THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3865, 10 April 1928, Page 32

THE KENNEL.

By

Terror.

Fanciers and breeders of dogs are cordially invited to contribute to thia column. “Terror” will endeavour to make thia departmer as interesting and up-to-date as p. sible, but in order to do this be must hare the coopsration of his readers, hence ha trusts this invitation will be cheerfully responded to.

“ Sport.”—l do not know of any Kerry Blue terriers having been imported into New Zealand. Its advent as a show specimen in England only dates back to about 1920, but in Ireland it is regarded as a dog of considerable antiquity. Rawdon Lee in “ Modern Dogs ” quotes a Mr Cotton as saying* “ There is a Glen Imaal, in the Wicklow Mountains, that has always been, and still is, justly celebrated for its terriers. It would be hard to specify their colour in particular—the wheaten in all shades to that of bright red. In Kerry I think the blackblue io most prevalent. Quite black is very uncommon, and I hardly ever saw a good specimen that colour. Mr Charles Galway, of Waterford (the breeder of the celebrated greyhound Master M’GratlQfor years—long before the Irish,-terrier came into fashion —always and bred the variety, and, J am told,' there was no getting ons from him. I am also informed, coats of his terriers were rather inclined to curl, and that the dogs themselves were undeniably game." The standard description is given elsewhere in these notes.

A report of Cruft’s 1928 show, published by Spratt’s Patent, Ltd., ostensibly for the purpose of advertising kennel requisites, contains some very interesting references to Mr Charles Cruft, the founder of the great and world-renowned Cruft Show, held annually in London. Inter alia, the report reminds us that “Mr Cruft is a thorough sportsman, as thorough as his keen eyes and square face would lead one to suppose, and a prominent shooting man in years past who has shot over most of the principal estates in the Kingdom. Moreover, he is a Fellow of the Zoological Society. Above all, he is a lover of dogs, and, because he knows them so well, a lover who puts the heritage of the dog first and foremost, and condemns the pampering and coddling which so many misguided owners mistake *°r true affection.” Another paragraph which is good reading is: “He can tell a story, too. He can look back to the time when fox terriers were a bow-legged variety when fighting dogs were kept and matched together as a common sport—when fights were staged between dog and man! The man would go down on the floor and fight the bulldog—a scene that could possibly be visualised only by one who has merited a bulldog’s animosity! But all that is gone, says Mr Cruft, and dogs are treated with a far greater measure of kindness to-dav.” Mr Cruft remembers the first Cruft Show at the Royal Aquarium ’way back in 1886 (for terriers only and with just 500 entries), whc*i there were not half as many recognised breeds of dogs as exist to-day. Ami it is typical (says the report) of the man t.iat during the 42 years that have passed «'nce the first Cruft Show onened its < >rs to that modest gathering he has bv B*>'»cr personality and hard work multimreu that total of entries over 20 nwes. And he has helped to popularise dogs and dog breeding, too. The international importance of Cruft’s annual ?P OW , 6 ’ e niar l< in doggy circles throughout toe world. The entries for the years Cruft’s Show totalled 9466. Alsatians.—Those who favour the Alsatian will' (says an Australian contemporary) have many anxious moments Just when one story of their ferocity has been fe«gotten another one comes to take its place, and causes' doubts of their disposition to assail people again. Two new instances of sudden attacks on their owners by the Alsatian have occurred in England. One young woman had her ear torn off and her face dreadfully marked when she playfully attempted to 7i t - a stle . k a , way from °ne of her Alsatians. Another owner has been fined tor allowing his Alsatian at large without a muzzle. This dog had made several unprovoked and ferocious attacks on passers-by. All this publicity in the over--18 kavn Jg ’ts effect on this side of the world. In Western Australia last year Alsatians were barred from the agricultural shows, and now the Dog Section Committee in Adelaide has recommended that no classes should be provided there for Alsatians at this » can's agricultural show. These dogs# are still very popular in England (the Prince of Wales was amongst those who exhibited them at Cruft’s Show, just held in Lona n l’ they are on the increase in Australia and New Zealand.

. Telegony the influence of a previous sire on a subsequent litter by another eire—is the subject of discussion in some recent issues of the English journal Our Dogs. It is strange bow frequently this subject crops up in doggy literature, and persistently some breeders dispute the findings of scientific investigato’-s of the theory, viz., that there is uo such thing

as telegony. One writer in a of the journal referred to inter alia: “ In point of fact, the relation between the dam and jg no t go intimate as is general’,j- supposed. While it is agreed that -f[ ie foetus is dependent on the dam •'tot nourishment as it lies floating in its fleshy casing, which is in intimate contact with the tissues of the uterus, there is no organic connection and certainly no nervous inter-relation. It is, indeed, true that there are ‘ more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philouoiuido ajqumq Xw ut ‘}nq /Aqdos telegony is not one of them. Anyone who studies the wonderful effects of mitosis, or cell division, which takes place after the sperm cell has entered and fertilised the ovum, must conclude that the new puppy which is established inherits actual living matter derived from both parents alone. For my own part, I firmly believe that these new characteristics are sealed in the ovum as hermetically as they are in the case of an egg laid by a hen before it undergoes the process of being hatched.” Another correspondent, referring to a statement by a Mr Mitchell, says: “Mr Mitchell’s lack of knowledge of the biological laws of heredity and the subsequent embryological development, of inheritance factors is very apparent when he says: ‘Obviously the influence of some characteristic of the sire can pass from the puppy to the mother.’ Evidently Mr Mitchell does not know the biological facts of the fertilisation of the ovum by the spermatozoid, and the resulting fusion of sex nuclei, wherein is the seat of the factors of inheritance from both parents, nor does he seem to know that it is at this point in development that the inherited factors become permanent, long before the development of the placenta! ”

KERRY BLUE TERRIER CLUB OF ENGLAND. Height at shoulder—Dogs, 18in; bitches, slightly less. Weight—Dogs, 331 b to 351 b; bitches, 301 b to 331 b. Head —Long and strong. Skull —Flat, very slight “ stop.” Jaws—Strong and deep, nearly level with cheeks. Mouth—Even, strong; level teeth. Nose—Black. Ears—Not too heavy, V-shaped, and carried close to sides of the head or over the eyes. Eyes—Black or dark brown, showing fire and intelligence. Neck—Muscular and moderately long. Shoulders—Well sloped to back. Chest—Muscular and deep; neither full nor too wide. Back—Strong and straight, medium length; well coupled. Loins—Broad and powerful. Ribs—Fairly well sprung; deep, rather than round. Hindquarters—Strong and muscular, showing good development. Thighs—Powerful. Hocks strong and near to the ground. Dew claws preferably absent. Feet—Strong and fairly round; toe nails black; pads clear of cracks. Forelegs—Straight; plenty of bone and muscle; elbows working clear of sides. Tail—Carried gaily, but not curled over the back. Colour—Any shade of blue from light to dark. Slight tan allowable up to age of 18 months, after which tan markings to constitute a disqualification. Coat—Soft to touch; weather resisting The head and feet should be clear; body full coated, but tidy. The whole of the coat must be soft. General appearance—Active, hardy, and wiry, with plenty of substance, indicating strength without clumsiness. Must show gameness and intelligence. Serious defects—Weak mouth and jaw, bumpy cheeks, white toe nails, light eyes. Disqualifications—Faking or dyeing. The best points to look for in a Kerry Blue puppy are: Short back, deep chest, great bone, strong foreface, and small ears. Puppies are usually born black, the blue colour developing later.

SHEEP DOC NOTES. TRIAL DATES. Geraldine.—April 12 and 13. Albany.—April 18 and 19. Waimate —April 26 and 27. Waitaki—May 2. Wanaka—May 9, 10, and 11. Tarrae—May 14 and 15. Gore—May 29 and 30. Kyeburn—May 21 and 22. OMARAMA. The Omarama dog trials were held last week in fine weather. Competitors were present from nearly every part of Otairo and Canterbury. Mr Peter Kane gave every satisfaction as judge. The results were as follow: — CLASS I.—Head, bring back, and hold in ring. First prize £2O and cup, second £B, third £5. fourth £2. S. Dixon’s Rain, 53 points 1 A. Aubrey’s Help, 37 points 2 D. M‘Gimpsey’s Toy, 36_ points 3 A. Aubrey’s Moss, 35 points f 4 Judge’s remarks: Dixon’s Ram cast m right, running out freely on a good line, making a fairly good head in 2min 3sec; pulled steadily on a good line; entered ring quietly ; ..eld well in for Iff minutes. A. Aubrey's Help oast on right, running out freelv on good line, making a fairly good head in Imin 28sec; pulled steadily in fairly good line; entered ring quietly; held well. D. M'Gimpsey’s Toy cast on right; went out freely; was r >-ected and made a fair head in 2min 15sec; pulled steadily on a fairly good line; entered ring quietly and held well. A. Aubrey’s Moss cast on right; went out freely; redirected once and made a fair head in zmin; pulled steadily on good line to ring; holding good. CLASS ll— Maiden Huntaway. First prize £lO and cup. second £4, tbiri £2. _ . J. M'Auglilric’s Swift, 35. points .. 1 C. Parker’s Sweep, 34. points . . .. 2 George Keefe’s Don, 32 points .. .. 3 J. Duffy’s points .. .. . - 4 Judge’s,<emarks: J. M‘Aughtrie’s Swift allowed sheep too far to left on flat; Slewed well through first and. second set of flags; completed on good line. Time, 7min 54sec. C. Parker’s Sweep hunted across flat through first and second set of flags in fairly good style; continued on through third set in fairly good line. Time, 7min 45sec. George Keefe’s Don hunted across flat on fairly good line; put sheep through first and second set of flags in fairly good style, keeping good line to top flags, where sheep split. J. Duffy’s Don hunted sheep across flat in good line; failed to slew through first set of flags; headed and pulled back; put through on third attempt; from there took sheep on through second set of flags on a good line, time being called before third set of flags was reached. CLASS lll.—Short pull and yard. First prize £l5, second £6, third £3, fourth £l. C. Parker’s George 11, 34 points .. 1 R. W. Trotter’s Storm, 33 points .. 2 A. L. Aubrey’s Moss 32 points .. .. 3 R. W. Trotter's May of Lint Hills, 29 points 4 Judge’s remarks: C. Parker’s George II cast on right; went out freely on good line, making a fair good head in Imin 49sec; pulled steadily, but allowed sheep to left; work at yards good, penning sheen at first attempt. Time, Bmin 27sec. R. W. Trotter’s Storm cast on right; went out freely, making a fair head in pulled steadily on a fair line; work at yards only fair. Time, lOmin lOsee. A. L. Aubrey’s Moss, cast on right; sent out freely on good line; good head in Imin 22sec; pulled in good line; work at yards fair; failed to pen. R. W. Trotter’s May of Lint Hills, cast on right; went out freely, making a fair but rather wide head in Imin 34sec; lost time in pull; allowed sheep weer to left at foot of hills; work at yards fairly good; failed to pen. CLASS IV. —Open Huntaway. First prize £2O and cup, second £B, third £5, fourth £2. F. M'Gregor’s Ned, 384 points 1 A. Aubrey’s Tweed and George Keefe’s Glen, 38 points (equal) 2 J. M'Aughtrie’s Tin, 37 points .. .. 3 R. W. Trotter’s Bounce, 36 points ... .. 4 Judge’s remarks: F. M'Gregor’s Ned hunted across flat through first and second flags, then taking wrong slew; recovered; continued on in good style through top set in sAmin; command fairly good; hunt good; noise good; slew fairly good; kept good hold of sheep with push; showed splendid style. A. Aubrey’s Tweed hunted across flat through first and second flags on good line; allowed sheep a trifle to left; then took straight through top flags in smin; command fairly good; huntaway good; noise good; slew fairly good; this dog showed very good style throughout. George Keefe’s Glen hunted straight across flat through first and second flags on good line; continued on and compelled in 6min 32sec; command fairly good; hunt good; noise good; slew fairly good; a fairly good hold of sheep, showing good style. J. M'Aughtrie’s Tip hunted across flat through first and second flags in good line; continued on through third set of flags in 6min lOsec; command fair; huntaway good, slew fairly good; noise good, though dog barked back at owner. R. \V. Trotter’s Bounce hunted and slewed through first and second flags in fairly good line; continued on and allowed sheep too far to right near top flags; command fair; huntaway fair; noise fairly good; slew fair. SPECIAL PRIZES. W. Aubrey’s cup for best mustering team (one header and two huntaways) — George Keefe, 97 points. E. H. Aubrey’s cup for winner of Class I- —Stewart Dixon’s Rain. John Kelland’s special of £3 3s to competitor whose best individual scores in Classes I, 11, 111, and IV form the highest aggregate—G. Parker, 134 points. E. Waldron’s special of £2 2s for maiden dog scoring most points Classes I and lII—W. Aubrey’s Drift. C. and W. Wardell’s cup to winner of Class IV—F. M'Gregor’s Ned, 38| points. J.-S. Wood’s £1 Is for command, Class ll— C. Parker’s Sweep. Mr John Downey’s £1 Is for fourth in Class IK—J. Duffy’s Don. George M'Aughtrie’s £1 Is, for dog fiifth in Class I—G. Parker’s G:orge, J. AnderHemp,. E. Davies’s Tara Jack.

R. G. C. Munro's £1 Is, for dog pulling best with least instruction in Class J — Stewart Dixon’s Rain. H. Bain’s £1 Is, for youngest competitor—J. Frew. Mr Anderson’s £1 Is, to maiden competitor gaining most points in Class I—W. Sutherland’s Skip. Mr Anderson’s £1 Is, to maiden competitor gaining most points in Class ill— W. Sutherland’s Joe. Mr Anderson’s £1 Is, to maiden competitor gaining most points in Class IV— Duncan Anderson’s Sam. The secretary’s £1 le, for fastest head in Class I—A. Aubrey’s Help. The Oamaru Mail Company’s £1 Is, to the competitor with most entries not gaining a first prize in trials—J. Anflerson and R. W. Trotter.

Thomas M’Aughtrie’s £1 Is, for dog fifth in Class IV—R. TV. Trotter’s Bounce.