FANCIERS’ COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3542, 31 January 1922, Page 20

FANCIERS’ COLUMN.

The Otago Witness has been appointed the official organ for the publication of announcements of the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club.

THE KENNEL.

By

TERROR

Fanciers and breeders of dogs are cordiallv incited 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 lie must have the co-operation of his readers, hence lie trusts this invitation will be cheerfully responded to. J I have had a visit from Mr C. Barlow, erf Clinton, who informs me that he has a Very fine black Cocker Spaniel by Mr C.

Brice’s (Christchurch) well-known winner, Melrose Bruce. -—Mr F. R. Robertson (Clinton) also has a nice team of cockers by the same sire. These fanciers will, I understand, have a team of about' a dozen for the Dunedin Show. The Otago Kennel Club have this year decided to hold a one-day show on the 18th of February, the Saturday after Carnival Week. 5 Particulars will be forthcoming after a further meeting of the club. Mr E. O’Connor has a very promising Irish-terrier bitch by Silent O’Moyle ex Riot Act. I hear that two new fanciers in Dunedin are importing a pair of highlybred smooth Fox-terriers from Australia. The General Committee of the Kennel Olub (England) has to consider a motion by Colonel Eomillv to increase the registration fees of-dogs with no pedigree, or only part of their pedigree, to double the ordinary fee when only one parent is known, and treble when neither is given. Another motion by the same gentleman was: —That the General Committee be empowered to amend the wording of Rule 7, so as to eliminate all implication of a challenge certificate being a “competitive prize.” Four voted for the motion and six were against it so, as “Our Dogs” says: It was very properly defeated. Disinfection at Dog Shows. —A correspondent of “Our Dogs” says that he has been a constant exhibitor for over 20 years and had his share of distemper; and can safely say that out of every hundred he had caught this at dog shows. Whenever he has left off showing for a few months *he has been free of distemper in liis kennels. He considers it is quite useless exhibitors taking precautions liefore and after a show’ if their dogs are benched on benches that have not been properly disinfected since the previous show'. While a man named Bock was chopping wood near the Waterfall Sanatorium in NewSouth Wales ,the axe slipped and broke his leg. Bock, who is 53 years of age began to crawl to a camp some distance away. He covered a mile in six hours, when he collapsed and fainted. His dog then left him, and returned shortly afterwards through the bush with assistance. Bock was then put on a train and conveyed to Sydney Hospital. Rahies is still to be found in England. The Minister of Agriculture stated in the House of Commons on July 27 last that he could not hold out any hopes of the restriction being raised in the south of England owing to the proved cases having been brought up to 300 during the month. The Government has now- four separate Pasteur institutions distributed in the various parts of England. —Mr Chas. Shuttleworth, manager for America’s premier all-round kennel, the famous Anoakia Kennels, owned by Mrs Anita M. Baldwin, has taken from England some of the cream of England’s canine products. The Airedale terrier Ch. Warland Ditto, one of the last that was purchased from Mr J. P. Hall for £750. Other dogs purchased by Mr Shuttleworth were two other Airedales, a brace of Old English sheep dogs, and a w-ire-haired for terrier, all. described as classic dogs. Canine devotion. No doubt many instances of the devotion of dogs to then masters and to the members of- the families they belong to could be recorded here m New- Zealand if those immediately interested were thoughtful enough to report them. In England the Dog-owners’ Defence Association (Ltd.) frequently hear ol such cases, and frequently make it its business to present a beautifully illuminated diploma of merit, and register the presentation of a “roll of fame,” which is carefully preserved in the archives of the association. A recent case of canine devotion re ported by Our Dogs is of a dog belonging to the late Mr Wm. Hall, of Melsorby (England). This dog accompanied the cortege to the church, sat in the family pew with the other mourning relatives, and later followed them to the cemetery, and remained at the graveside where its master was buried long after the other mourners had left. I remember some years back recording a case in which a dog persisted in remaining on the grave, and eventually died there.

SHEEP DOG NOTES. The M’Kenzie Collie Dog Club runs its thirty-second annual contests on March 29 and 30 on their usual grounds, Burke's Pass. The club has in press a most inviting schedule, covering its usual three events. A large number of prizes and specials have been donated by the club’s usual w-ide circle of patrons. Mr John Anderson, from Kurow, will occupy (he judge’s chair. This club has certainly been singularly successful in securing good judges. A draft of sheep has been booked from the same pastures as last trials, and it is an excellent lot, SHEEP DOG TRIALS. Moss burn, March 23 and 24. M’Kenzie, March 29 and 30. Geraldine, April 6 to 7.