THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 33

THE KENNEL.

B,

Terror.

Fanciers and breeders of dogs ora 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 this he must have the cooperation of his readers, hence he trusts this invitation will be cheerfully responded to. " Constant Reader.” —You say your dog coughs and throws up phlegm, but you do not think it has a cold. I advise first of all that the dog get a dose of castor oil. If this does no perceptible good, it is probable that the trouble is tapeworm. One method of curing tapeworm I take from “ Kennel Secrets,” viz.: Oil of male fern Aoz and olive oil lloz. If the dog is valuable I advise “ Constant Reader ” to interview a veterinary surgeon. With last week’s notes there appeared a full report of the Dunedin Fanciers’ Show just held, and I had hoped this week to supplement that with a report by the judge, Dr M'Killop, on the dogs, but unfortunately it is not to hand. However, I am pleased to submit the following notes on the terrier classes:— ■_ In smooth fox terriers, novice class dogs, Henderson and Dickinson’s Ringleader won. He is a nice terrier, though on the young side. The other six in this class were just ordinary. In open class dogs the winner, Miss M. L. Cunliff’s Gay Cluny, is a fine showy terrier, fully up to size, with good head, legs, and feet, but a bit light in body and quarters. Mr Hinchcliff’s York Sandpiper, in second position, is a nice size, has good body, legs, and feet, plain in head, and light in eye. Very little between first and second. Ringleader was third. In smooth fox terrier bitch classes Messrs Henderson and Dickinson won with a very nice little bitch, Donna Varra —quite the best seen here for some years. She is a nice size, with good head, dark eyes, nice legs and feet. The ■wire section was quite the best seen in Dunedin for a number of years. In dog puppies Mr G. H. Shaw won with Winton Ranger, a nice terrier with a natural wire coat. Dogs in the open class brought forth a great entry, Mr Jack winning -with Whiz Bang, a grand terrier with good head and ears, nice length of neck, short body, good fore and aft. and put down in capital condition. The same owner’s ch. Dusky Gyp (well known) was second. Red Cob Reality, recently imported by T. R. Boyes, Wellington, placed third, is a beautiful wire dog of correct-type, good bone and body, small ears, best wire coat in class, but shown soft in condition, being only out of quarantine a fortnight. This terrier should prove a great acquisition to New Zealand as a stud dog. In the bitch class Mr Boyes's imported bitch Bed Cob Reversion won. She is a lovely wire-haired bitch showing great type and character, beautiful head, great foreface, nice and short in couplings, good bone, and correct size. This bitch was very unlucky to miss the bracelet. It was a very sporting action to show the two imported dogs, as neither was in anything like show condition. Irish terriers: Mr G. Bundy won in dogs and bitches. His’ dog is a very nice one—quite the best I have seen here. He is well up to size for his age. Sydney Silkies were few in number, but were not lacking in quality, Mr R. Tregea’s Tahuna Toby and Coleen winning in both classes. Toby is a firstclass little dog with grand coat, nice small, prick ears, beautiful body, and is a grand shower. He was also placed second to Rutland Pat (Pomeranian) in any breed toy dog or bitch in the show. Breeders of Irish setters will be interested in learning that Mr Thorold Fink (Melbourne) has imported an Irish setter from one of the best-known kennels in England—that of Miss Fincham, of Larpent, Putney, owner of the Wizbang dog. The sire of Mr Fink’s dog is Wizbang Buccaneer, winner of over 100 first prizes. The dam is bred from an equally well-known strain. All are good workers, as well as being bench winners.— The Leader. Melbourne.

The prominent eyes of a Pekingese render them liable to accident, and very often a sudden knock or blow will cause the eye to hang out of the socket. In the case of such an accident a leading authority says that the very best thing to do is to pour castor oil over the eye. This contracts the muscles, and will often cause the eye to be drawn back again. Never on any account let the eye get dry while waiting for the veterinary surgeon; keep it moist with oil, and hold the animal’s paws so that it cannot rub the eye before it is replaced. These hints, if acted on at once at the time of such an accident, will often save an eye that would otherwise be lost. Weight of Cocker Spaniels.—Breeders of cockers in New Zealand cannot fail to be interested in the question of weight, tlie more so as we have to follow the English lead to be up to date. Such being the case, the opinion of Our Dogs’ expert on the question of weight is well worth consideration. The question having been raised by him and adverse comments re-

suiting, he says: ‘‘‘ln this column no point is hammered home with greater persistency than close adherence to the standard, as witness the regular reminder that of the club’s scale of points 80 per cent, lie behind the head. But -with the standard clearly in mind no two judges can appljit precisely in the same way to the same dog. Judges are fallible in common with the rest of mankind, and there is no greater truism than that ‘ everything depends on the point of view.’ As recently as the Manchester Show I heard two experts argue the shade of a certain cocker’s eye. I recently put up a cocker which, following an exhaustive test. I was satisfied was sound fronted and well quartered: while the owner of a dog which went down —an expert and a good sport—was convinced, and, I believe, quite honestly, that the winner failed in both respects. Thus, ‘judges’ outlook.’ Of this we may be quite certain: The judge who placed his dogs in accordance with his own idea of type, and with no regard to the club standard, would soon find himself out of I business, for exhibitors would not support him. The letter also touches upon a matter in terms which, as proved by several novice inquiries, may lead to misunderstanding. Breaking away from ‘ heads and bodies.’ it is said that ‘ the most serious side is the enormous size of cockers,’ and that no regard is paid to ‘ standard weights and measurements.’ The standard weight laid down by the club is about 251 b to 281 b. Club standard measurements do not exist. A former standard weight was 251 b bitches. 281 b dogs. The introduction of the qualification was more or less nominal, for an arbitrarily precise weight would necessarily involve the use of a scale—a practice which was followed many years ago until the absurdity was realised. I believe the climax was reached when a certain dog was awarded a challenge certificate before lunch, and. having been fed. was found later to be overweight and ineligible to comnete as a cocker. But touching the renuted ‘ enormous ’ cockers of to-day. any careful judge would penalise a dog in proportion to its estimated variation in weight from the standard, which in my opinion does full justice to maintenance of the club figure-—over or under weight being of the nature of a defect. (Seeing, too. that the weight is purely a matter of estimation. I venture to suggest that here again is another phase of judges’ outlook.’) Similarly, we want sound fronts, and while a dog with. say., faulty pasterns and loose shoulders is penalised accordingly, these defects in some degree may be observed in winning dogs. Reverting to the original subject of discussion, ‘ heads and bodies.’ I think it may be claimed that the general excellence of to-day’s headt pieces.should do much to ensure that head qualities do not figure too prominently in a judge’s calculations. Given a class of dogs with heads 'uniformly good, comparisons must of necessity be made elsewhere. Me are all out for cocker improvement. Much had been done in this direction in nost-war days, but the dog without flaw has yet to appear. Breeders and exhibitors’ opinions and criticisms are helpful and instructive. They raise questions, discussion of which assists materially in increasing the popularity of the variety and in pointing the way towards the object of all good cocker lovers—the evolution of the perfect dog.

An interesting note in the Irish Field has reference to the success of the lions at Dublin Zoo being suckled on Irish terriers. Mr Christy Flood, the keeper, at the zoo, is a breeder of Irish terriers.

SHEEP DOG TRIALS.

KAIKOURA. The Kaikoura Collie Dog Club’s trials commenced on June 9 in fine weather, with good entries. Keen interest was taken in the event. Mr J. C. Borthwick was judge. Results:— Heading. Bringing Back, and Holding in Ring—T. White’s Lochiel Ride, 36 points, 1; C. Stringfellow’s Moss, 34 points, 2; H. C. Baker’s Roy and G. Chapman’s Glen (equal), 26 points, 3. Heading, Bringing Back, and Yarding— C. Denton’s Digger, 37 points, 1; T.

White’s Lochiel Ride, 34 points, 2; J. Laidlaw’s Glen, 33 points, 3; F. Kerr’s Naomi, 28 points, 4. The winner also wins the Kaikoura Star Cup for 1927; Huntaway, . with Slew —J. Laidlaw’s Storm, 27 points, F; J. Collier’s Drake, 24 points, 2; F. W. Einms’s Speed, 21 points, 3; R. Bailey’s Gwen, 4. The winner secures the Little Memorial Cup for the year. Team of Three Dogs—F. Kerr, 102 points, 1. Winner of Mr P. ActonAdams’s special and Messrs Graham, Wilson, and Smellie’s trophy. All-round Class—F. W. ‘Emms 1, C. Keehan 2, R. Bailey 3. Best maiden dog in Classes I and JI— Allen Adair. NGAPARA. The South Island championship events at the Ngapara dog trials were concluded on Saturday. The results of these events are as follows: — CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT. Head, Pull, Hold in Ring, and Yard. A. Henderson’s Tiny Moon, 70£ points 1 A. G. Miller’s Kip, 70 points 2 A. T. Miller’s Runt, 69‘ points 3 T. Corrigal’s Lance, 68 points 4 CHAMPION HUNTAWAY. C. M'Erlane’s Romp, 79 points 1 A. Henderson’s Dick, 75 points 2 A. Aubrey’s Glen, 66 points 3 M. Eraser’s Punch, 59 points ... 4