THE KENNEL. By Terror.

Otago Witness, Issue 2558, 25 March 1903, Page 50

THE KENNEL. By Terror.

(Ftnctera trul breeder! ol dots are cordlall; Inrited to eon tribute Items to ihii column. " Terror ' Kill endeavour to male his department aj Intrreitinc aud up-to date at possible, but 1 order to do this be moat have the vo-ODeratlon or Ms readrr hence he truits this invitation nil) be cheerfully responded to.

— A schedule of the Waitaki Collie Dog Club's eighteenth annual trial, to be held at Hakataramea on Thursday, May 14, is already to hand, and promises the usual attraction. Class lis for heading, bringing back, and yarding. Class 2, hunt-away with slew; Class 3, heading and bringing back. Prizes in each clas3 are — Ist £10, 2nd £6, 3rd £3, 4th £1. An extra class for three special prizes of £5 ss, £2 2s, and £1 Is is for hunt-away, head, bring back, and yarding. Mr E. Harrison (Wellington), who acts as one of the judges, gives a gold medal valued at £5 5s to the owner of the dog scoring the most judge's points during j the meeting. Other judges are Messrs R. j Stewart, J. Menzics, D. MacFarlane, A. 1 Gunn, and W. Melville. Mr W. H. Ross, of Hakataramea, acts as hon. secretary. — The collie slut Lass, owned by Mr Payne, of North-East Valley, whose merits I spoke of some weeks back, is rapidly progressing towards competition form. She is making size, has good carriage, and, though not as well pronounced in stope as one would wish, has a nice head of fair length. She carries her ears well, and, !ajs they are just the shape and size to favour the performance most effectively, will continue to. do so. She. is well in hand, and will behave properly before the judge. Lass is by Floss, out of Dundonald, and I have only to mention "that Floss in her -turn is by First Shot ex Minhehaha,-.'and Minnehaha by Egbast on < Marvel to " snow -.that .she is of the best blood. ■ '— On several occasions the question of how much attention should be paid by the judge to a collie's mouth has formed food for discussion. Many judges "pass" "overshot," or "pig-jawed" animals; others aver that as a collie should not bite sheep, etc., the question is not important as to whether he has a level mouth or not. In this they dispute the standard. In the Stockkeeper Mr W. Thomson, a well-known judge and collie fancier, writes: "As I have been brought into prominence on this question owing to some x-emarks I made when judging collies at a members' competition at Wimbledon, permit me to say that I penalised two dogs for being overshot, which, according to the Collie Club's description of a dog, is a fault. There is no objection to a slightly uneven mouth, but a 'pig-jaw' is distinctly a blemish, as much as prick ears, a curly coat, etc. The amount of the penalty for this fault can only be left to the discretion and experience of the judge. It is not long since the Collie Club drew up a fresh standard of points, so that I cannot see any use in calling a meeting of the two clubs to discuss this question, unless, indeed, some prominent collie-breeder will propose that a badly overshot dog be disqualified."- These matters ought to be definitely settled. There seems no analogy, between prick ears, which fault actually debars a dog from any chance of a place, and a defective mouth, if such is only to be penalised at the discretion of the judge. I never heard of a good judge passing & prick-eared dog except by oversight, but the mouth question is different. Many judges only examine the mouths of certain breeds, and some I have seen who never "mouth" a dog. Faking the ears has often been resorted to, and has. formed the subject of law cases. Many judges say that an overshot mouth giveß a fine finish to and lengthens a head. The same is said 01' the greyhound, but here there is the excuse urged by some that an overshot greyhound is smarter at picking up a hare than one with level teeth. As regards collies and ordinary drovers' dogs, the tendency is towards an overshot or projecting upper jaw. — Referring to the subject if the foregoing paragyvph,"a writer to the citockkeeper considers that the prevalence of this malformation is due to the craze for long heads, and expresses the opinion that it should be treated with disqualification at the show. — A judge should be a thoroughly disinterested party so far as any personal interest in the dogs is concerned. It is not right nor fair to expect a judge to pass upon the merits of dogs that he may have sold, nor should a judge actively engaged in breeding be required to pass upon the merits of dogs owned by a business competitor ; such conditions not only naturally invite adverse criticisms, but materially reduce the number of exhibitors. Publio opinion declares judges to be human, and, as such, to be open to the same influences that govern others. Hence it would seem that no self-respecting man would be willing to place himself in, or permit others to force him into, suth a false position. The argument will be advanced that when accepting a position a judge does not know what dogs will come before him. True enough, but when a class comes into the ring, and the former contingency arises, it would be a courteous "and sportsmanlike act for him to require the bench committee to ;upply another judge for the classos in which the dog or dogs in question are to appear. In the latter case he should decline the appointment absolutely. If there was a scarcity of competent judges that might serve as an excuse for his serving, but such is not the case, for we fortunately have a number of eminently well qualified geniJd-

men who have practically retired as breeders but who have devoted years of study to the improvement and advancement of this breed. We should, as exhibitors, welcome any new restrictions that may be adopted to meet this contingency, and the judges, I doubt not, will heartily join with one accord in all measures calculated to add dignity and protect them in the duties of their offices, and thus place them far 'and 'above a suspicion of being prejudiced. The last requirement for a judge that I will advance, and it is by no means the least, is that he should be a man with the courage of his convictions. It seems needless to further dilate on this virtue, for it speaks in no uncertain terms for itself. A man with a faltering mem and uncertain, hesitating mind had better stay at home, for he certainly has no place in the ring. We want a clear-headed and courageous man, one who will pass upon the dogs in- a prompt, careful, yet decided manner, making his awards, where, according to hjs best judgment, they aro due, and; having done so, be willing to stand by his convictions through thick and thin.- "There is no lukewarmneas and retraction possible "to 'such a' character, and when he is once recognised in his true colours he will command. the reepect and applause of all exhibitors. Have we -mcii of this calibre who are willing to servo as judges?- Yes, and quite- a .sufficient number for our needs. We can ask, "What .is th> • matter with out- judges?" and truthfully, acclaim, "They .are all right)" Now, -if "they will come together, and, agree upon a standard satisfactory to them \col-; lectfvely, pledging . ' themselves, .to abide strictly •by its conditions, then indeed will' our joy be complete.— J. Varnum Mott, M.D., in Field and Fancy. — The collier's affection for his dog is curiously illustrated by a case at the Leeds Infirmary. At the last sitting of the Leeds West Riding Bench, Robert Stead (68),miner, who lives near Garforth, was ordered to destroy his dog, and reported that he had done so. Wishing to make absolutely sure of the fact, Superintendent Tebbutt sent a constable to interview the owner athis house. Stead now varied' his story a little, and after a few questions on the subject he went upstairs and took an over-, dose of aconite. It was then ascertained that the dog had not been destroyed, for the animal was found at a farmstead near Denholme, where Police-constable Bosomworth carried out the magisterial order. Stead was reported to be making satisfactory progress.