FANCIERS' COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 45

FANCIERS' COLUMN.

The Otago Witness has been appointed the official organ for the publication oi announcement** of the Dnnedin Panders' Olab.

THE KENNEL.

By Terbob. Fanota - and breeders of dogs are cordially toTited to contribute to this column. "Terror*' win endeavour to make this department as interesting and up-to-date as possible, but in order to do this be mußt have the co-operation of his readers, hence he trusts this invitation will be cheerfully responded to. The "Waihemo Sheep Dog Trials are to be held this year on April 7 and 9. The schedule to hand shows that the events to be competed for are as usual and that the Special Prize is liberal. Mr A. Murray, Dunback, is secretary. Final date for entry is not stated, but in "Rules and Regulations" it is explained that all entry money must be paid before a dog is allowed to compete.

Mrs N. Mitchell, of Victoria Kennels, Lyall Bay, has, I am informed by an English fancier who has seen them, some very fine imported Pomeranians and Pekingese of so-termed challenge stock. She has a litter of Pekingese puppies from one of her imported bitches by Leen Li (Lady Johnston's), and they are the only pups by that _ sire in New Zealand. My informant considers that they have absolutely the flattest faces conceivable, and he predicts •& great future for them..

The Dipton Dog Trials' Club will hold the Trials in Mr John Craig's paddook, Dipton, on the 22nd and 23rd inst. The prize money has been increased, and everything points to a successful gathering. —Tn the --Christmas number of "Our Dogs," referred to a few weeks back in these columns, there is an interesting account with illustrations of the kennel of Mr A. L. -Henry's (Leeds) "Dare Devils," and amongst, other matter I noticed the following description of what an Irish terrier should be—i.e., "Deep in brisket, deep loin, thick through, big hindquarters, clean, narrow chest, long neck, a well-balanced head, and little, dark, . hazel eyes, and straight forelegs, and coat of pinwire texture." Further on the owner is made' to say, "Not a. doubt of it, Paddy—Dare Devils can't be sized by a pair of scales." The St. Bernard fancy is evidently not quite' dead in the Old Country, but I doubt whether there are many now fancying the breed. - "Our Dogs" gives an interesting account of the St. Bernard kennels kept by Mrs E. Graham-Thompson, of Stocksfield-on Tyne, and describes them as probably the strongest kennels of St. Bernards in the world. Amongst the dogs described are the great King of Northumbria. This doa has already been awarded several firsts and specials, and is considered to be a champion in embroy by well-known judges. Pride of Tyneside,. a beautiful rough bitch of magnificent type has also proved a winner and has given birth to some good puppies, one of which is expected to prove to be even better dog than his sire the Kinsr of Northumbria.

Mr Will Hally, in an article on Puppt Production, says, among other things, "That the old idea, and a still prevalent one,, was to underfeed pregnant animals, but from' a long and wide experience of live stock breeding of many kinds, I have nothing but vehement condemnation for that misleading How can a bitch, for example, maintain her own strength and nourish her expected family at the same time on less food than if she had only herself to coneider? It can't be done, and it has never been done, except in those rare exceptions which are only sufficiently numerous to prove the rule. There is no secret in bigboned, well-built puppies, other than common-sense supplies. To begin with, the breeding animals in a stud should invariably be fit before they are mated. Not fat, and not necessarily in good coat, but certainly in good health and in firm condition. Then immediately the' I bitch is mated, she should be well fed on' bone and body building foods, and even 'though under normal conditions she has been in the habit of getting only one meal a day, the expectant mother bhould always have two meals. A big!feed and a coming family are a combined load which no bitch' should be asked to.carry. A meal sufficient'- for the 24 hours, too,' is very apt to lead to digestive upsets, and many tragedies Have followed those dislocations, which, under differtnt conditions, would be very trifiTng. Retriever trials are again, so it is reported, coming into their own in England, and very appropriately a Mr Stewart provides the following description of, "form." He says: —"The 'form' displayed by the winners at the various trial meetings held in the past is worthy of our close .attention in arriving at anything like a satisfactory conclusion. All sorts and condition? of dogs, big and little, i-ough and smooth, pure and halfbred, have won leading honours at different times; also dogs with extraordinary pace, and dogs that were only moderate as regards speed, but which have had good luck, and so managed to score over their better but more unfortunate rivals. ''Form' at retriever trials has, speaking generally, nothing what: ever to do with looks, excepting that a dog' must both took and be in perfect health, and built on lines that will allow him to do his work at a fast pace and >utlast the longest day. The chief points to look for in a real good working retriever are steadiness, sagacity, nose, mouth, dash, style, and pace. So, when we are looking for the 'form' in a dog we see at work, we have to make up our minds how many of the foregoing qualifications we can credit him with. We will now try to analyse the above good qualities, and see what they consist of:—Steadiness: That means the dog must be under complete control, sit quite still when and where he is told, and answer every word and sign frojn his handler. He must also be quite free from the desire to chase. Sagacity consists in a dog making the most of his opportunities, getting the wind on his own as quick as possible. When at fault on a line casting himself quickly and successfully/ Also the ability to find game his handler may never have seen. Nose is so closely coupled with sagacity that a dog with a poor nose can never really be a clever game finder. A really good nosed dog, when he combines all the other good qualities, is a treasure beyond price. What is meant by mouth in a retriever is the ability of the animal to lift any kind of game quickly and cleanly;_ never on any account must he change his hoM or drop his game until he delivers it to his master, and this without the slightest injury. When

a good dog- has retrived a bird, either dead or alive (except from water), it should be quite dry, and the feathers smooth and clean as nature made them unless the ground and weather are wet." The 11th annual meeting of the Taieri Collie Club was held on Saturday, -28th, at Mosgiel, Mr L. M'Lean presiding. The annual report and balance sheet were read and adopted, the latter the club's funds to be in a satisfactory state. The office-bearers were re-elected with one or two additions. The names of Messrs J. (Sow, D. Leishman, and F. Burnett were added to the vice-presidents and Messrs O. Findlay, T. Gourley, Peter Stevens, and J. H. Crutchley to the General Co'mmittee. The date of next trials was mentioned, and it was agreed that it would be wise to follow the Strath-Taieri meeting, and that a meeting be held at an early date to arrange the programme. The annual ball was mentioned, and it was considered advisable to hold this on the first night of the trials.

"Writing about mastiffs of former days and remarking that in recent times they do no run to the size they formerly did, "•Constable" gives the following heights and weights of mastiffs of the past:

and he says: "We have noticed that puppies of abnormal weight at from nine to twelve months very frequently do not increase much in size or weight afterwards. A puppy which is made up at that age does not, as a rule, grow into a large dog. We hold the opinion that the rage there was some years ago for short-faced mastiffs had a deleterious effect on the size of mastiffs from which they have not yet recovered. If short-headed dogs must be had, we must expect to find short bodies and legs. Rearing puppies at the present time is expensive. As to milk, if goat's ro'lk is to be had it is preferable to cow's. Some breeders keep a goat or two for no other purpose than to provide milk for use in their kennel. We have heard it stated that the use of this milk will prevent puppies from suffering from worms, but we are not able to endorse this from our own experience, althought the advantage gained by its use is, in our opinion, not to be questioned."

Height. "Weight 1301b Adam .. 80in Lion ' .. 31£in 1601b Harold .. 32£in 1751b G-ov-emor .. .. S2£in 1751b Scawfell — 2061b Admiral .. .. . — 1391b* Orlando ,, — 136lbt Countess .. 31 Jin — The Shaw .. 32:n 1801b *' At 9 months. + At 6 r nonths.