THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 33

THE KENNEL.

Terror.

By

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 as possible, but in order to do thia he must have the co-operation of hit reader!, nance he trusts this invitation will be cheerfully tesponded to. x . Mr F. Alexander. Dunedin, has again had his miniature Pom Brooklands Wee Shamrock mated to Little Gold Sunbright (imp.), owned by Mr S. Johnston, Palmerston North. Fanciers will regret to hear that Mr Alexander is at present in the Dunedin Hospital. A Dunedin fancier has imported from Melbourne a very nice sable collie bitch. She will prove a very welcome addition to the Dominion’s fancy, as new blood is badly needed. Air Gold, Balclutha, who has returned from a trip to England, has brought back with him a promising Alsatian wolfdog. A pair of West Highland terriers from one of the leading kennels in Scotland, to the order of Mr William Hewitt, of Spreydon, Canterbury, is expected to arrive in New Zealand shortly. Shortening Dogs’ Tails.—The English Kennel Club rules state: “Shortening the tails of dogs of the following breeds will not render them liable to disqualification: Spaniels (except Irish water), Airedale terriers, fox terriers, Irish terriers. Sealyham terriers, Welsh terriers, Old English sheep dogs, poodles, toy spaniels, Yorkshire terriers, Schipperkes, Griffon Bruxellois, and such varieties'of foreign dogs as the committee may from time to time determine.”

The Late Queen Alexandra as a Doglover. —An . outstanding incident that occurred at one of the great summer shows of the Ladies’ Kennel Association, of which Queen Alexandra was the first president and patron up to her death, is recalled by Home papers. This show was held in the Botanical Gardens of Regent’s Park, and was a great show. An Indian Princess presented a 500-guinea cup, which was given for a different breed each year. This particular year it was to be awarded to the best Borzoi, but was not to be adjudicated unon by the Borzoi judge alone. He was found two colleagues —viz., Air Theo. Alarples and the late Mr George Raper. Queen Alexandra exhibited. her famous ch. Alex, given to her Alajesty, it is believed, by her nephew, the then Czar of Russia. In its class the Borzoi judge put two other dogs over Alex. The weeding-out process of the triumvirate of adjudicators left three in for the cup; by a consensus of opinion one of the three being turned down. The two dogs left in for the cup were ch. Alex and another dog, which was the Borzoi Ridge’s selection for the trophy. Air Raper, after going over them carefully, chose Alex, ■which rendered Air Alarples the umpire in the matter. By this time

a very large number of spectators six or seven deep were watching the proceedings round a Irnge ring with great excitement and tension, and when Mr Marples handed in his fiat to ch. Alex shouts went up and handkerchiefs and satchels were thrown in the air in expression of the popularity of the award. Almost at that moment Queen Alexandra, who often attended the show, came to the ring side and witnessed some of the excitement at her popular victory, and made inquiries from her 'trusted kennel manager, Brunsdon (who is still at Sandringham), what it. was all about. , Tip-top Greyhounds.—“ Standard,” a Victorian kennel scribe, speaking of exhibits at Australian shows, makes a remark which is as applicable to shows in New Zealand as in the Commonwealth. He says: “St. Bernards, which used to be prominent at the shows, are never seen nowadays. Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, and bloodhounds have gone completely. During last year we had the pleasure of seeing at our shows some of the best Borzois ever benched in Victoria, A few individual Great Danes stood out for quality, but the numbers were small.” A common belief is that if a person is bitten by a dog, to ensure the safety of the ■ bitten person. it is necessary to destroy the dog, otherwise hydrophobia is practically certain to supervene. This is another fallacy. The bite from a dog as a rule is no more seriotis than a scratch with a nail or wire. In either case the application of iodine to the injured part is usually sufficient to remove all danger. Nations’ Watchdog.—ln the grounds of thS League of Nations building there is a grave which marks the last restingplace of the celebrated dog that for a long time was the faithful guardian of the league premises at night. When the league persoqpel took over the Hotel Bristol the night watchman asked if his dog, a St. Bernard named Bristol, might be taken on too. When the night watchman died Bristol continued his duties alone. The story that gained currency that special provision -was made in the league budget for his keep was apocryphal. Such provision was unnecessary, as Bristol was the pet of the 200 typists of the league, who fed him with all kinds of delicacies. This proved his undoing, and he died of overfeeding.