FANCIERS’ COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3655, 1 April 1924, Page 28

FANCIERS’ COLUMN.

The Otago Witness has been appointed the eS> *iai organ for the publication of announcement* •t the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club.

THE KENNEL.

Bx

Terror.

Fanciers and breeders of dogs are cordially te* Sited to contribute to this column. “Terror” wifi •ndeatour to make this department as interesting end up-to-date as possible, but in order to do thl* lie must have tne co-operation of his readers, hence he 'trusts this invitation will be obeerfuilg Responded to. New Zealand kennel-men who have taken an interest in Australian kennel matters cannot fail to have become familiar with and interested in, the writings of Mr T. Young, under the pen-name “'Wattlebark,” and will regret to learn that owing to ill-health he has had to relinquish his duties as kennel scribe for the Australasian. Mr C. F. Tredell, of the firm of Tredell and Ollis, the well-known game-breeders, has taken over the duties of both kennel and poultry editor; consequently the nom de plume “ Chanticleer ” as well as “ Wattlebark ” (though not necessarily) will disappear from the Australasian. The popular, all-round, and world--1 ravelled dog judge, Mr Sam Crabtree, and his wife and only daughter, were visited during their temporary absence from homo by burglars, and when they returned home about 10.30 p.m. they found the rooms in disorder and a “jemmy” on the floor, a whole lot of jewellery, watches, valuable gold, diamond, and ruby rings, brooches, ear-rings, ropes of pearls and other beads, silver handbags, etc., having disappeared, which revealed to them only too clearly that burglars had been busy. They apparently made a hasty retreat, as shown by the presence of the “ jemmy ” and a small black purse, full of English gold sovereigns and American gold dollar pieces, which the thieves had evidently dropped in their hurry to make good their escape, which was found on a black skin rug on the floor. The police were at once communicated with, but up to the present no clue to the thieves has been found that hast been hoard of. The worst feature of the affair is the shock that it gave Mrs Crabtree, who has been very ill for some time, and whose heart is affected, to whom the sympathy of her family and their many friends will go out in connection with the untoward affair. Liver or chocolate colour in a foxterrier is a disqualification in a show ring, but such a dog of good pedigree might be worth breeding from.—Our Dogs. It is not. impossible, but a very rare cocurrence, that a hitch has been known to conceive two different dogs of different breeds at one and the same heat. —' Dogs’ Danger Sense.—“ L. F.,” in. Our Dogs, says: “Given a naturally intelligent dog—and intelligence in. animals varies as greatly as it does in man—you mav with patience teach him almost any trick you please, even to calling you at a certain hour, or meeting you at a given place; but abovi 4 and beyond what we may leach them the majority of dogs seem io possess a ‘danger sense’' that is instinctive. The writer then gives a number of instances in which dogs have saved the occuof houses by giving alarm in case of flro, and in cases where their owners or others have met with accident.” He .cites a case in which a dog awakened its owner, and sav*d him from death from’suffocation owing to an escape of gas. He also quotes several Instances in which the danger sense of dogs reultod in the saving of pro-

pertv. Of course this is not news, for [ over and over again from all parts of the world we learn of the usefulness of canines in saving life and property. A most remarkable case is reported by Our Dogs (England). A bitch, the property of a Mr Crooks, was due to whelp on the 21st of last September, and from all appearances was very heavy in whelp, but had no puppies. She then began to diminish in size, and had a discharge, and afterwards a large lump formed in her abdomen. Four months after being due to whelp she was taken to Mr Stent, M.R.C.Y.S., who after examination decided to operate and remove the growth. To his astonishment he found in the womb the bones of fix e puppies, three of which were fully developed, the other two being very small. 'The skull and bones were in almost perfect condition. Unfortunately, the bitch’ died from the effects of the operation. Similar cases have been met with in cattle, but not in dogs The Rev. Dr Roselyn Bruce, contributor of fox terrier items to Our Dogs (England), advocates the re-establishment of the now forbidden “rat pits.” He says: “It is a very uncertain point whether we have not allowed our national virtue of humanity to lower animals (I speak as one who 4 was formerly a president and is a co-trustee with the present Chancellor of the Exchequer of the R.S.P.C.A.) to become a trifle impracticable in our protection of noxious wild animals. A man is not called upon by ‘ humanity ’ to protect a flea which is biting his wrist nor to preserve the rats which destroy or infect his children’s food. But there is something akin to ‘ preserving ’ them in forbidding the oldfashioned rat pits, where in the days of our forefathers in every village and every hostel hundreds of these venomous and disease-carrying vermin were destroyed every winter night, and dozens of terriers, which now moon about idle for want of education, learnt the business of their careers, and were trained to employ themselves, even unattended, in carrying on the good work. Personally I should be glad to see the rat-pit restored to its former uses; but for saying that, no doubt, many old ladies (of both sexes) will be quite shocked at the imagined cruelty. (‘And you a parson, too!’)” According to a French paper, L’Elereur, American fanciers have just erected at Harls-Dale a monument to war dogs, comprising a plinth of rough stone, bearing a dedicatory inscription, with an Alsatian in bronze and two trench helmets—American and French. As the American Army did not possess its own war doss, it utilised the dogs belonging to the kennels of the 6th and 10th French Armies, which were then in the sector of the American operations. SHEEP DOG TRIALS. By Terror. Mossburn. —May 27 and 23. Omarama. —April 2 and 3. Gore—-April 8 and 9. Kauana,—May 21 and 22.

GARSTON DOG TRIAL CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING. The second annual meeting of the Garston Sheep Dog Trial Club was held on Mr \V. Menlove’s property, midway between Fairlight and Garston, on March 20 and the two following days. Favoured with good weather, a large attendance, and excellent entries, the trial was successful beyond the most sanguine expectations. Competitors came from Nightcaps, Clifden, Waikaia, Mossburn, Kauana, Five Rivers, Lowtiler, Halfway Bay, and Lake Wakatipu. The entries almost doubled those of last year, so that the trial ran into three days instead of two as advertised. The officials of the club are therefore to be congratulated on their efforts in so firmly establishing the trial in the Garston district. The combining of sports with the trial has. moreover, greatly increased the local interest in the fixture. The judge (Mr M. Dickie, Mataura), who judged the heading and one of the huntaway events, stated that he noticed an improvement in the work generally compared wiu that of last year. He was ably assisted by Mr J. Burnett, of Half-way Bay, whose services it was deenu—necessary to requisition on the second cfay in order to speed up the judging. Mr Burnett made the awards in the open hunt away and slew. The sheep used at the trial were kindly lent by Cainard and Fail-light Stations. A word of praise is due to the president, Mr J. M’Donald, of Cainard Station, who worked exceedingly had'd throughout, but his duties were considerably lessened by the support which he got from the vice-presidents and committee. The hardest worked official, however, was the secretary, Mr J. Gordon, jun., but despite the duplication of his duties, ho carried them through remarkably well and was always courteous. Messrs J’as. Gordon, and r\. Blakely acted as timekeepers, and Mr Geo. Gordon as judge's clerk. A large refreshment tent on the ground wa-s under the charge of Mr Forde, who gave every satisfaction. The following are the details of the awards: MAIDEN EVENT (Open), HEADING AIND HOLDING IN RING. Frizes, £4, £2, £l, 10s. (Points: Heading 10, pulling 8, command 8, style 6, ring 4. H. Gamble’s Joe, 9,7, 6,5, 2—29 points 1 T. Taylor’s Syd, 9,6, 6,4, 2—27 points 2 A. T. Millar’s (Clifton), Kip, 7,6, 6,4, 3, 2—26 points .. ’ 3 B. Robertson’s (Dunrobin), Chance, 8,6, 6, 3, 2 —25 points 4 Other competitors were: B. Robertson (two dogs), D. Douglas (2), L. Blakely, IV. S. Blakely, A. M. Burnett, J. Burnett, S. Lee, C. Blakely, J. H. Gordon, B. Monk, C. Stewart, J. Waddell. J. Stewart, P. Ryan, W. Thompson, C. Henry, T. Fitzpatrick, J. M’Caughan, J. M'Pherson, T. Dunlea, W. Cable, F. Adams, A. D. Lee, and A. M’Caughan. Thirty-four entries. The judge remarked that Joe made a fair run out, a fairly good head, pulled moderately in a good line, held the sheep firmly, but let them out of ring 4. Syd made .a good run out, but was a bit slack at head. He pulled in an erratic line, very slack at holding, and let sheep out of ring repeatedly. Kip made an erratic run out and a poolhead. He pulled in a fair line, but let the sheep out of the ring repeatedly; showed good style at ringing. Chance made a failrun out, but came in on his cast, and started pulling before heading. His style was medium, and he ran through the ring twice. OPEN EVENT, HEADING AND YARDING, 500 yards. Prizes; £7, £4, £2, £l, 10s. Points; Heading 10, pulling 8, command 8, style 6 ( yard 4,

T. Reidy’s Athol Jet, 8,7, 6,4, 3—28 points 1 J. B. Purdue’s Joe, 9,6, 6,4, 2 —27 points 2 A. T, Miller’s Dingo, 8,6, 6,4, 3—27 points 3 S. Lee’s Tweed, 9,5, 5,4, 3 —26 points .. 4 G. Butson’s Guy, 8,6, 5,4, 2—25 points 5 Other competitors were: J. and A. M. Burnett, W. Anderson, B. Robertson (three dogs), J. Stewart, F. Adams,. P. Ryan (two dogs), C. Henry (two), Dunlea, D. Douglas (twol, T. Taylor, H. Gamble (two), N. and L. Blakely (two), J. Waddell, W. Cable, B. Monk. Thirty-one entries. The winner wandered badly going out, but headed well; pulled in fail 4 line, command fair, style fair. Joe made a good wide cast and good head; let the sheep off the line badly in pulling; work at yard and style fair. Dingo made a fair run out, but came in on the cast: lifted and pulled rashly and not in a good line ; work very slack at yard, but yarded; command fair. HUNTAWAY AND SLEW, Three Sets of Flags. Distance J-mile. Prizes: £7, £4,c £2, £l, 10s. J. M'Chesney’s Tweed, 6,6, 6,6, 6—30 points 1 D. Douglas’s Maid, 6,6, 6,4, 4 —26 points 2 A. T. Miller’s Snub, 4,3, 8, 6, 4—25 points 3 H. Gamble’s Mack, 4,4, 7,6, 3 —24 points 4 T. Reidy’s Joe, 5,5, 4,3, 5—22 points .. t J. Stewart’s Wave, 5,5, 4,3, 5 —22 poin-ts t Other competitors: J. H. Gordon, T. Taylor, S. and C. Blakely, A. D. Lee, P. Ryan, W. Cable, and G. Waddell. There were 30 entries. With the exception of six dogs, most of the competitors were heading or handy doge. The closeness of the first two dogs to the letting-out pen militated against the work, and several of the dogs failed to qualify. As soon as tlie dogs were on the hill good work was shown. HUNTAWAY, HEAD, BRING BACK, AND HOLD IN RING (Local Event). Distance 300 yards. Prizes: £5, £3, £2, £l, 10s. Points: Huntaway 6. noise 6, style 6, heading 4, pulling’ 6, ring 4, command 6. H. Gamble’s Mack, 4,4, 3,2, 4,4, 4—25 points ’ . q D. Douglas’s Chance, 4,4, 3,3, 3,2, 4—23 points ’ 2 W. Beer’s Nigger, 2,3, 3,3, 4,4, 3 —22 points 3 P. Ryan’s Fan, sen., 5,4, 3,2, 3,0, 4 21 points .. | J. Stewart’s Roy, 2,3, 3,3, 4,3, 3—21 points ’ . ’ . j Other competitors; C. Blakely, T. Taylor, J. M Caughan, J. Copeland (two dogs), A. M. Burnett, J. Waddell (two), W. Beer, C. Henry. Eighteen entries. The following is tlie list of special prizes with winners: —£l Is donated by Mr A. Riachj Kingston, to the youngest competitor ecorlAS 15 points—C. Henry. £2 2s donated by Mr Menlove for two maiden competitors gaming the most points in class IV—C. Henry. J. Waddel and C. Blakely (equal) £1 Is each. £1 Is donated by Mr Taylor to local musterer making the beet head in Class lI—G. Butson. 10s 6d donated by Mr J. Olsen for the youngest competitor at the trial C. Henry. 10s donated by Mr *l' E. Kennett fox 4 local huntaway showing general excellence—J. Stewart. Gold medal valued at £3 3s donated by Mr M J Forde to winner of Class IY—H. Gambie.