THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3419, 26 September 1919, Page 51

THE KENNEL.

By Terror.

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 aa possible, but in order to do this he must have the co-operation of his readers, hence he trust 3 this invitation vail be cheerfully responded to.

—"Terrier." —lt is, I think, a case of worms. You can treat with arica nut or some other vermifuge such as your chemist may advise; giving it to the clog in the morning before it is fed. Mr Conn, chemist, High street, who advertises above this column, has had great success with remedies which he supplies. —"Old Hand" writes to say that ho understands that one cf the chief reasons why the doggie men wish to separate from the "feathers" is because they think a dog show would be better held in the summer than in the winter. He says he objects to this argument, inasmuch as tne best bitches would be unable to be exhibited, being engos&a wun puppies. —-Uoing from homo for news, 1 learn from an Australian paper that the Pomeranian fancy is likely "to be strengthened in Victoria by the addition of a well-known New Zealand breeder who purposes bringing over a strong team oi overweights and miniatures. It will include winners in best New Zealand shows. I understand that the breeder will settle in Victoria, and his topnotch kennel cf Poms should _ help greatly towards improving the breed in our State. —if correspondent is anxious to obtain as a pet a fairly well-bred black-and-tan terrier dog pup, and is willing' to pay a reasonable figure. I suggest that an advertisement might lead to business. I learn that Mrs A. Mitchell, of Wellington, well known as a Pomeranian fancier and winner, has fallen a victim to the fascination of the Pekingese. This lady has bought Mrs C. Neale's Yangztse KouKou, and expresses hersaif very pleased with her rurchase and for Kou-Kou's great charm.

Airs Nca'.e has replaced Kou-Kou with a little female from which Mrs J. J. Addison, of Christchurch, bred from her latest imported stock, which is, as the. Yanks say, "the goods." This little lady, to use the Pekingese style of definition, is aged 13 months and weighs only 71b. She has a short back (a great point of beauty in Pekingese), flat face, huge lustrous eyes, and, in fact, has quality stamped all over her. Her sire is a Toto of Noke dog, and her dam is a daughter of the great English champion Lyncroft Chops. The names I have used are, I am informed, names to conjure with in the Pekingese world. Mrs Neale's Sue Keo has been on a stud visit to Lady Johnston's Teen Ti, by Corrymeela Ohu Ty, a son of ch. Chw-erh of Alderbourne ex Ta Ming, who was imported by Lady Islington, both aristocratic Pekingese. Soma "of the terrier men (says a contemporary) do net believe in giving water to pupmes until after three months old. If they" do supply it the water is taken away after the pun has had a drink; they don't lea\e it there for the pup to lap at will. The idea is that puppies are apt to drink too much; keep on lapping to find the "body" in the water, in fact, and become pot-pellied in consequence. Distension of the stomach sometimes leads to permanent slackness, which is anathema to the terrier man. Much is being done in England to impress working quality . in those breeds of dogs whose avocations, under ordinary circumstances, would be the field, instead of the show-bench. These are the retriever, setter, pointer, anel spanial trials for gun dogs, working tests tor terriers or sorts, bloodhound trials, with a cold scent and clean boot for bloodhounds, besides sheep dog trials. Here, except in the latter, we have no tests for our working breeds, and not even a rat pit, ls T o wonder so many people look askance at the show dog. vantage so long as constitution is maintained, and to ensure this for any length of time both dog and bitch must be selected for absolute soundness of constitution and perfect health. Both dogs must also share the valued characters sought for in common, and must be free from objectionable qualities and tendencies. Only when the parents are thus chosen are their valued points intensified by consanguineous, mating, and so stamped upon their offspring as to be rendered practically- speaking, permanent in the family founded by their union. Great care should be taken in the feed. ing of dogs, more so in the summer than in winter, as the hot weather turns the foods —made foods —sour. When this happens (says a writer in an exchange) it is cheaper "to throw the sour food away than to give it to the dogs. The hand-to-mouth system of preparing soft food for dogs in the summer is best, and the soft meal should be made and given at night when the, atmosphere is cooler and the dog's appetite sharper. Moreover, night is at all times the best time at which to give a dog a heavy meal, because ho rests better; it makes him contented, and therefore does him most good. A dry dog biscuit in the morning and a heavy newly-made rpeal at night is quite sufficient for dogs kept in kennels. The meal may be made of good hound meal scalded, either with water or with broth made from sheep's heads or butcher's scraps. Care should be taken that all the butcher's meat is quite" sound. A change everv few days may be made bv the substitution of a whole meal, of sound, fresh-killed butcher's offal, which is better given raw and unc'.eaned. A "bad doer," however, may now and then bo feel upon sheep's entrails, well washed and boiled. All dogs reexuire bones ocasionally, and especially puppies during teething operation. Young puppies from throe months tip should be given every few days a big shank bone with pieces of moat on to gnaw and pull at; it is a fine- thing for their teeth and stomach both, and finds them capital

exercise for their muscles, aiding development all round. Such puppies should bo fed at least three times a day upon farinaceous foods mostly and fresh milk. When six months old they should bo put upon the diet prescribed for adult dogs. There are a preat variety of remedies that may be used to rid a dog of fleas, but owing to the susceptible nature of the dog's skin to irritating agents, care .must .be exercised in the selection of a non-irritating remedy. It is also just as essential to treat the kennel or neat where tho dog- sleeps as to treat the dog. Fresh Persian insect powder is an effective, safo remedy. It should be thoroughly dusted into the hair every two or three days, until the pests have disappeared. If the dog sleeps on a carpet or rug it should be frequently washed with boiling water, and then freely dusted with the powder. Cleanliness is very essential to success. If possible, the sleeping quarters should be frequently washed with boiling water, to .which has been added a little oil of turpentine. Ii tho dog sleeps in a kennel or barn, use fresh pine shavings for his bed, and sprinkle it with a little oil of turpentine. In the case of a house dog, where it would be undesirable to use the powder, either_ of the following remedies will prove effective and safe:-—Oil of aniseed, loz; sweet or olive oil,. lOoz; mix. Rub well into the skin, and wash off with Castille soap suds after six hours; or spirits of camphor, 6dr; oil of turpentine, 3dr; carbolic, Idr; mix. _ Dissolve one tablespoonful in a half-pint of v.-arm, soft water, and bathe the dog so as to wet tho skin all over. Wash off after 12 hours.

In Newfoundland dogs are trained to catch fish. In many of the boats that to out after cod the fisherman take.> with him one of the flat-coated retrievers, known as Labrador retrievers. If a hi;? cod is /hooked, and is troublesome to land, the dog jumps into the water, catches the struggling captive, and brings it in.