THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 35

THE KENNEL.

Br Tebrob.

F»ncl«n anil breeders of dogs are cordially lnvlled to con. rtbate items to this column. " Terror " "111 endearour to nimkn bla department as interesting and up-to-dute as possible, but is order to do this he muit have the co-ODerntion o! his rcadere besoe he trusts ibis invitation will be cbcerlullj rc^poudod to.

j — Mr T. P. Burkes .Irish terrier bitch I Eileen has whelped a fine litter of five puppies to Mr George .Harvey's Grip, and his 6lut Delia a litter of four. Unfor~tunately there is only one <k>g in each litter.*^ As the parent dogs are all of good strain, there 1 has been- good demand for the puppies, and orders in advance for dog pups cannot be supplied. —Mr Carr, the manager of the Milton Government Poultry Farm, has a dog and a bitch puppy from Mr Dixon, of Inyercargill — a successful fox terrier exhibitor at the last Southland show. Mr Carr finds these terriers 'a trifle "too' lively for the farm, and fancies spaniels would suit his purpose better. « —In "How to Choose a Dog," Vero Shaw says: — All small spaniels are styled "cockers" to distinguish chem from the heavier members of the race, which are known as "springers." In iact, the cocker may be regarded* xis - a bantam field -spaniel, but the colours "most often met with are blaok, and liver; a"nd "white. They are most engaging and useful little dogs, charming and affectionate companions, and equally serviceable for '-field work or as pets. For points ' the following for tlie field spaniel suffice, but the head of the cocker, especially about, the .muzzle, is rather lighter' made in comparison. Head should be long^ and fairly massive (with a proviso just alluded to). Occipital bumps well defined. Ears set on low, long, and slightly fringed with hair. Eyes dark in colour. Neck fairly long: Body long and well ribbed up. Forelegs short, straight, heavy in bone, and' feathered. Feet large, and well padded with bair. Tail carried straight out. Coat perfectly flat, not too long, but dense and weather resisting. Colours as stated above, t but white markings on a black dog objectionable. ' • lb. Average weigW for a full-grown dog .. 25 Average weight for a full-grown bitch .. 23J .Average weight for a puppy 12 months old 20 Average weight for a puppy 9 months old 17 Average weight for a puppy 6 months old 14 Average weight for a. puppy 3 months old 8 Average weight for a 'puppy 6 weeks old 4

Points to look for in a puppy six weeks old. In addition" to the above, straight legs, -plenty of bone,., dark eyes, and correct setting of the tail. Average age at -which the breed arrives .at; maturity — 18 months. Mr Shaw, in -.the- introduction to his book, says that to obtain with absolute .accuracy the weight of- different breeds of dogs &b a most difficult matter, if not an impossibility, as they vary so materially .- even amongst adult animals ; while those of puppies depend to a large extent upoa various contributory causes, such as the number in the litter, the age of the parents, the food and exercise, and in fact * the general treatment of the young animals. — The following are the coints and description laid down by "the Cocker Scaniel Club:— • , Positive .points — Head and jaws 10, eyes 5, ear* 5, neck 5, body 15, forelegs 10, hind legs 10, feet 10, stern 10., coat and feather 10, general appearance 10; total positive points — 100. Negative points— Light eyes (under'irable. but not fatal) 10, light nose (fatal) 15, 1 curled ears, (very undesirable) 15, curled coat (curly, woolly, or wiry) 20, carriage of stern (crooked or twisted) 20, top-knot „ (fatal) 20; total negative points— loo.* v — The enthusiasm amongst the members of the South Island British Bulldog' Club promises ' to make \ their particular breed one of the attractions at our forthcoming shows, both as regards entries and qualityThe latest addition to our southern bulldog kennels is Bromley Swasher, recently from __ quarantine, imported by Mr A. E. Nichdlls, the w.ell-known Christchurch breeder, and one of the enthusiasts of the club. Bromley Twasher is a dark brindTe in colour, weight about 50lb. He was bred by Mr L. Bridgland, and w,as whelped April 16, 1906. His head properties are good, as he has a' large skull of correct formation, rose ears, a good eye, deep stop, plenty of substance before the eye, large ncse, nice lavback and underjaw, good flews, a good expression ; short logs with good bone, deep brisket, well r<;ut up in loin, with low , carried tail. Altogether he should prove a | valuable addition to* the . bulldog kennels. • As will be 'seen from' his pedigree "he has i a combination of most reliable blood: — Sire, Baronet Swaiher, by Swashbuckler, ex Leucha: dam, 'Vajentia, by Woodcote »Galtee More, ex Princess Toto. The extended pedijrree embraces such well-known dogs as oh. Boaz, oh. Persimmon, Bromley Crib, Blackberry, Stockweli,, Prisoner, Donax. etc

—Mt Lee," a Canterbury bulldog- fancier, has had exceptional bad luck. He imported from England a pair, dog and bitch.. The latter recently died in quarantine whelping. The pups also died, as a foster mother could not be procured in time. Mr Lee has the sympathy of all fanciers, as his loss is a, seTere -one, not cnlv to iiiraaself , kixfc " bo all fanciers who have the improvement of the breed at heart. It is to be hoped Mr Lee has better luck with his dog, which, I understand, is an autocrat as far as blue blood is concerned.