THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 39

THE KENNEL.

By Terrob. Fanciers and breeders of dogs are cordially invited to contribute to this column. "Terror" will 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 his renders, hence he trusts this invitation will be cheerfully responded to.

The General Committee of the Kennel Club of England passed the following resolution on February 5 last in reference to what is known at Home as the "troublesome illegitimates question": "That for the purpose of preserving the continuity __of pedigrees, all dogs born between the 7th of September, 1917, and the 24th of January, 1918, shall be eligible for registration on the usual terms; but the question of whether they shall be eligible for entry at field trials or dog shows, for competition or not competition or not at all, shall be left for decision at the general meeting." It is said that this decision would be hailed throughout the length and breadth of British dogdom with the greatest satisfaction and delight. Scottish terriers are not plentiful here —indeed, it is some considerable time since I last saw one; nevertheless, the following paragraph by a contributor to Our Dogs is well worth reading by fanciers of any breed of dog, and I think it would be well to especially note the reference made to "balance." I like that word "balance" in this connection. Whatever the characteristics of breed "balance" should be insisted by judges, for by doing so they disfavour, rather than encourage, abnormalities, and thus preserve the breed and its utility. Dogs characterised by a wide front may be hred too wide; characterised by a long head, there is such a thing as too long; short-legged specimens may he too short, etc., etc. This is all a matter of "balance," and it is an unfortunate fact that judges—even the best of them —appear to be "unbalanced" in judgment when they _ meet with an unbalanced dog. The writer I have referred to says:—"The great aim of the 'Scottish terrier fancier of the present day seems to be the breeding of Scotties with heads .of enormous length and fineness, but this makes us pause and think: Are we on the right track in devoting the sole energies in this one direction? Are breeders not at times liable to sacrifice or lose other great essentials for this object? I admit it- is a valuable asset for an exhibitor to march into the ring with Scottie owning a great balanced head of length, because a headpiece generally, as a rule, gives the judge his initial impression. But m getting this brilliant, long, clean head, are we not at times inclined to get a body that a Dachshund would be proud of, with a caudle appendage in proportion? You will note that in writing I mention a 'balanced' head of length. We have seen dogs that to the eye possessed a long head, but, when the hand was stretched along, it proved not a balancod head. A brindle colour is, in my opinion, a good hardy annual for a coat. I wonder if it has been the experience of breeders —some admit so —that in the run after this block colour we are apt to get a soft coat, and not the same dense undercoat. I have handled pure black coats with the texture of wool. Now, it is an essential point of the dog that_ the coat must be crisp and wiry. Again, we must not sacrifice this great necessity for the colour craze. Another point is the round eye—prominent, and not of the colour we want. We want the black, little piercing eye. which gives the breed the desired varminty look. The round, bulging eye takes away from the dog's face expression, and we find many with opt.'ics of this description.

Members of the kennel fancy in England are particularly unfortunate in respect to their dags. Just as the bar to holding open shows was removed, and the registration of litters allowed, the appearance of rabies in portion of England has caused a great set-back to dog-breeding. The outbreak was so 6erious that at one time it was proposed to destroy all the dogs in infected districts. But although this has been modified to a great extent, strict quarantine regulations have been enforced, and no dogs are allowed to be moved from infected districts. The exportation of dogs has also been prohibited. As a large number of dogs are reirularly gold to American breeders and exhibitors, besides others that are purchased by fanciers in Australia and New Zealand, the cessation of this trade must also have a serious effect on the British kennel fancy generally.

Owing to the introduction of rabies into England, caused by returning soldiers wishing to retain in peace the friends made in war, during their stay in France and elsewhere, the authorities have decided that all dogs_ entering England must snend six months m quarantine; and as the expenses of quarantine are considered too heavy for soldiers to bear, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has generously undertaken, with the approval of the Army Council and the Board of Agriculture, to be responsible for the expense of quarantining soldiers' and sailors' dogs. —Some weeks back the local fanciers' club invited some "old-time" members to attend a meeting, and to advise on methods of making shows more attractive. One old member suggested reverting to the practice of holding a social in connection with the show, and recalled the fact that in years gone by such functions had been much appreciated, as they afforded an opportunity, _ particularly to country, visitors, of meeting one another under conditions suitable to draw out reminiscences of former contests, _ and encouraged discussions on matters in which they were mutually interested. Our Dogs, referring to the~ fact that a new club has been formed in Canada, ■ called the "Collie Social Club." for the purpose of bringing: collie fanciers together serially, says: "Games are indulged in in great variety, and much enjoyed, and are said to be more profitable than pulling each, other's dogs to pieces. This is a movement worthy of emulation." If the Dunedin Fanciers' Club cannot see its way to arrange for a social meeting of exhibitors and visitors to the show, perhaps it may see its way to try whether the formation of a fanciers' social club would not tend to _ retain and even to attract more general interest in the fancy.