FANCIERS' COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3339, 13 March 1918, Page 45

FANCIERS' COLUMN.

The Otago Witness has been appointed the offl> Aal organ for the publication of announcements »f the Dnnedin Fanciers' Club. ■_

THE KENNEL. By Tbbbob. Parroierß and breeders of dogs axe cordially lit* fited to contribute to this column. "Terror" wfH endeavour to make this department as interesting and up-to-date as possible, but in order to do this he must have the co-operation of nJ« readers, hence he trusts this invitation will be oheerfuUy tespanded to. . *■ A well-known Australian coursing enthusiast, who has only recently returned from England, was presented with a valuable bitch by the English Waterloo Cup winner Heavy Weapon, but on applying for freight was told that ho had no hope, so that the bitch did not leave her kennel. This is only one of the evidences that dogs cannot nowadays be imported from England. It is understood that the shipping companies have approached the authorities at Home in the matter, setting out that, while shipping accommodation might be available, the great obstacle was in procuring the necessary supply of food. Food for dogs is understood in Britain to be food unfit for human consumption. The show season approaching, novices should note that " exercise," and plenty of it, is one of the first essentials for show dogs while the season lasts. While the show lasts dogs should be taken from the bench daily (several times if. possible), and the last thing at nights, for otherwise, were they cleanly in their habits, they must suffer intensely, and more than one -dog has reached home with severe inflammation of the bladder in consequence of being neglected in this respect. People who send dogs from a distance should arrange with some acquaintance in town to see that their dogs are attended to. Preparation for show involves being made accustomed to the chain, and encouraged to romp while under it, so that its association will be pleasant; and as soon as it is in the hands of its owner, or caretaker the dog will be full of excitement and delightful anticipation. If he is at the same tiihe taught to be still at command he is sure to be alert in the show ring, and stand before the judge with head up, eyes bright and shining with eagerness, tail properly carried, and feet and legs straight and well under him; in fact, he will appear with all his lines well drawn, and will be sure to win over his equal which shows up sulky, spiritless, and crouching.. —The question has often been raised at the ring side as to whether dog owners or exhibitors should be allowed to throw a ball, drop a handkerchief, or shake _or rattle anything in order to make the exhibit look alert. Some years back an Australian scribe dealt with the questions as follows: " The custom of attracting the attention of the dogs by means of various devices is common in the show rings -of England, America, and the Continent. The dog_ is there to show his best points, and anything that will bring this*, result about is allowable so long as the judge is not distracted or disturbed in his view of the dogs. Training is a big part of a dog's' success in the ring, and if the throwing of a ball, the shaking of a box of matches, the dropping of a fiandkerchief, or other means of bringing out the best points, are adopted, it is really a help to the judge, because ho has a better chance of discovering the points of the dogs with their aid.. As a rule, each exhibitor leads _ his. dog round the ring, which method is bound to give the best results, for the dog will usually exhibit his best gait for his master. If a. man may lead his dog, why may not ho throw a ball ? The fact that the dogs lead well with their owners gives the judge a better chance of viewing their points. The vital thing required is to induce the dog to display his best points, so that he may be judged on his merits, and, if the throwing of a ball brings about this result, it should be regarded as allowable, so long as the judge is not disturbed and the ring stewards are satisfied."

Requests are frequently made for . a cure for rickets in puppies, and a wellknown veterinary gives his opinion on the subject as follows,: —"In treating a puppy which has a tendency to rickets (or weakness of 'the legs) it is advisable to give lime in some form, the object being to provide for the solidification of the bone, which in a puppy, as in all animals at a tender age, is simply a piece of gristle, which hardens as the animal grows older. To provide this, lime water may be given—a tablespoonful daily for a medium-sized puppy; but personally I prefer 'the hypophosphite form of giving lime, such as is sold in the emulsified form, with cod liver oil combined. There is just this, to my mind, which is entirely in favour of the latter—that in that form it is more assimilable; in the emulsion we get phosphorus also, together with soda, besides the chlorides, bromides, and iodides which are to' be found in cod liver oil. The emulsion of cod liver oil with hypophosphites is now supplied in a concentrated form in gelatine capsules, which is a very clean, easy, and accurate method of administration." Salt water bathing is another good treatment for rickety puppies; and, indeed, for older dogs if 'troubled with rheumatism or stiffening of ■ the leg joints. But in both cases care must be taken that the_ animals are properly dried after the bathing, and not allowed to contract a ohill. Take an eggcupful of the " baysalt," obtainable from chemists, and add it to a gallon of water; stir a few times until dissolved, and use this as the bathing water. Another plan is to make a more concentrated solution of the salt, and apply it as_ a liniment; this is more often done in cases of rheumatism. When washing dogs, either for a, show or for the sake of sweetness and cleanliness, always dry them quickly and thoroughly before allowing them to go out of doors. Dog soap should be used as being beneficial to the skin, and some of which' eradicate vermin, giving also a lustre to the coat. It is advisable, too, to use a disinfectant, several capital preparations of which are in the market. A free use, of disinfectants should be made in cleansing out kennels, especially wood kennels, which harbour disease more than any other. Loose wood benches are better than fixed ones in kennels, as they can be removed and chanced. It is better to extra looso benches for this purpose. Unless the straw is changed frequently, dogs provided with wooden benches to lie upon are better without, and always where they possess the not infrequent habit of wetting their bed.