THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2565, 13 May 1903, Page 49

THE KENNEL.

Br Tebrok

[Faaeirr? nnJ breeders <•! c]oi-s are conliallT invltea to con' Irihutt items to this column. "Terror ' will cnJravoiir to makl hi" department is intrresiinc and up-:*dntc as possible, butli ord^r 10 Go thii nc must l^a-vt? the co*oDci*Qtion of his rc&Jcif Ijchcc he trusts tht4 inTltitfott will be chrcri'itllT rtsponticj to.

— The jonditicas undei which tli9 FOl Terrier Club's specials are to ba competed for at the coming Dunedin show are as follows: — (1) Air Oeo. R. Hutehineon's (presi> dent) trophy, value £5 5s (present holder, Mr J. M'lutosh). For the best smoothcoated dog or bitch. To bo won tvrioe in euocesaion, or three times at intervals. (2) Mr C.^ H. St. Hill's trophy, value £5 ss. For the best fox terrier puppy in the show, cither sex, 6mcot-b or wire-haired. To be won twico in succession, or three time 3at intervals. These trophies can only be competed for once in each yi.'u\ — With respect to the French bulldog, regarding which, in comparison with the Englioh type, a gxeat deal is now being said and written in England, the Daily Mail reports an interview with Mi- G. R. Sims, inter aia, -as follows; — Mr Sims's ermine manager brought in under his arm a meek, affec-tionately-disposed animal of a yellowish colour, and deposited it on a chair. Bobs, the leash almost cracking round his (21 cut, massive neck, snorted and struggled and worked that terrible underjaw of his. The Frenchman looked around piteously, and dumbly- invited the company +0 carry him out. "A pretty little creature, isn't ha?" eaid Mr Sims. "That's the Frpnch bulldog which our Paris traducer would like to sea matched against the Bplcndid British animal, : and n-hicJi would ' choke -our osrre in le.>a ; tim-e than it takes to write.' " The demonj r>tratiou was convincing. The Frenchman had no powerful underjaw, no broad chest, no legs to boxst of. no strength, no pluck, but was pretty to look at, and of that affectionate disposition which lady dog-fanciers rail "clinging." He was. indeed, v-ery "clinging" — nuito prepared, in fact, to cling to nnyone who would cjnioktly take him out lof Bobs'.-, company. '"Th" motto of Ihe Briti-h bulldoe." said Mr S-icfl, "is, 'What we have w*'ll hokl !' But you can't imasrin? thaf " and he pointed to tho tim^d little "Frencliv" and laughed. "Perhaps, sir we could arrange to oblige the French jrentleman." eagerly suggested ''Arthur." Mr Sims denroco.ted any such rpeanirp, hinting at leeal difficulties and possible '"int-Tinationa! rcrnplicsHons." —At iikn inniml meetintr cf fh«s Aibury Collie DoX Cub. liold on 'thn 4Mi insr., it vas rc-olvfrd that a trial shou'd be again mn this yep.sen. on thft lines of former competition? and tout vcar's r>: o?ramr.ie, with me or tvrc. noticooWs alterations, lie prinoipa 1 lx>in;r a rrovi'O barring any clotr tba* has won a Er>t rrizo or two seconds, and tiip elimination of the youth?' olnss and Fubs-ii-hitin-f a second farmers' event, the contest' to be run off on ihr la-.r Thursday and Friday in Mar — a dato it was suK^eque-ntly found had been fixed in previously by tha Cliris.tarmre'i Club Oin 5 3nuent!y. a cornrr>ittc» meriting was cabled for the eveni-nt, o ftlie lOti'i iiK-t.. and wa^ well aitended, whon t'<c conditions rfa-tcid were almost urMnimoiisly condemned, and ift-sr ocii^id'erabls di-veussioTi it mi decid-xl to r.djovirn the mop-ting fr>r a w+'^k. noi'ca cf motion being given — '"That t'i? ouo.stion of bcrrfn« any dorrs be reeoni;id'prec?," nn>:l also dhn* instead of havincr two frrrners' ola c =ie<!. ona h& madf an opcr maiden f-ve-nt. and thai the trial; be run on Juno 4 nnd 5; p'no, t.luat a wc<g4it-{Brue.sain» oomnetition be again hold, sheep lie-iijg nromiscd for tho prorOTx'. Tt van decided that a social h* 3icld on the fin?t nieht o f the meeting. It was further agreed that the gentlemen who pa.ye such Mtisfaet'ion last year lie again asked to judtre. — '"Tattler," a regular contributor to the Ladies' Column of Our Doga, prescribes tho following treatment for the prevention of bitciies eating their pups. She cays : — "The 1 plan I adopt, and which I hay& never found fj'il — and I hare had 1 fair amount of esp?rienc= with mothers eating their young — i». when the raiimaJ is found to be in whelp, to feed generously and so build up the system. For a few weeks before she is due to whedp let her principal diet bo raw flVsli. which will satisfy that unnatural craving, which heeomes stronger as the time advances for tho family io make their appearai oe. The dam ehould have a quiet kennel or room away from her other canine ocmpejnions : eh?, should have as much freedom 23 is powible ; in fact, should be allowed to roam about at will, the 'kennel c'.oot always remaining open so that she oan go in and out as she pleases. A few days •before the time she should bo watched most carefully, and, if neoessary, someone should remain with iier at night; but with euch treatment as I hare set out, I have nevei found it neoessary for there to be might watching. A feneroua diet, plenty of freedom, an absolutely quiet corner, will efTeci a cure. The dam does not want to eat hei family, but sh» has a craving which, if no! satisfied by man, she will satisfy herself. — Six dogs of various breads have recently arrived in Abyrsinia in rharpe of Mi Dunn, the- emlmaJn being a present from King Edward to the Emneror Mm^Hk. On tli-pir way tin country they were rr.iioh n<!mired by tho Abyssinian natives, aid tho

Negus will doubtless be highh delighted .■with the gift, for ho is a passionate lover of dogs and ether domestic animate, and ■ha 3on more than cue occasion stated his prefer«:<nce for a fine dog over any other form of present from Europe. —To the telling of dog stories, there is no end. A small collie belonged to a young man whose people live in Hulme (Manchester). Two years ago it disappeared. Sioon afterwards its owner cmlisted, and since th«n he has seen aotivc service in South Africa, has been 'invalided home and ie now an India in the 9th Lancer.;. Meanwhile nothing became known as to the dog's whereabouts, until quite recently, when it turned up at its old home. Evidently it had travelled far and suffered much. It 3 paws ■were swollen, . its body emaciated, and its condition altogether one of such extreme exihaustion that it wae unable to reach the (house without resting on a friendly dcoretep. Where it has been for the past two years ia a mystery. —It is surprising how prevalent amongst dogs is liver trouble in one form or another, particularly, of couree, in the caee of pet dogß and others which, are ke^t under the Jeset natural conditions Of course, the -anost serious condition of the liver is represented by jaundice, a disease brought on "•ijf -what may be termed- an jvcrflow of bile ".? into the blood. It is very common in con- . r jnoction iritb cases of distemper, when the ' /iiTfir ia *pt to bp subject to inflammation, iconnectfed info the general disturbance of the system at that period, or it may be fcrouyirt about, as in the case of the pampe/ed house dog, by over-indulgence in unnatural foods. We have known casts in which, &v ths other hsaid, dogs were kept under j.-orfeotly healthy conditions, such, for instance, ac usually obtain in the oaee of foxihounds; but then the cause of the complaint can generally be traced to some unusual circumstances, such ac change of food or a feed of unwholesome meat. It is very important that all dogs ehould have the proportions of the different kinds of food conveniently adjusted, and that there should not be any sudden iiregularity or change from cine kind of food to another. Thero 3* yet another oauee which may lead up to jiver complaint, particularly the inflammation of the liver, and that ie, sudden imjueraion in very cold water, or a chill contracted in any similai way. Very of ton «luring tho sporting season dogs are made to enter ice-cold water, which is liab'e to give rice to this inflammation of the liver, and to other troubles, and shou'd be particularly avoided. T'.:e symptoms of jaundice are unmistakable, and can best be ►gmmed un under the one word which is iolten applied to the complaint— we mean *rhe word "yellows." The colour of lips and eyes, and indeed *,h© whole skin wherever it can be seen under the fur, becomes of an unmistakable yellow hue. Besides this, there is more or less bowel disturbance, igererally diarrhoea. Sickness, too, is presfllit, and the dog becomes very heavy and eleepy, whilst at the same time he loses " Hesfi rapidly. The- treatment consists in giving as much gentle outdoor exercise ac •possible., and, of course, very careful dieting. There is considerable divergence _of opinion as to the proper medicines which i dog requires in such a case, but most writers agree that the mercurial system of i rentniont is neeesenry, by which we understand the administration either of calomel or of the old-fashioned blue pill, followed by a black draught. There is a great deal to "be said in favour of this treatment, and there can be no doubt but that in most asea a pood doso of calomel will give relief very quickly. The treatment should not, however, be kept up too long. O"e or two rigorous doses will suffice, followed by milder treatment, with a good vegetable pill composed of such thingi; as rhubarb, podo phyllin, amd colocynth. Hero we may ieunark that by a strong dose of calomel we should mean about three grains for a dog of 201b to 301b weight, and an extra grain for every 201b beyond. It can be administered two mornings in succession, and subsequently the other class of aperient should ba givon according as may be _*on-eid-ered necessary. — TII2 Schjpperke is, in England, undoubtedly making headway, and is a most fascinating little dog. His native home ie Belgium, where he is used by the bargemen as a watchdog, and one of the prettiest and most interesting sights is to see one or more of these quaint little taillcw dogs standing on the barges as they plj up and down the river, or lying on and keeping guard over their master's property, growling at and defying would-be intruder?. "When aroused they can bo most aggressive, and, small ra they are, can hold their ov.n ■when occasion requires in a most practical manner They will not, however, resort to. strong measures unless driven to it ; but to. their ms*tor or mistress they arc irue ♦o the death. During the 20 years or ?o these dogs have gained a certain amount of favour, though not to the extent that fiome other breeds have deme. notably in the .oy section, the Pomeranian, and Japanese. .This no doubt ie largely owing to the fact that the majority of the puppies, df not all, are born with what is considered a disfiguring and disqualifying pomt — a caudal appendage, which necessitates an operaticm. and this to many ir, objectionable. When the knife is, however, skilfully need it is most difficult to ascertain if the absents of the tail is natural or artificial. The colour mo.it admired ie black, J>ut in Belgium and Holland, where these rlogs are alto to be found, some chocolatecoloured specimens are occasionally met with, though they are rare, as those of this colour are not prized. The Selvpperko m a smart, active little fellow, with a certain natural quaintness about him which is his chief attraction, find as a companion and watchdog he is all that can bo desired. — Jerome K. Jerome says: — "He is very amprude-nt, a deg is. He never makes it siis business to inquire whether you are in •the right or the wrong, never bothers ;<s ■to whether you are going up or down life's Sadder; never asks whether you nre rich or poor, silly or wise, sinner or faint. You .re his pal. That is enough for him, and come luck or misfortune, good repute or (bad, honour or shame, he is going Vo stk;k to you, to comfort you, guard you. and give !hJs life for you if need be — foolish, brainlere. soulless dog." ■ — Dogs, unless led by theii owners, are hot allowed in the cemetery at Rio Janeiro, and a notice to that effect in Spanish, (French, and 'English is posted up on the jpate. The English notice is as follows: — "'Noble- mesdames and gentlemen who may desire a dog to follow in this tomb-yard will not be permission unless him drawn by a r-able round him throttle." — A comical report, without more foundation than others of a like nature, is current to the effect that ladies are now prevented from travelling with their pet dogs

on the South-eastern and Chatham line, oven though thsy be- willing to engage an entire ornvartmemt for them. They mwt either !rr,vc their pets behind them or subject them to a.l the ricks attendant upon a journey in the guard's yan. I'oseibly the directors think that if passengers tat their dogs run after the trains they could well keep up with them. By the way, I have myself seen a dog which regularly followed hard after a train every day of the 'week. Th'i. was on tHe cog-line between Zormatt »<nd St. Nicholas ; and I have not the lea6t doubt that the Swiss train could easily outdistance a South-eastern express, which, co the tale runs, can only beat a steam-roller with a strong wind blowing in its favour!— News.