THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 33

THE KENNEL.

By

Terror.

Fanciers and breeders of dogs are cordially invited to contribute to thia column. “Terror” will endeavour to make thia department as ihteresting u P’*°‘d a to as possible, but in order to do this he must have the cooperation of Iris readers, hence ha trusts this invitation will be cheer- . fully responded to. Mr E. G. Price (South Dunedin) has a litter of four puppies from his Aus-tralian-bred pair of whippets. Mr R. Tregea (Tahuna kennels) had the misfortune to lose his latest imported Sydney Silky bitch, due to whelping troubles. Unfortunately the pups went the way of the mother. The Daily Mail says that the Duke of Sutherland was sued at the West London County Court by Messrs Sewell and Consent, canine veterinary surgeons, for £25 odd for attendance and treatment of Dachshunds suffering from mange and distemper. The Duke protested against the charges as excessive. He had already paid £3O for treatment. Judge Sturges said Messrs Sewell and Consens were well known throughout the world as perhaps the most celebrated of canine veterinary surgeons, and one had to look at the bill from the angle of their position. He gave judgment for the amount claimed with costs.

An agitation is on foot to admit ladies into the Kennel Club of England, and the Dog World (England) has asked several prominent authorities to give their opinion on the matter. Some answers are for and some against, but we leave it to our readers to put what construction they like on the reply sent in by the Rev. Dr Rosslyn Bruce, the well-known smooth fox terrier expert and writer: ‘'There are but three things that I hate, and they stand in this order: (1) Refusing a lady all she wants; (2) a change that benefits nobody; (3) the devil and all his works.” ,

The Bulldog.—Mi' W. G. Smart, addressing the Bulldog Club of England recently, spoke of size as follows: —“Personally I prefer a dog 451 b to 501 b and bitches 351 b to 401 b, because generally you will find more uniformity and better all-round proportion than in the heavier weights. Throughout my experience 1 have, of course, known- several good heavy - weights, but the fact remains that the increase of weight invariably shows legginess. abnormal skull, or chest formatio which may act detrimentally to the allround uniform proportion. In concluding his address, a great part of winch dealt with celebrated dogs of years gone by Mr Smart made the following interesting remarks anent “temperament and “Dudleys”:—“Take temperament. lhe bulldog has been described as uncertain and vicious, fastening on without visible provocation, but I do not altogether agree with the truth of this. That any sudden noise or commotion will upset tae equilibrium of his otherwise placid manner we know, but generally he will bear comparison with any breed, of dog. To his master especially, and also to those he knows, he is amiable, loving, and obedient Yet he is pre-eminent amongst others ot the canine race for pluck and endurance. In attack he is always silent, and bears untold punishment without a sound, xte generally attacks an adversary in the head or throat, and his holding powers are tremendous. Of course, in speaking of the temper of a bulldog it must not be forgotten how material is the education in puppyhood, also the environment in early life, as to his future character. Like children, dogs have their mental powers formed by early training. It has been said that the god of the dog <is man. So, therefore, if a dog is treated % by us as a slave, to be ruled by the harshest measures, what else can we expect but that the brute instinct will dominate? . On the other hand, kindness, combined with firmness, *will produce even in the bulldog a gentle, kind, and noble disposition. Now take appearance to the general public. Beauty is not a strong point. We fanciers, however, look upon a really good specimen as such, especially’ in head properties. As we prefer to leave human beauty to the fair sex, and are more contented that mere man shall be manly, so in the bulldog we look for high qualities than mere comeliness. In conclusion, may I venture a slight reference to Dudleys. So much from time to time has been said on the subject. Still, the fact remains that invariably when they do crop up in a litter, they are the best. Of course, it must not be overlooked that at one time Dudleys were recognised by the club—in fact, the great authority and founder of this club has awarded them prizes; particularly Sahib, who was more than once placed high up in the prize list by Mr Bertie. If my recollection serves correct, the-ultimate decision to bar them was the

outcome more perhaps of a personal feud between Sprague, Sellon, and Berrie. There is no doubt that the Dudley character is not as pleasant in appearance the black. When some years ago the matter, was taken _ up by . this club, the decision, which still holds, was to bar

them from exhibition; but it becomes a serious question if we are to sacrifice type. As recently as 1923 a Mr H. S. Hodson went far to solve the mystery of origin (or perhaps repetition). Recent experiments by one of our well-known breeders has undoubtedly demonstrated that Dudley to Dudley can and does produce continuity of shape and make and much that appertains to the standard. I will relate just a few experiences. Sahib was a Dudley. Yet we hear of few, if any, of his progeny as such. Yet Don Pedro begat Dudleys. and in 1880 I owned a most typical Dudley bitch. Queen Pedro, out of a dark brindle. black-nosed dam by Goliath. This particular bitch was served by my Aston Billy, a verj’ dark brindle, by Alaric. The result was four blacks and one Dudley (best of all), named Lady Dudley. She in turn had three litters as follows:—(1) To Don Carlos (bitch Don Pedro), six black, one Dudley; (2) to Sam (all white, by Taurus), seven black; (3) to Smartt’s Punch (by Dandelion). Jive black. Now, to my idea, the first litter to Don Carlos should have shown more Dudleys, whereas it was not until I had bred again from a bitch of the third litter that "by Royal Duke (the sire of ch. Bromley drib) I got five Dudleys out of seven. I am quite prepared to admit that the Dudley appearance is not desirable, or even s<> attractive as the black; but that is no"t the point. It is more the desirability of setting a more uniform type, and as it is so often, in fact generally, found in Dudleys, it becomes a question if, by scientific breeding, that desired uniformity ot type can be set, and the colour subsequently obliterated. To do so of course, would entail time, patience, ’and expense, which only few might care to venture. Nevertheless I am strongly- of opinion that it is possible.”

a fundamental dog disease, and afflicted puppies which do not improve alter a course of tonics (like cod liver oil) are better destroyed. They can never grow up to be anything but worthless weaklings. Puppies kept in '(amp quarters and seldom in the sunlight are very apt to become rickety, driven sunlight, exercise, and dry beddi'. rickety pups are seldom seen. DOG MEDICINES AND DOSES. A correspondent signing himself “ R. D.” contributed the following valuable information to dog owners generally through mimbei e ) dl —* ° f ° Ur Bogs < Ghristmas Pioperly housed, fed, and exercised, with the necessary attention to cleanliness ot coat and of quarters, dogs are amongst the most healthy of stock and but little trouble to the owner in this particular direction. With the best ot management, however, ailments have at times to be reckoned with, and when doctoring in any form is necessary and medicine has to be given it is important to administer the correct quantity, otherwise more harm than good may result. It is the usual practice to suggest that the proper amount of the dose is from so-and-so to so-and-so, thus embracing all breeds that are commonly kept. If these are divided in the following eight classes it is next to impossible to go wrong in determining the exact quantity that should be supplied to a particular dog:— 1. Toy terriers and Griffons (31b to 61b). 2. Pugs, toy spaniels, and Schinperkes (91b to 121 b). 3. West Highland white terriers and Cairn terriers (about 151 b). 4. Fox terriers, Irish terriers, Welsh t , e , r J. l^ r9 ’ Skye terriers, and Dandles (181 b to 251 b). 5. Field spaniels, bulldogs, and Airedale terriers (401 b to 451 b). 6. Retrievers, collies, and greyhounds (551 b to 651 b). 7. Bloodhounds (801 b to 1001 b). 8. St. Bernards, mastiffs. Great banes, etc.

If the undermentioned table be remembered, measuring the right dose becomes merely routine work:— 20 grains = 1 scruple. 3 scruples = 1 drachm. 60 drops or minims = 1 drachm. 8 drachms = 1 ounce. 20 ounces = 1 pint. 1 drachm =. 1 teaspoonfnl. 4 toaspoonfuls = 1 tablespoonful. .2 tablespoonfuls = 1 ounce.

Say, for instance, that the suggested remedy for a certain ailment is from a drachm (one teaspoonful) to an ounce (two tablespoonfuls or eight teasnoontuls), doits belonging to the first group would be given the smallest amount: in the second, two teaspoonfuls; in the third, three teaspoonfuls; and so on; It will perhaps be noticed that some weights are not mentioned, but this omission is easily rectified. If a dog weighs, say, alittle over 301 b, he comes somewhere between classes 4 and 5; therefore, if the' correst dose be from one teaspoonful to eight teaspoonfuls, four and a-half should be administered. Again, in the case of a dog weighing 71b, coming between groups 1 and 2, if the correct dose be from half a teaspoonful to a tablespoonful, the right amount to give would be between a half and a whole teaspoonful—that is, threequarters.

The first thing to do with an ailing animal is to give it cosy, comfortable quarters, well bedded with clean, dry, oaten straw, and apart from its fellows for the time being. lu the case of chill, bronchitis, and catarrh, and the resulting coughing and wheezing, the doe should be kept warm and given a light diet of milk, porridge, fish, etc. Pneumonia or inflammation of the lungs is not likely to set in with proper attention, but when it does it is distinctly dangerous. The ailing animal must be kept warm and dry. and the following medicine given (slightly warmed) three times a day:—Chlorodyne 3 drops, lemon juice 10 drops, and glycerine 1 drachm—approximately 60 drops. Some reliable embrocation may be advantageously applied to chest and ribs twice a day. Jaundice is an ailment that can be frequently traced to cold, and when a dog shivers or seems dull and out of sorts, then his eyelids should be turned up. for, this is where the “ yellows ” show before any, further direct evidence can be found. The jaundiced dog must have rest and quiet, also warm quarters. Fat and other stimulating food should be withheld, and milk puddings, porridge beef tea, and similar class easily digested food given. Water for drinking should be provided, and as medicine give one to three grains of calomel (according to size of dog) for two mornings in succession. In all cases recovery is slow, and great care must be taken that the animal does not catch a chill whilst improving. Cold will occasionally bring on diarrlirea, which may be met by a dose of castor or olive oil, followed at a six-hours’ interval by 10 to 30 drops of chlorodyne in twice the amount of slightly warmed water. Dogs are sometimes poisoned as the result of giving medicines not sufficiently diluted, too large doses being given, or a drug continued over too long a period, bait poisoning freouently occurs from salt in the form cf brine. Salt fo ,d, especially ham and bacon, in which there is a large quantity of nitrate of potash, and perhaps borax, has in several cases proved fatal. Not uncommon is poisonin" due to food cooked in copper vessels’. Dogs, being natural garljage-feeders are more tolerant to diseased and decomposed meat and offal than most other animals, but do not always get off scot tree without being ill occasionallv. The treatment consists in giving a dose of castor oil, as well as stimulants to allay the sickness and diarrhoea.

SHEEP DOC NOTES. TRIAL DATES. Wakatipu—March 15. 16. and 17 Mackenzie Club—March 21 Mossburn—March 26 and 27 Geraldine.—April 12 and 13 Albany.—April 18 and 19' Gore—May 29 and 30. The Wakatipu Collie Club’s schedule is to hand, aud informs us that the second annual trials will take place at Arrowtown on Thursday. Friday, and Saturday loth, 16th, and 17th March. The usual programme is arranged for T)no be 'MTo l meeting of the Mossburn -Trial Club was held at Mossburn on February 4. Mr D. Macnieol presiding over a good attendance. The balance .sheet, which -tfas adonted. showed a satisfactory position. Mr D. Macnieol X fo d r P H Sident ™ d Mr A ' • ec rotary tor the ensuing year. Jt war 2G C and 27 '° d the allnual trials on March