THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 45

THE KENNEL.

By Terror. Fanciers and breeders ol dogs are cordially Inrlted to contribute to this oolumn. "terror" will endeaToar to make this department as interesting and up-to-date as possible, but in order'to do this he must have the 00-operation of his readers, henoe he trusts this invitation will be cheerfully responded to.

"Trimming."—There has been a good de<d of discussion in past years, and, no doubt, thoro will continue to be as long as there are dog shows. There is a way of trimming for the show bench which is dishonest, and there is a way which is honest. That is to say, it is honest if it i» fair to the dog, fair to. the judge, and shows respect to the visitors. < An American writer, discussing the questions, says: "Exhibitors may be grouped as follows:—(1) The cheat, (2) the scrupulously oapable, (3) the incapable. Their method may be divided—(l) faking, (2) fitting, (3)

negligenoe. The results may be classified:— (1) Showing a dog to appear better than he really is; (2) showing a dog to appear as good as he really js; (3) showing a dog to appear worse than he really is. The means by whloh these results are obtained may be briefly defined as:—(1) Mutilation, dyeing, applying any substance, calculated to improve the texture or lie of coat, application of drugs—such as drops to distend or contract the eye; (2) plucking, singeing, clipping, as well as simpler methods, such as grooming, etc.; (3) incompetence or neglect." ' , I ("Terror") like the foregoing definition of faking by an American writer, but I fear it is difficult to draw the line between legitimate grooming and illegitimate. For instance, in showing a collie with a white collar, breast and feet a little magnesia dusted into the white and subsequently brushed out again, makes the white look whiter; and a little blue added to the water In which white dogs or white birds are washed (washing is legitimate) has a similar effect. Does such procedure make the exhibit look better than it really is? Or does it merely accentuate good points? The white in a domesticated animal or bird is nothing to be compared with the brilliant whiteness of an animal or bird in a wild state, and I, fo r consider it legitimate to present an «mtot as nearly like it would be if not handicapped by lack of freedom. The writer I have quoted continues his remarks as follows:—"No general regulations can be, justly applied to embrace all breeds. The simple preparation which enables an owner to show short-coated breeds—such as mastiffs, great Danes, bulldogs, or pugs—all the year round would, if strictly enforced, compel an owner of collies, sheep dogs, wire-coated terriers, or Pomeranians to either keep his dogs at home six months in the year or show them to appear worse than they really are. Each division of the rough-coated varieties,' requires a special preparation and a special study, 60 that each may be shown to appear as good as it really is. Plucking, singeing, or clipping cannot make a terrier appear better than he really is. Neither can It improve the texture of coat. Specimens with 'Dundreary' whiskers and body coats like shorn lambs have crep into the ranks of champions, but their prominence cannot be laid at the door of plucking, singeing, or clipping. Their position is due solely to incompetent and weak-kneed judges. No wire-coated terrier shown short of coat fulfils the requirements of the standard; and no specimen with a sort, spongy coat could be otherwise—no matter how short the latter had been shorn. I think any authority would maintain that regulations which compel an owner to show a dog so that he appears worse than he really is are untenable. He would also maintain that any means which enabled an owner to show a dog so that he appears to be as good as he really is are justifiable. It has always astounded me that the Kennel Club, by its inactivity, has complacently tolerated the inhuman and revolting practice of clipping terriers' hails beyond the quick, and in many cases to the flesh. This has been in vogue for at least, 20 years. Furthermore, in its agitation' against the trimming of. Pomeranians' ears and feet, it has taken no steps against tfto open and flagrant practice of applying lotions to the coats of flat-coated Pomeranians, so that the coat may be given a 'stand-off appearance."