THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3276, 27 December 1916, Page 47

THE KENNEL.

Bt Terror.

Fanoieu-s and breeders of dogs are cordially lnrlted to contribute to this column. "Terror" will •ndenvour to make this department as interesting and up-to-date as possible, but in order to do this a« must have the cooperation of his readers, kenoe he trusts this invitation will bo oheerlully responded to. A northern fancier writes xo a Dunedin fancier: —"I won't show under " (two judges mentioned). Ho then enumerates some whom he would approve of, himself amongst tho number! It is scarcely necessary to comment on tho foregoing; but it certainly appears that it is high time wo imported an outside expert. One good result which is inevitable is that both fanciers and local judges will get a shaking up: the judges will have new ideals set them and the showmen will bo more reconciled for a time to local talent. our next Dunedin Show there need be no doubt but that we shall have a bumper entry in bulldogs Letters from northern fanciers show that they ere enthusiastic over

the prospect of meeting, with their stock, one of tne leading judges of tho world. The entries ut tnia year's Auckland Show in bulldogs are reported to have been well nigh a record lor tne Dominion There were no fewer than 10 entries in the brace class (20 dogs), and in tho opinion of one Suaiified to speak it was one of the best asses he has been privileged to witness. The judging, however, did not give entire satisiaetion, particularly in the bulldogs. According to information I have received from more than one source, the winning bitch (Britannia) possesses a button ear, and yet she won right through from Novice to Challenge, and yet a button ear was not her only fault. The second selection had a twisted lower jaw, plain head, and is straight' right through. She was put in, I am informed, merely to make up entries. The third to snine has both ears buttoned, and was as fat as a pig. The late owner did not evidently think much of this exhibit, for she gave it away shortly before the Show. Dogs and bitches which won in more northerly cities went cardless; but such is the sympathy expressed to their owners that they feel it to be almost meritorious to lose under the circumstances.

—An important rule for hot weather is to cook each day's food for the clou on the day it is to bo fed out, and failing in this all meats, broths, and soups, kept over-night for the following day's feeding, should be recooked before they are served, for such foods decompose quickly, and during this change virulent poisons arc developed. In truth dogs are "capable of resisting poisons to a wonderful extent; but just how far their resistant powers extend is not well known, and there is reason for the belief that not a few of the mysterious visitations of sickness in the kennels are duo to their food poisons. Consequently rccooking by boiling must be accepted as advisable, and if this is kept up for 10 or 15 minutes all such poisons will with certainty be destroyed. Bald spots do not appear on dogs except in consequence of parasitic diseases, which must, of course, be cured before the hair can grow again. Perhaps the most popular agent resorted to by fanciers to restore hair on such spots—the skin being unbroken—is petroleum, and it is doubtful if many of them know that its good effect is attributable, not to its restorative powers, but to its destructive action on the parasites that induce the baldness. Considering which action, says Ashwort, its use or, still better, the use of its refined product benzine—because it penetrate deeper,—is to be commended on all bald spots of recent occurrence.

The following is recommended as a good cure for mango:—Flower of sulphur 21b, unslaked lime lib, water 2gal. Slake the lime in a portion of the wafer, then stir in the sulphur. Add the rest of the water gradually, and boil for a couple of hours. Allow it to stand till cool. Pour off the clear liquid. \Vet the parts frequently with this. A mild purgative may also bo given with benefit. Chronic cases of mange will take a long time to cure, but perseverance in this treatment is nearly always successful. pointers—in fact, all breeds of dogs,—if not worked for several generations, lose all the natural interest which they have from an early age in game if their fathers and mothers have been idle over it. •An old shepherd ' likes a dog from a line of workers, and knows that unless it is worked and taught it will be no good, and • they do not care to breed from them if stupid." Anyone who gets punp ; es and watches their movements can toll whether they are likely to make workers, and there can bo no doubt that -what a pood many put down to instinct is education instead. True instinct is. Bays a wellknown writer, in the bulldog temper, which always seems to be transmitted. Instinct is hereditary from pursuits immediately before, and might be evidenced by some members of our House of Lords whose fathers did nothing before them. One instinct which dogs have universally, unless spoilt, is to be faithful and intelligent; but if a setter is a companion instead of a sportsman he will adapt himself to his sourroundings and forget the game.

A brewer in Haverfordwest once owned a dog which had acquired a liking for sweet new beer as it runs from the vat, and in consequence was in the habit of getting dreadfuly intoxicated. When in that state he conducted himself in a most ridiculous manner, quite beneath the dignity of a dog, to sav nothing about a superior order of animals. "Various means were tried by his master to cure him ; of this bad habit. All precautions were taken, but as sure as there was a fresb supply of beer brewed, so sure did the dog contrive to try its quality, with the same mortifying results. One day, when very much the worse for what he had taken, he was capering about in his ysual manner and performine most absurd antics, he somehow managed to fall into a tub of boiling wort, from which he was rescued in a most de.plorabc condition, his coat, scalded off in patches, and himself almost dead with pain and fr : c*bt. His tumbl" had a very remarkable effect. It completely cured him of his* evil propensities, and from that memorable day the doer hecame a total abstainer, and no person could induce him to taste beer again. But he found, like the nobler animal when simihrU afflicted, that the vis : hlo offeets of his folly were not so easily effaced. The bald patches still remained, a warning to all animals, both jnimnn and canine, not to imbibe.—Christian World.