FANCIERS' COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 45

FANCIERS' COLUMN.

The Otago Witness has been appointed the oflJ«

Aal organ lor tho publication ol announcements 9< the Dunedin Fanciers' Olab.

THE KERNEL.

By Terror. Fanciers and breeders of dogs are oordially In* rited to contribute to this column. "Terror" will endeavour to mako this department as interesting »nd up-to-date as possible, but in order to do this' he must have the co-operation of his readers, hence he trusts this invitation will be oheeriuU? ttapouded to. i; ' Readers, bulldog men particularly, will be grieved to learn that Mr C. A. Hutton, secretary of the Bulldog Club, has been laid up for a week or two by a nasty accident. It was a case of wood-chopping, and subsequently of surgeons needle; but I understand that Mr .Hutton will be back at business very soon. I am informed that Mr J. Doc, of Invercargill, has purchased from Mr Sinclair (Napier) a very nice Irish terrier bitch, Ah'uriri Molly. Molly is by that well-known imported dog Wilford Meddler, and has been mated to Ahuriri Mixer. Naturally, Mr Doo looks forward to getting something good for the show bench. He has also been able by purchase 'to got possession from Mr M'Cay of the winning fox terrier bitch, Kaik.orJ.jia Kotea, and is already arranging _ for suitable mating. Mr Doe divides his attention as_ a fancier, I believe, between Airedales, Irish terriers, and foxies, and, holding good stock, is often able to dispose of puppies to advantage. Mr Waters, of the West Coast, for instance, has secured from this kennel the fox terrier dog Royal Boy, who won a special and two firsts at Dunedin last show. Readers will wish him luck in his recent purchases. Our old friend Fred Rogen drops me a card 'now and again just to remind me, presumably, that he still exists, for he gives no news; but he need have no fear about being forgotten in Dunedin—ho has left too many good-wishers behind for that. Fred is well to the fore in the Australian rfancy just now both as fancier and judge. —" Wattlobark," of 'the Australasian, says: "It ha? been noted from time to time that the importance of the more generally useful classes of dogs is rapidly overshadowing the claims of animals that have no distinct, merit that appeals tq_ the general public That ie the reason" that St. Bernards, mastiffs, Newfoundlands, Great Danes, show collies, and several other classes of dogs have been for the present placed in the background. The tendency of 'these strenuous times is for utility, and, in consequence, the dog of the day must have something more than size or good looks to recommend itself to people who are in search of a dog. Amongst the more useful dogs there is no doubt hutthat the workings sheep dog holds, and very properly holds, a high place. Their work is beyond 'the useful; it is invaluable. Neither man, horse, no? any other creature can do the work of the working sheep dog. It stands alone where sheep have to be moved, whether such be in pons, fields, or scattered half wild among the ranges. There is no apparent limit to a sheep clog's capacity where sheep are concerned. Although very useful, I would hardly put sporting dogs next in importance to tho sheep dog. They are, however, invaluable where field sport is the object. I would rather place such dogs as terriers, and house dogs generally, on a higher useful plane than field dogs. These smaller d,ogs are at one's daily beck and call. They arc- always at hand, and never in the way, and, although some may be built on fanciful and somewhat delicate lines, they, one and all, are useful as house-protectors. The dog is 'the sneak-thief's inveterate "enemy, and the ynp-yap of the house dog in the dead of the night will blast the burglar's best-laid scheme." The behaviour of the individual at the Auckland show recalls an incident that occurred at a Sydney show some little time ago, an incident which Norman Lindsay, the well-known black-and-white artist, made a subject for one of his drawings. The disappointed one had taken his dog—a long-backed, short-legged, nondescript terrier—off the bench, buttonholed the judge as he was passing by. and. pointing to the animal with infinite pride, tinctured with some indignation, demanded: "'Ere! 'ow is- it my dawg didn't get a prize?" The judge proceeded to explain: " Well, for one thing his legs are too short and " " Too short!" exclaimed the dis'appointed one; "ain't they touching 'the riiddv ground? 'Ow much longer d'ye want them?"

Another failure on tho part of the bloodhound to track a missing girl is reported, and wore it not that the reputation of* the breed is seriously tarnished by publication of the details of the absurd tasks which are set the hounds, one would bo inclined to laugh at tho paragraphs aDpearing in tho daily newspapers recently. How very ridiculous it is to those who know something about bloodhounds and the uses'to which they are put to read that they were laid on the trail of a girl who had been missing for nine days! One wonders what tho owner of the hounds was thinking about to allow so hopeless a task to bo undertaken. A lino 24 hours old requires some hunting ; as a fact, we know of no bloodhounds which could be backed fo pick lip such a trail, for kennels to which one might have gone in tho old days with a fair chance of finding sound mantrackers have been broken up. Already it is being proved how very easily the work of many years can be ruined beyond recovery, for strains of working' dogs are being Tost for tho simple reason that" there is now no encouragement to breed. It cannot bo wondered at that there is very great dissatisfaction among owners regarding the restrictions of the Kennel Club, find wo <iro constantly hearing: complaints that apparently quite reasonable suggestions as to tho perpetuation of strains

which havo proved valuable arc being turned down by the committee charged with tho duty of deciding whether or not the progeny of certain matings shall bo eligible for registration. The situation ifl serious, and even peoplo who are trying to hoip tho Government seem to havo lost sight of tho fact that there is a danger of breeds being killed. To keep up a pure breed one must have more than one dog, and if suggestions lately made to the authorities are accented, it is certain as it is possible to be that valuable strains will be lost forever. That bloodhounds have been of very great value to the police as well as to tHe preservers of game is a bald statement which cannot bo contradicted; wo have seen hounds come successfully froni the severe tests in both private and publio, and consider the dispersal of powerful working kennels a serious matter. Men are now busy shooting, and there is a demand for broken dogs; what will happen when guns are laid aside for the season and breeders find their applications to mate certain dogs and bitches refused can only bo guessed. Nine men out of 10 will give up all idea of continuing strains which have proved to be so valuable; tho outlook is not encouraging.— The Field.