one of them must go, the owner will act ' wisely in keeping: the former, for should she turn out but moderate, 'she might be of value " for breeding purposes ; -whereas the dog, if an indifferent specimen,, of his breed, would foe generally hard to dispose of, would be practically shut out from bench shows, and 38'dom profitable at the stud. In fact it is a good plan always to keep what promises to be the best bitch in each litter until sho is mature, or at least so well developed that iv is possible to tell with something like certainty how sho will develop. And even if he who follows this sells all his dog puppies he will know whether or not he is breeding judiciously. — Kennel Secrets.

— The ordinary yard dog, perhaps, is the one which is most frequently subjected -unintentionally to a wretched time, especially during the summer It is too often the practice to* keep it chained up day and night, under more or less insanitary, conditions, either where it can never get a glimpse of the sun, or where during some portions of the day there? is no escape from il, half the time without water, and most of the lime with a filthydrinking vessel. It is small wonder the Jog* kept under such conditions should make night — and day, too, for that matter — hideous with their cries, wiiilo their value as watch dogs is reduced to a minimum, for no one pays attention to the dog who is always barking, and ho is an ea3y prey to tho burglars, who know exactly where to find him. Dogs, if they must be chained up, should bo so placed thai; during part of the day — the riorning if possible — they should be able to He in the sun if they wish, while at all times they should he able to avoid it. T 1 - c kennel should bo in the shade, as it becomes much too hot otherwise. Plenty of fresh, cool --xter in a clean vessel h an absolute necessity «t all times of the day, while plenty of v.u-ety of food, but not too much, ia required for dogß in confinement. To is a good plan to shift the kennel every wee'e or two, or, if it is not placed on a grassy spot, to put down a heap of fresh soil occasionally. The kennel itself should be well hosed -out every week, and when thoroughly dry be provided with some clean straw for bedding. Dogjs mu3t havo a good run at least' once a day, if they have to be kept in confinement, but it is much better to be able to confine them only. all

night, and dog houses or pens are far superior to collars and chains. — Although the character of Mr Bill Sikes, as depicted by Dickens, is not exactly one that .can be regarded as worthy of general imitation, the recent fate of an Austriar> murderer .•frill convince the public that the Termer indi..Tidual exercised sound, discretion in disposing of his faithful bulldog after the murder of tNancy. The Continental criminal, who has teen wanted by the police for two years on a teharge of brutally murdering an old lady and her daughter for the sake of a few pounds .which they possessed, was accompanied in his flight from justice by a large white dog to •ffhioh h« was devotedly attached, and from jwhioh neither he nor his wife would consent to be separated. Now, however, tidings come 'from 'far off Rio de Janeiro that the worthy 'couple have been arrested there, the suspicions iof the policy having ben attracted to them by Ithe appearance of the dog, whose description iiad been circulated with that of the fugitives. — The London Evening Standard of the %3th September gives an account of the loss of the well-known coursing greyhound Circus Clown, the runner-up in the Waterloo Cup, tander sensational circumstances. It is stated lhat the dog. which is Talued at £250, was on his journey f rom. Belfast to .Fleetwood on one of the oroas-Channel steamers. During the absence of the attendant the dog disappeared, und'it seems evident that he jumped through the porthole of the cabin, "which had been lef i open, and was drowned. —It "is reported that three recent canine importations were released from quarantine, in Melbourne, recently. They were Mr R. E. Twoperiy's wire-haired fox terrier bitch, Leeds flirt ; Mr W. Beilby's fox terrier, Middleton ; and Mr A. C. Milh's Scottish terrier, Young Sandy. The first-mentioned bitch is by Meers65r00k Star, and 13 a very welcome addition to the wire-hairs. This breect of- fox terriers does not seem to be fancied here, but in my opinion they possess in a marked degree the true characteristics of what a terrier should be. and fffhea bettor known ore sure to be popular favourites with the fancy. Leeds Flirt, it was ioped, would produce a litter by Mr T. Ashion's (the vendor) Leeds Bristles, but the litter woe, unfortunately, a disappointment, as bbc pups were all of the wrong colour. Mr A. C. Mills's Scottish terrier is by the Scottish champion eire, Undercliffe Sandy, and is a jrery good representative of this class of dog. Mr Mills has now a good opportunity to take front rank in Ih'is breed in Victoria. Mr W. G. Borron has disposed of most of his kennel 0/ this breed, and Mr Mills lias already mated a good bitch with Young Sandy, which has produced a promising litter of puppies. Mr W. Beilby's fox terrier, Middleton, has been a very successful prize-winner at British showe, and is by the well-known English sire, Compton Dollar. He is bred from the be3t winning lines in England, and, as ho is only a young dog, it is probable that he will make bia mark on our colonial show-benches.