THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2700, 13 December 1905, Page 31

THE KENNEL.

Br Terror. [Fanciers and breeders or dop;s are cordially invited to con. tribute ltoms to this columu. •' Tenor " will endeavour io mate his department as interesting and up-to ddte as possible, but in order to do this he must ha>e the co-oneratiou of his readers hence he trusts this invitation n ill be cUeerlullj responded to. — Darwin thought that the possibility of making distinct races of dogs by crossing had been greatly exaggerated. He admitted that "there has been an immense amount of inherited variation," but was not very explicit as to the manner in which this was brought about. Rawdon Lee, who is certainly an authority on the dog, says:— "Personally I see little difficulty in producing a variety given proper crosses, and say 15 or 20 years' time in which to work.'' Darwin admits that though he considers the dog to be descended from several wild species, he cannot believe that animals closely resembling the Italian greyhound, the bloodhound, the bull dog, pug dog, Blenheim spaniel, etc., so unlike all wild canidae, ever existed in a state of nature. Dog fanciers, poultry fanciers, and breeders of all varieties of stock need give no more seriou^ ooasideration to the subject, or require further encouragement to oontinue their good work, than to think for a moment "what would become of the Italian greyhounds, bloodhounds, bull dogs, spaniels, of the Wyandottes, Orpingtons, and Rocks, and of the various distinct varieties of cattle, sheep, horses, and pigs, if such were left to mate at their own sweet will. Natural selection is all rjght for the maintenance of the fittest where a species is concerned, and breeding carried on in that way would no doubt lead to strong, healthy dogs, which would be large or small, long-haired or short-coated, speedy or the reverse ; adapted to hunting on water or land, or for both, subject solely to environment. Under such conditions, however, types would not be distinct as' at present, and migration or changes of local conditions would cause constant reversions and alterations in varieties The various distinct breeds as we now know them are eundoubtedly the production of human care and forethought in mating, and the success which has been already achieved should be sufficient encouragement for further effort on present lines. What is greatly to be desired, however, is improvement in the utility and beauty of the varieties already at our hands, rather than the production of new types, and herein lies work for every owner of a dog. —Mr C. Reeve, of Ekctahuna (North Island), the well-known and successful English setter breeder, has an advertisement in this issue offering for sale his English setter dog Pukuri Prince. This dog is a really first-class specimen of his breed, and has won numerous first prizes at the leading shows in the North Island under such acknowledged good juefges as Messrs Paul Hunter and A. ClifFord-Bramah. Those who desire a really good setter should at once avail themselves of this opportunity. — From Miss Neish, The Laws (says Our Dogs), comes the pleasing news that she has just shipped two nice young pugs to a fancier in New Zealand. They are by the veteran eh. Pouf Pouf, and need I say they are worthy sons of that worthy sire, and will, no doubt, improve the breed in the land to which they travel, and keep up the reputation of a name that has had for years to be conjured with. —An Income From a Canine Bathhouse.— It is not often that a woman worker pan be believed to be prospering when with truth her business is declared to be going to the dogs. But in New York there is at least one who makes a regular income by a bathrng establishment which she has started for canine pets. Beginning with a very few pounds at her disposal she secured a suitable and cheap flat, half-a-dozen good-sized baths, and the necessary amount of dog soap and towels. In this lavatory she arranged her apparatus, which included half-a-dozen little bunks in '<hich her clients could rest cosily covered up after their ablutions. These preparations made, she advertised her business among her friends, and now has a regular clientele of dog patrons to which she administers baths, once or oftener a week. So successful has she been in her business that she employs an assistant who understands clipping those dogs that require attention, and particularly the now fashionable poodle. Her charges are not high, but there c\re several extras. It is said that this woman contemplates starting a Turkish bath for dogs, and that she is confident that the animals will appreciate the restful and refreshing effects of it just as much as human beings do. — Lady Charlotte. — Pardonable Mistake. — A farmer, who expected a dog kennel by rail, sent his "orra man" with horse and cart to a wayside station in the Hi^htlands to fetch it. On arriving and finding none of the j officials about the place, he decided on taking away what he thougWMwas a kennel. Hailing a passing stranger, they managed to load it on the cart. A short distance along the road, on his way home, the carter met the siationmastev, who said, "Hello ! what have you got there ?" The carter sa.id he had boen sent for tb.fi ken-

nel, and seeing no one about he had brought it away. "Kennel, man !" said the official. "Kennel ? Why, you have got the station !" — A Remarkable Dog.— ln "The Lives of Vasco Nunez Do Balboa and Francisoo Pizarro," translated from the Spanish of Don Manuel Josef Quintana, by Mrs Hodson, it is stated (page 18) that Balboa's bloodhound was '"the most sagacious and powerful," and an explanatory footnote stys : — ''We must not omit to mention a dog which Balboa possessed, called Lcopclco. from <h<? dog Beccrrica, of the Island of St. Juan, and no less famous than his parent. Tho clog gained his master, in this and other entries, more than 2000 pesos of gold, because ho received the shave of a companion in the distribution of gold and slaves. And truly tho dog deserved it better than many sleeping partners. This dog's instinct was wonderful ; he could distinguish between the warlike or peaceful Indians; and when the Spaniards were taking or pursuing the Indians, on loosing this animal, and saying, 'There he is — seek him,' he would commence the chase, and had so fine a scent that they scarcely ever escaped him. And when he had overtaken his object, if tho Indian remained quiet, he would take him by tho sleeve, or hand, and lead him gently, without biting or annoying him; but if he resisted, he would tear him in pieces. Ten Christians, escorted by this dog, were in more security than 20 without, him. I have seen this dog. for when l'cdrarias came to this territory, in the year 1514, he was still alive, and Vasco Nunez lent him to him, when he received his share, as I have stated. He was of a red colour, had a black nose, was of middle size, and not handsomely formed, but stout and powerful— -exhibiting many wounds, which in the course of these ways he had received from the Indian. 1 :. The dog was at last maliciously poisoned. Some dogs pf this race were left, bui nothing equal to him has been seen in these regions." — Oviedo's General History, book XXIX, chap. 3.