THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 35

THE KENNEL.

Br Teekok.

( Fanciers au<l breeder-) ot do^s arc cordially invited to contribute items to this column. " Terror " will cndc.i\our to lualie his department as interesting and tip-to date aa possible, but m older to do this he must have thu co-ODei ation of his readers beoce he tiustb this inviUtlou will be cheerfully rcupouded to ]

— Last week's Wellington show is reported to have been extremely well managed and favoured with lovely weather. The dogs were all judged outside in two rings — one for collies and the other for all other varieties. Being the headquarters of the Fox Terrier Club, it was natural to expect, as it turned out, that that breed would of itself make a real good show. In smooths the classes were no better than were seen at the Dunedin fixture, but quite as good, and that is saying a lot for the quality. The wires were not as good in quality, but the entry of 33 was creditable. With regard to South Island exhibits, Mr E. Webster's Nipper got first in both classes, the trophy for best wire in the show, and second Challenge Cup for the best sporting dog in the show.

—Mr T. Hklcs's Linden Lionel won tho Challenge class, and also tho gold medal for the best adult fox terrier in the show. This same breeder's Oyama won first in Puppies, second Challenge, and tho Fox Terrier Shield for the best smooth fox terrier puppy in the show, and the gold medal for the best fox terrier puppy owned ancf bred by exhibitor. — The Fox Terrier Challenge Cup was won by a South Island bitch from Messrs Savage and Bett's, of Nelson. In spaniels, Mr Levorsidge, of Christchurch, scored three firsts and two seconds with his dogs. Mr Joynt, of Christchurch, won three firsts with a cocker spaniel. — Jn collies, Mr J.. Hajne's Zeaiandia

Bride won the silver collar for the best collie of either sex, Zeaiandia Hero the ladies' silver-mounted Challenge Shield for the best collie of oppobitc sex to the winner of the collar; Koslyn Ringleader (Neill and Rennie) won breeders' silver Challenge Cup tor best dog or bitch in Novice Class; Mr liaync's Zeaiandia Pet the silver Challenge Medal for the best novice of opposite sex to the winner of Breeders' Cup. Haync's Zeaiandia Hero won the silver Challenge Cup for the best puppy of either sex in tho show, and the same breeder's Zeaiandia Bride the gold medal for best puppy of opposite sex to the winner of Puppy Cup. In maiden bitches Mr Hayne got first and second ; in maiden dogs, Neill and Rennie's Ringleader got first; in puppy dogs, Zeaiandia Hero iirst and Ringleader second ; in puppy bitches, Zeaiandia Bell and Zeaiandia II took first and second, and Mr Bcgg's Andante third, Neill and Rennie's Roslyn Rona v h c. — Novice Dogs. — Roslyn Ringleader first. Novice Bitches — Mr Haync's Zeaiandia Pet and Zeaiandia Gem first and second, Roslyn Rona third. Open Challenge Class Dogs — Zeaiandia Hero iirst, Zeaiandia Perfection second, Roslyn Ringleader rhird. Open Challenge Class Bitches — Zeaiandia Bride first, Zeaiandia Bell second, Roslyn Rona third, and Andante v h c.

—By the foregoing record Dunedin fanciers will see that they have every cause to be gratified - by> tho excellent results achieved by >£heir dogs at the late ' Wellington show. . Mr Webster, with his* now well-known terriers, simply smothered ' everything opposed to him, and wound i up by winning 'the special -prize for the best sporting dog in the show. Our old friend Mr Hides again covered himself with glory, his dogs winning everything entered for, also securing the muchj coveted Philadelphia Dog Club's trophy. It was, however, in collies that Dunedin Maiciers collared everything, every collie first and second prize and all the Collie Club's trophies coming here. Mr J. R. Hayne, as usual, secured tho lion's share, winning all 'the trophies save the Breeders' I Gup, ihis- -being secured by Messrs Neill j and Rennie; and what Messrs Hayne and Rennie did nof secure Mr A. Begg did. Such a coup has 1 not previously happened, and Wellington and other fanciers in the North Island must in the future look to their laurels.

—We (Our Dogs) arc frequently asked to givo a reason why dogs should lose tl.eir hair when there seems to be no cause for their so doing. The reason is generally to be found in the fact that a dog's blood is out of order. It follows naturally then that the way "to "cure .the loss, of hair is to give the dog a course of Llood medicine Blaud's pill .mass is an \ excellent thing for the purpose, v and should be given "in- capsule form. It is a preparation of iron. and* carbonate of potash, and> has a wonderful effect in all cases of skin trouble by toning up the system generally, . for as soon as the system can be got into good order the hair will begin to • grow again. Regular and systematic grooming does a groat deal towards keeping a dog's coat in good order. If there be any redness or rash, such as eczema, the affected parts must bo bathed with a cool lotion. The best lotion for this purpose is the glycerine of carbolic acid mentioned in the British Pharmacopoeia. This is a nice olean lotion, which soothes the irritated skin and leaves it softer and cooler. We are often asked for advice, too, by fanciers who are about. to exhibit their dogs as to how to get a deg's coat into perfect condition for exhibition. This, of course, takes some time, and a dog needs (o be taken in hand several weeks before the date of the show. It is not possible to do any good in two or three days just before the show, and the fancier should remember this and begin early. The coat can often bo got into excellent condition by nothing more than grooming and careful attention. Of course, long-haired dogs require more in this direction than smoothhaired dogs. Their coats need to be brushed regularly with a soft brush, and great care should be taken to remove any foreign substances that may become matted in the hair This can be^t be done with a coarbe-tooth comb, which needs to be carefully handled so as not to injure the skin. More can be done by grooming a dog to get him into condition for exhibition than anything else, but, as wo said above, this takes time, and must be begun some time before the show.

— Besides paying attention to the coat of a dog before he is sent to a show, there are several other matters that call for attention. He needs to be trained to a certain extent, and taught how to hold himself, and to show himself to the best advani age. This can easily be accomplished by training Aim by slow degrees fiom puppyhood, and it is surprising how much can bo done in this direction to make a successful exhibit. A dog that is good tempered and will allow the judges to handle him without making a terrible fuss is more likely to win a prize than a dog that is bad tempered and refuses to be handled. Of course, a great deal depends upon the dog's general health. Care should be taken, therefore, to keep him in good condition by judicious dieting, and particularly by regular exercise. Do not let clogs get idle and lazy, but keep them well amused so that they are always on the alert, with good appetites, always ready for their meals. Then a dog's health should always be good. It is very important that a dog which is about to be exhibited should be free from worms. Give him two or three good dosings with worm medicine from about six weeks to three weeks before the «how, so that it is perfectly obvious that he is free from them, and then all that is needed afterwards is an occasional aperient pill, just to prevent the worms from getting a lodgement asrain. A great deal will depend upon the health of a dog as to whether he will contract any such disease as distemper at a show. It is not possible to make a clog absolutely proof against distemper, but there will be far less risk of his doing so if he is in perfect health when he is sent to the show. We know that very strict rules arc laid down by committees at good shows, every dog being ovamined before he is admitted ; and by this means a great deal has been done towards lessening the risk of con tracting disease, but it is impossible to do away with it entirely. Every owner should, therefore, satisfy himself that his dog is as well as he can possibly make him, and then tho ii»k will be far less than otheiwi^o.

— Bitch Suckling Pigs.-— A strange case ,©f fostering is reported from Hebden

Bridge, where a small farmer had * retriever bitch which gave tnrth to sis puppies. A few days later one of thfi fanner's sows also gave birth to a family, but subsequently died. The farmer, more anxious for the welfare of the porcines than the canines, promptly ''bucketed" the six puppies, and transferred the young porkers to the bitch, with the result that two of the piggies were saved, and the bitch reared them " up to six weeks old, an age at which they can fend for them- - selvefi.