THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3957, 14 January 1930, Page 30

THE KENNEL.

BY

Terror.

Fanciers inj brsodera of dogs ar* cordially invited to contribute to thia column. “Terror" will endeavour to make th’S department as interesting and up-to-date as pooaible, but in •rder to do this he must leave the cooperation of his readers, hence he trusts this invitation will be cheerfully responded to. “ Owner." —An outdoor kennel will be right for your dog, provided it is not in too exposed a position and is waterproof. Some dogs prefer a bare floor, and this is easy to keep clean, but if your dog will tolerate clean straw, hay. or a piece of sacking or carpet it will make for comfort. We are advised not to dilute cow’s milk with water in feeding puppies on the bottle, 'because a bitch’s milk is twice as rich in solids as a cow’s. It is reported that Mr Saville’s (Fairlie) young Sealyham bitch Opihi Queen of Sheba has whelped a litter of six. These puppies are by Brazen Biltong, and four are being reared. Mr R. Fairhall, of Greymouth, has purchased a smooth fox terrier puppy by Gaylin Cluny of Invercargill ex Birchley Bramble from its breeder, Miss V. Kettle. Mr G. S. A. Biltcliff, of Ricearton, has received definite assurance that one of the two whippets consigned to him from Melbourne per the Manuka has been saved. It was discovered following a boat about two hours after the wreck took place. Alsatians in New Zealand.—The following extract from a letter appeared as a paragraph in Our Dogs of November 15, signed by Mr A. G. Ireland, of New Zealand: —“There seems to be a great impression here in New Zealand that the Alsatian is a savage, unintelligent dog, and would with or without the slightest provocation attack and worry sheep, to say nothing of w human beings. This is primarily a sheep ccruntry, and these eoiossally ignorant people (who, I am sorry to say, are in the very great majority) have agitated to such an extent that the Government is seriously considering banning both further breeding and further importations. The question is still in abeyance, but. should the measure be passed, it is hoped to rid the country of Alsatians in seven years. Of. course, there are some who realise the sterling worth of Alsatians, and will make their voices heard. I know mine will be. The hardest part of it all is the fact that the most prominent people are against the dogs. A case in point: A wellknown lawyer, in the course of a speech, said that Alsatians were absolute rubbish and of no use to man or beast. Voices like his have the ear of people, and it is only mob-psychology that they should say: ‘ Big man. Must know what he is talking about. We must be like a famous statesman and wait and see.’ ’’ Dogs and the Law : Dog Sold AfterDetention at a Dogs’ Home. —A dispute aver the possession of a dog was heard at Gloucester County Court (England) recently, when William Price claimed from Ernest Allen, both of Gloucester, the return of a spaniel bitch (valued at £5 ss) and 10s damages for its detention. Mr A. Lionel Lane, who appeared for Price, said the animal, which was both useful and a pet. strayed, and it was taken to the Dogs’ Home, from where Allen purchased it after it had been kept for some 10 days, paying 4s for it. Allen also bought a chain and took out a dog's license for the animal. The same day he was seen by Price, who claimed the dog, at the same time offering him another dog in exchange. Price also offered to reimburse Allen with the 4s he had paid for the dog. the cost of the chain, and the license. That was refused. Mr Lane said that under the Dog Act anybody appointed by the police as an officer under the Act might, after seven days’ detention, sell or destroy an animal. He could not say whether or not the Dogs’ Home was appointed in that way under the Act. and no statutory defence had been filed. The judge observed that there might be a pretty legal argument on the point, and if the defendant would like to spend £lOO fighting it he might hear an interesting decision. Looking at the whole matter broadly, however. Price had a right to have the dog if he (Allen) were reimbursed the amount he had expended. His Honor gave judgment for the return

of the dog to Price and the payment of Ils 6d to Allen, and on the suggestion of

Mr Lane adjourned the case generally. The best weight for a cocker spaniel is 261 b to 281 b. and a pupny six months old should weigh about 221 b. Scalds and Burns.—lt has been discovered that the many deaths following scalds and burns are not due to shock as has to date been thought, but to bloodpoisoning, the result of the absorption into the system of the decomposed tissues destroyed by the burning or scalding. It has now been discovered that a solution of tannic acid sprayed on the injured

surface every hour causes all this decomposed matter to become coagulated on the surface, so that it can ultimately be removed. In this way the absorption of poison into the system is prevented and the patient makes a good recovery. This discovery, made in the interests of human beings, has proved effective in the case of animals, and all dog owners will no doubt be pleased to take note of the fact, as dogs are very apt to get in the way of anyone moving a kitchen kettle or boiling-over pot. “ Medicus ” (Our Dogs), in reference to this discovery remarks:

“In all the books dealing with canine ailments one finds the old treatment with

" carron oil ’ (linseed oil and lime water) recommended for burns. This is what has hitherto been used for human beings also. Unfortunately it has proved quite unavailing in serious cases, so much so that death has come to be regarded as almost the inevitable sequel to bad burning accidents. Now it seems to me that there is no reason whatever why dog owners should not provide themselves with a supply of tannic acid, which can be dissolved in water at a few moments’ notice, and with a spray such as might be used for the nose or throat, and have these things in readiness to use instead of the old-fashioned carron oil for their dogs (or for that matter, for any member of the household) should an unfortunate accident occur. I gather from a reply given in the House of Commons recently that the medical experts have been directed to prepare instructions for the public at large as to the use of tannic acid in the most effective manner. We shall doubtless therefore get some further reliable guidance on the subject in due course. In the meantime it would appear that a 5 per cent, solution of the acid in water that has been boiled and cooled is the right thing to use. The strength should not exceed 5 per cent. It is not practicable to keep a solution ready-made, because when tannic acid is dissolved in water a chemical change begins to take place, and the tannic acid is converted into gallie acid, which is useless for the purpose indicated. The spraying should be done as indicated in the general instructions issued by the Medical Research Council in its report. Although these instructions relate to the treatment of human beings, they can readily be modified to suit canine needs. I he report says: ‘ An aqueous solution of tannic acid is applied, and should be freshly prepared for each case. Tannic

acid in solution is finally changed to gallie acid which has no power to precipitate or coagulate protein. The change does not occur for some weeks. Therefore there is no necessity to prepare a fresh solution for each application. Two to 5 per cent, in warm sterile water is the most convenient strength; 5 per cent, is recommended by some authors, but has no special advantage over the weaker solution. Very strong solutions have a corrosive action. The warm solution is sprayed on the affected areas from an ordinary nasal spray atomiser, and the parts are then dried by means of the electric lamp bulbs in the bed cage, or by a current of hot air from an electric drier.’ Spraying and drying are carried out at intervals of one hour till the parts are covered with a thin brown layer of coagulated tissue. This usually appears in burns of the second and third degrees after from eight to twelve applications. In deeper lesions, ami also when there is much exudation of serum from the raw surface, further applications may be required to procure a satisfactory coagulum. There is no danger of a too deep corrosive action when a weak solution is used.’ The reference to a ‘bed cage’ and electrical appliances is. of course, to what would be done in a hospital. How to deal with a dog is not so easy to determine, but it would perhaps be possible

to use a shallow cardboard box with a

hole cut in it as a ‘cage’ to be kept over the place. Then the spraying could be done easily, but the drying would have to be allowed to come about automatically from the warmth of the body. But absorbent sheet wool could be stretched over the ‘ cage,’ and that would probably suffice. Veterinary surgeons will doubtless be quick to equip themselves with suitable apparatus for this purpose, as they must often be called upon to deal with burning and scalding cases. The amateur can. however, save time and help matters forward by adopting some of the suggestions now made, pending the arrival of the vet., who should be called in if the case is at all serious.’’ o:— j m r»r X UUIULIV JL UUUVUVV. xtn A. »v . Hogarth, who recently visited New Zealand after judging some shows in Australia, writing to Our Dogs, says:—Mr

Walshe, a New’ Zealand breeder, says: “ Why is it that dogs are inclined to grow so big in New Zealand? Look at the big fox terriers we have had and now have.’’ He gives as his reason for the cause tnc theory that there is not enough winter, and that, consequently, the dog grows ail the year round. I think the question one of absorbing interest, and it has exercised the mind of the writer not oniy in his New Zealand travels, but in his travels in all countries, and I am sure hundreds of breeders must have been perplexed by the same phenomenon that has exercised the mind of our far-off friend. But 1 cannot find myself wholly in agreement with his theory as to the cause. Why. for instance, are the inhabitants of Iceland just as big in bone and build as those of Zululand and Fiji?—l refer to the native inhabitants. In Iceland the winter is hard; in the two other countries mentioned it is mild. Again. T have observed Pomeranians in Sydney (Australia), bred from Australian-bred stock, weighing but a pound or two, alongside animals off the same stock weighing many pounds. Again there are the Afghan hounds, the Salukis, and the Rampurs, all bred under the sun at its wannest, and without winter as it is known even in the northern portion of New Zealand, and they are the essence of refinement. Perhaps it is that the first generation, or two generations, from imported stock are so influenced by the milder climate that they foige ahead much faster than they would were they born in the land of their parents. Yet. on the other hand, we have observed ''amongst horse stocks on the western plains of Canada the same effect, and that where the winter is sometimes mucn below zero for months on end. Similarly, we observed in Our Dogs in 1926 the apparent coarseness of bull terriers in the same region. Is it therefore merelv necessary to transport the parent animals from one climate to another to upset the size of the progeny? We have shown that in climates with very hard winters animals can achieve size and coarseness, just as they can in climates where frost is unknown, so that Mr Walshe’s theory is not necessarily correct. Nevertheless, it is a matter that might elicit information from your readers, some of whom may have kept records of weights and measurements of their dogs over a number of years. The subject is certainly more complex than it at first sight appears, and important as it is, it can hardly be dismissed by hasty observations, and more likely it will be after a number of years of experimentation in all climates that a correct solution of one of the bugbears' of breeders overseas will be found. Almost every day someone writes to ask if a bitch which has had hysterical fits should be bred from, and it cannot lie too generally known that there is nothing whatever against it. Though this apparently alarming, but in result-.; very trifling, affliction is certainly imitative, it is neither infectious nor contagious. and certainly not hereditary. If it were decided to breed from no dogs thus afflicted, it is probable the canis domesticus would soon become extinct, for the prevalence of these fits has been almost universal lately. Probably there is no satisfactory explanation of this trouble, but. fortunately, it is very soon over, and, if repeated, even five grains of bromide administered daily for a few days have near ly always met every case, though one hears that in obstinate eases of recurrence two grains of chloral hydrate has been used with great success. One very popular handler has a simple method of treatment, which he assures us is very effective: “Give ’em a smack on the head, and tell ’em off a bit!"—Rosslyn Bruce.

Influence of Past Generations in Breeding.—-Earl Bathurst, the author of

“ The Breeding of Foxhounds.” pays a compliment to a writer I have often quoted in these notes. He says:—" Dr Rosslyn Bruce goes very thoroughly into the modern system and theory of breeding fox terriers, and has contrasted the theories of Mendel with the Bruee-Lowa system; and though he admits that it is undeniable that there is a great deal to glean from Mendel, and even asserts that his theory is at the foundation of all scientific breeding, yet it is difficult to apply the theory to prize terriers, where not one excellence, but a combination of them, is required.” Lord Bathurst approves Dr Bruce’s emphasis upon the predominance of the tail-female, and asserts his own belief in the value of going back for guidance to the fourth, fifth, or even sixth generation. But if the sixth, where there are already 126 ancestors, one may wonder why it is advisable to stop there, even. Of course, to an out-and-out “ Line and Family ” breeder, ev» n in the sixth generation there are only six female ancestors (the tail female), and secondarily six male ancestors (the tail male) to consider; the remaining 57 dogs and 57 bitches, whicn appear in the pedigree, being taken (in ordinary carefully selected stock, bred on the usual lines of out-crossing to the best sire, not closely related) to cancel one another’s influence.