FANCIERS' COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3413, 13 August 1919, Page 45

FANCIERS' COLUMN.

THE KENNEL.

The Otago Witness has been appointed the official organ for the publication ol announcement* ol the Dunedin Fanciers' Olub.

By Terror: Fanciers and breeders ot dogs are cordially invited to contribute to this column. "Terror" will endeavour to make this department as interesting ttnd up-to-date as possible, but in order to do this 6e must have the co-operation oi his renders, faenoo he trusts this invitation will be cheerfully responded tot The Kennel Club's report and balance sheet, respecting which mention "vvas made last week, contains an item which shows the serious extent to which the fancy has suffered on account of the war. We all knew, of course, that the kennel world of Now Zealand had provided its quota of men for the front, but how the result- of their goinjr would affeot the maintenance and strength of good pedigree strains wo are Only now abio to gauge. By the club's report we learn that whilst registrations in 1013 numbered 1528, only 440 dogs were {ogistored throughout the Dominion in 910. '—Biddy, Mr Warren's (Gaversham) black

cooker bitch, Kae been a fitiid visit to Mr Gibson's Maismore Prince Dunedin kennel men will regret to learn that Mr Ben Ellis, so well known and respeoted as a fox terrier sport; is at present undergoing X-ray-treatment on the leg which has troubled him so long. I understand that it was this that caused his absence from the recent show. Although there are some authorities (says "Vindex") who believe that the Irish terrior is a Comparatively modern dog, others are Just as emphatio that this now popular and game dog was the common terrier of Ireland over a hundred years ago, and that he was a distinot breed indigenous to the Emerald Isle. Old drawings of the dog, nowever, go to prove that there _ is little resemblance between the Irish terrier of half a century ago and the terrier of to-day. But then the Irish terrier of the past was not bred for beauty. "Herbeit Uoinpton," one of the best authorities on this terrier, once wrote: "Ireland has ever been famous for its women, its horses, and its dogs, and the terrier was essentially the dog of the people. But the peasantry gave little heed to appearance, only to courage and that is why the dare-devil has retained and accentuated that characteristic, while type has been more a matter of local luck operated, on by subsequent selection. When the Irishman was first put on the show benoh it was rarely he could be provided with a pedigree. But you may say the same for the pillars of the fox terrier breed. Until 1838 it was the practice to crop his ears, but in that year the Irish Terrier Club condemned it, and, so far as this breed was concerned, were instrumental in getting the Kennel Olub to abolish the system." Another authority states: "The Irishman is an excellent companion, vastly intelligent, and such a good worker on vermin. 'He is ,good-tempered, can be taught to do anything; Irish in character; can gallop very fast for their size; but they get very excited, and are too fond of a shindy. Such game dogs, and I have used them for waterside hunting. Some of them will point game like a pointer or setter, and will retrieve either fur or feather, though rather hard in the mouth. I believe there is no breed of dogs possessing- more affection for his master. The following- are the point values: —Head, cars, and expression, 20; legs and feet, 15; neck, 5; shoulders and chest, 10; back and loin, 5; hindquarters and stern, 10; coat, 15; colour, 10; size and symmetry, 10; total. 100. A deputation from the Alsatian Wolf gog Club, consisting of Colonel Moorerabazon, M. 0., M.P., and Major" D. Y. Baldwin, D. 5.0., waited upon the committee of the Kennel, Club (England), asking the club to extract what was formerly the- "Deutsche Sohaferhund" (German sheepdog) from the club's". Foreign Sheepdog" category, and give it a separate nomenclature, which had been decided upon, after much discussion, by the Alsatian Wolf Dog Olub. From his remarks, Dr Sidney Turner, the chairman, who is no doubt well yersedi in foreign dog- lore, saw, as we see, that both "Alsatian and "Wolf" are, to some extent, misnomers in describing exactly this particular type of dog. ._ In the first place, it is not now really indigenous to Alsace, although the breed may have originated in,that new French province, but obtains/ throughout Germany and France, and even in Holland and Belgium, and the English smooth : haired sheepdog is not very far (removed from it; whilst Dog" directly infers that it is, as Dr Turner pointed out, a hybrid between a wolf and a dog. This it may have been orginally, but so may have been any other breeds of dogs, and why single this breed out as the only one to which this appellation is applicable? The answer will probably be, because this dog, as at present evolved, resembles the wolf more than any Other. So it does, and that is why it. will be sure to be regarded by the general publio as a hybrid— a cross between a dog and a wolf, and not a purebred dog. "Sheepdog" is objected to, we believe, because, although originally used for the purpose of gathering and driving sheep, it is now used for many other pumoses, and will be used by members of this club rarely, if ever, for work among sheep. There are, as Dr Turner states, at least two varieties of the breed in Germany (rough haired and smooth), where it is largely bred and is most popular, as well as in many other pnrts of the Continent. The question was left, in abeyance for the present. In our opinion it would bo much better to thrash out the question of name now, rather than go on for n, time with Alsatian wplf dog, and, when it has got going as such, change the name to something else. As a rule it is not a very difficult matter to administer medicine to the dog. Small animals may be taken on the lap. whilst those of moderate size can he made to stand on their hind legs, whilst the legs of the operator serve as a sort of vyce for gripping the dog around the ribs. Large dogs usually require to he so placed that their hindquarters rest against the corner of a wall, and then, striding across the animal, the operator can administer the medicine as follows :■ —If it is a liauid that has to be given, then the best appliance (according to Mr Frank T. Barlon, M.R.C.V.S.) to use is a common glass bottle, capable of holding three or four tablespoonfuls. A phial with a long body and short neck is preferable. It has been argued that a glass bottle is liable to be broken through the animal breaking it. Perhaps so, if the same is thrust between the teeth or a ginger-beer bottle is used. Experience proves that an ordinary 2oz medine bottle" is unsurpassed for administering liquids out of. All other fancy appliances are more or less useless. In all laxge canine practices this is the method adopted, and it is the only one of any practical utility. The left hand should steady the animal's head, while the right one closes around the bpdv of the bottle and inserts the slightly : projecting neck of it into a funnel-shaped pouch formed out of the cheek by drawing the latter outwards and upwards by manipulation between the thumb and bottle-neck, the mouth of the bottle resting .on the lower side of the molar teeth. By gently tilting the hand, the contents of the bottle will flow slowly down the throat. The most refractory dogs can be made to take medicine in this way, and without spilling even a droplet. When giving a pill or bolus, open the jaws by placing the palm of the left hand over the muzzle and pressing the cheeks tightly between the molar teeth, so compelling the animal to open its mouth. With the tips of the two first fingers of the right hand insert the pill well on to the back of the tongue,

Immediately closing the mouth. Pills can be disguised by placing them in a bit of meat. Electuaries may be smeared on the inside of the mouth. When a few drops of medicine (e.g., Fowler's solution of arsenic or tincture of nux vomica) have to be given, this Is conveniently done by adding such to a little broth, milk, etc. TAIERI COLLIE CLUB. From the outbreak of war, the Taieri Colli© Club abandoned its annual social, but on the declaration of peace it was decided to re-instate this popular function. Last week, the largest attendance recorded aija dance for the season assembled in the Coronation Hall, Mosgiel. The musio was supplied by Rankin's orchestra. The bulk of the members of the committee —some 25 strong—vied with each other to make the social a success, and their efforts were fully rewarded. Mr Turnbull attended to the catering, and a of those present contributed Bongs n< l recitations between the dances. For those who did not danco the committee had prepared card tables, and her© an enjoyable time was spent. Dancing was continued until well past midnight, a most enjoyable time being spent by all present. The club's operations for the year closed with this social, and a very successful year is anticipated next season. Already two very handsome donations have been received, one from Mr Hugh Boyd of £lO, and one of from Mr L. Hazlett. A number of Dunedin gentlemen have promised valuable cups, and this, with the support usually given the club by the general public, promises well for the next trials.

SHEEP DOG NOTES-

Our old friend "Black and White" writes me another of his long letters denouncing tho imported sheepdog and the "so-called" sheepdog trials. He says that his contentions are supported "by numerous communications from one end of New Zealand to another —in many cases from absolutely unknown or hitherto unheard of persons." It is, I regret to point out, characteristic of "Black and White" to imagine that people who are "absolutely unknown," etc.,'are entitled to more respect than are those who have won their way to the front in the eyes of all. As usual, I have done my best to make a long and terribly involved letter readable, and once more I suggest that if he would get someone else to write his letters tor him his long experience and evident knowledge might be rendered more serviceable to his readers. If his letter does not „ read exactly as. he wished it to, I beg him to realise that it is not the fault of "Terror." "Dear ' Terror,'—Just to keep your columns before the public in the matter of interest to sheepdog men, I post you a few notes touching on the subject I deem of great moment in its concern to all workers of sheepdogs. Now, Sir, to start with, at the off-set I'm aware of the danger of running riot with the goodwill of a few good doggie men and your good self, for in the past I've had to cross swords under much the same conditions with various correspondents, but the majority of those laboured under an apparent misconception. The opposition was but d, flea-bite compared with the knowledge of my subject, supported by numerous connections from one end of New Zealand to another, in many cases from absolutely unknown or hitherto unheard of persons. Consequently I beg no pardon for again drawing the publics attention to the apparent success of my often-repeated predictions, as illustrated most pronouncedly in both field and on trial grounds—viz., the decadence of our sheepdogs, most conspicuously so since the advent of 'the importeds,' whose very existence i» maintained only by continuous paper boostering and so-called sheepdog trials, whereas the class of work these dogs take part in yearly becomes more and more unsatisfactory—utter failures, frequently. Notwithstandhfg the increased amount of care bestowed on the preparations of courses, the removal of mere apologies for obstructions, etc., and then possibly not 5 per cent, of the dogs running'succeed in completing the task, or, if so, winning with a score in the neighbourhood of 75 per cent, of maximum points. Whereas, In the other events, especially the 'huntaway,' where brains are of the utmost importance, as these dogs have to run not merely along inherited inclination, but under trained intelligence. In support of these facts I content myself by referring your numerous readers to the records of past season's trial results, where the trend of results is just, what 1 have so often predicted and warned your readers of. For example—say 10 years back, —the plainer events were always given pride of place, being adjudged of most importance; just as a few years back the value of the allround worker wass totally ignored. But what is the position now. Nature will out, intelligence reaping its due recognition, the huntaway being placed on a par with the other branches of work—in fact, might fairly be claimed to be superceding the more entertaining (to uninitiated) 'yarding' or 'drawing,' while the standard of performances of the two classes of dogs is in the reverse ratio, the one soaring up into the neighbourhood of 95 to 100 per cent., the other receding steadily down in the vicinity often of 70 and 75 per cent, of possible. In conclusion, I'll instance another verification of my prediction —viz., Brandy's prominence as our leading huntaway-: though, of course, ago begins its inevitable toll. No doubt the admirers of Bock will feel inclined to again challenge, for Southland, the idea that The B-iver holds premiership in this class of dog, just as North Otago will consider they hold a certain certificate of proficiency in favour of Dick, and no doubt North Canterbury pins all favours on Clyde, while North Islanders might cry, 'Come one, come all, and beat our champion Bruce.' One thing is certain: a series of goen, wherein these splendid top-notchers .were engaged, would be a great draw for any meeting. Touching on huntaways, it is interesting to note the

strong representative merit at recent socalled championship—viz., Christchurch meeting held at the end of May, whereat the Wartakiites practically rwept the pool—viz., M'AughtVa Brandy i, R. Blackley> Turk 2, E, Russell's Roy Z, with several others highly mentioned. The third dog is a dog that ha* won very high encomiums, and is considered by many able judges to be capable of holding hia own against the best, given the same opportunity, and certainly a more reliable, brainy dog would be hard to find, as so would O'Connor's Dick- Another point—one I have touched on previously—is the marked- success of competitors who are able to work their dogs mainly, if not wholly, by whistle, illustrating the advantage oi attaining this acquirement not merely as aiding towards success in trial contests, but for general practical use.— Black and White."