THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3969, 8 April 1930, Page 30

THE KENNEL.

By

Terror.

Fanciers and braadera of dogs ire Cordially invited to contribute to thia column. “Terror” -will endeavour to make this department oa interesting end up-to-date as possible, but in order to do this he must have the cooperation of his readers, hence ha trusts this invitation will be cheerfully responded to.

The removal of Mr R. Conn to Christchurch is a serious loss to the Dunedin fancy, but his purchase of the Grand Pharmacy in Christchurch will prove to be no small boon to that city’s fanciers, whether in relation to canines or feathered stock, for he is recognised as an experienced veterinary chemist. Our loss is Canterbury’s gain. But why, oh why, these painful partings! Writing the foregoing paragraph, it struck me as hard, very hard, that the Dunedin fancy should lose so many of its foremost and keenest men to other centres It seems to be Dunedin’s lot to supply other parts of the Dominion with worth-while men. Just as Christchurch gains from us our Bob Conn, of Anti-Acido and cocker fame, so a few years back the same city took our Loasby, noted for Wahoo and bantams. Our well-known Fred Rogen, the inventor of Merval for poultry, and world renowned as a breeder of collies and Langshans, and who was notorious for his uncanny knowledge of what would “ nick ’ (irrespective of heredity) for any desirable point he desired to breed for, must, of course, be snatched away to Melbourne. We fortunately still retain our H. L. Sprosen, the inventor and producer of Eggine for poultry and famous as the possessor of the best strain of Minorcas in the Dominion, and I (“ Terror ”) doubt whether there is any power strong enough to drag him from the City Beautiful. I could mention other losses, but enough said.

The New Zealand Kennel Club has confirmed the following championships: Mrs W Purton’s Bill of Stoke (cocker spaniel), Mr F. T. Brock’s Bruce (springer spaniel), Mr H. G. Yates's Sultan (greyhound). Mr AV. D. Hill’s Mountain Magnate (Airedale terrier), Mr Al. F. Woodward’s Sandy (whippet). Mrs A. Al. Jamieson’s Oakland Golden I irefly (Pomeranian). A Question of Sportsmanship.—The question of a dog having won several first prizes in Australia and then appearing for the first time in minor classes was brought before the New Zealand Kennel Club at its last meeting. It was stated that a dog that had been a great winner in Australia had been entered in the maiden and novice class at Dannevirke. It was decided that it be left to the sportsmanship of the owner of an imported dog as to whether it should be entered on its first appearance in- New Zealand in minor classes. I THE COLLIE. Mr T. Thomas, a vice-president and publicity officer of the Collie Club of Australia, writes me to say that, being interested in everything of interest in respect to show collies, he noticed a paragraph which appeared in the Otago Witness of March 4 in which I quoted Our Dogs (England) as saying that “the length of the head of a collie is not given in the club’s standard. It [the head] varies a little in accordance with the size of the dog. Nine and three-quarter inches in a bitch is a good average, and not a fault unless it is thick in head.” Mr Thomas says that this very question was discussed at the last meeting of the Collie Club of Australia, and, thinking my readers would be interested, he forwards the general opinion of the meeting as follows: —■

“ The length of the head, as you said, necessarily depends on the size of the dog, but the angle of the ‘ wedge ’ must be the same in all cases. Taking a standard dog with a height of 24in at the shoulders, it was considered that a perfect head would be ll|in by sin across the skull between the ears and Ilin across the nose, the wedge to run in a straight line from the nose right through to the widest part between the ears. If a dog’s head is in that proportion of length to width acording to height, it will form a well-balanced head and a very pleasing ‘ wedge,’ which will not appear heavy and too snipy.”

Whilst thanking Mr Thomas for the information he so kindly conveys to my readers, I may point out that length of head being unmentioned in the club’s standard and the rough-coated collie being now essentially a fancy breed, any length of head favoured by judges will be supplied by the breeders. Year by year, or at least decade by decade, the collie’s head becomes longer. Borjoi blood, it is said, has been introduced for the purpose of exaggerating this point, and so long as the length of head corresponds with the size of the dog length may be regarded as a beauty point. Years back, when the English standard was set up, the show collie was bred, not merely for show, but also for intelligence, and it is

very doubtful whether the present-day show collie compares in that respect with those of the past. The English standard says the skull should be flat, moderately wide between the ears, gradually tapering to the eyes. There ought to be a slight depression at “ stop.” The width of the skull necessarily depends upon the combined length of the skull and muzzle, and the whole must be considered in connection with the size of the dog. The cheek should not be full or prominent. The muzzle ought to be of fair length, tapering to the nose, and must not show weakness, be snipy, or lippy. The nose must be black. Stonehenge (1859). speaking of the “colley,” says: “With a fine muzzle, he combines an intelligent-looking and rather broad head, and a clear but mild eye. a pricked and small ear slightly falling at the tip.”

SHEEP DOG TRIALS. Omarama.—April 8,9, and 10. Wanaka.—April 14, 15, and 16. Lochiel. —April 15 and 16. Albury.—April 15 and 16. St. Bathans District Collie Dog Club. — April 15, 16, and 17. Strath-Taieri. —April 15, 16, and 17. Waitaki.—May 7. Gore.—May 20 and 21. Tuapeka.—May 27 and 28. Clutha. —May 29 and 30. WAREPA. The eighth annual trials of the Warepa Collie Dog Club were held at Glenfalloeh, Warepa, the property of Mr AV. S. Thomson, on Wednesday and Thursday, out. The president (Mr J. Carr) and his officials worked well, and Mr Frank Cameron made a very courteous and efficient secretary. Mr Andrew Gibson, of Miller’s Flat, was the judge, and his decisions gave great satisfaction. The principal event, the Long Pull, -was won by Air AV. S. Thomson, and the silver cup for the dog gaining most points in heading in the Long Pull fell to Mr A. T. Millar (Clifden), for the third time, and now becomes his property. Air Stanley Peterson won the Alaiden, Air George Perkins (Stirling) the Maiden Huntaway and Slew, and Air lan Watt (Warepa) the Open Huntaway. Results were as follow:-—

Alaiden (maximum points 32). —S. Peterson’s Alaid (21 points), 1; N. Alorgan’s Jute (20 points), 2; J. Allan’s Lil (19 points), 3. Also competed:—G; Perkin’s Fly (10), W. S. Thomson’s Gyp

(9), D. Morgan’s Tweed (15). E. J. Edie’s Don (13), R. Sheat’s Nip (14). G. Afoffat’s Lou (12), G. Cuttance’s Tui (7), E. Cuttance’s Flirt (6), W. Beat tie’s Bess (15), G. Perkin’s Gyp (16), D. Alorgan’s Kemp (17), J. Sheat’s Nell (16), R. Wilson’s Don (0), H. Anderson’s Bob (17), A. Houliston’s Tib (13), F. Cupitt’s Dick (10), D. Al’Kenzie’s Fleet (16), H. Anderson’s Taipo (13), E. Al’Leod’s Tibby (16), G. Perkin’s Mick (9). Alaid, cast on right, started in good line, but ran wide; headed in Imin 30sec, and pulled steadily in good line to the front of the ring. Jute hunted on the left, came in on the east; redirected twice crossed; lifted rashly; pulled in fair line; dog dived, turned tail; ydrded in 7min 25sec. Lil, cast on right, went out in good line; redirected; headed in Imin; pulled in fair line; split sheep at yards. Long Pull, about 600 yards (maximum points 36). —W. S. Thomson’s Toss (334 points) 1, A. T. Millar’s Kip (33 points! 2, E. Al’Leod’s Tippy (324 points) 3. Also competed: E. Al’Leod’s"Fly (20), J. Sheat’s Nell (0), G. Cuttance’s Tui (0), J. Allan’s Don (10), M. Beattie’s Bess (19), A. Nelson’s Wag (16). S. Peterson’s Alaid (20). AV. S. Thomson’s Glen (281), E. Al’Leod’s Nell (28), S. Moffat s Peg (13), D. Alorgan’s Kemp (O'), H. Anderson’s Nigger (26), A. T. Aliller’s Runt (30). E. Al’Leod’s Spy (11), N. Alorgan’s Jute (21), S. Alaze’s Tweed

loss hunted on the right, came m a little at start, then in good line; headed a nttle close; headed in Imin 30sec; pulled in good line to front of line; work in ring and yard and command good; yarded in 7min 30sec.

Kip hunted on right, went out in good line; headed in 2min; dog stopped, let sheep off line; work at ring and yard good; command good. Tippy hunted on right, came in on east; redirected; set before headingpulled steadily in fair line; work in ring and yard good; yarded in 9min 55sec. Final for Cup. lhe first five dogs in the Long Pull then ran off for the silver cun, value £lO 10s, presented by NF, s , W- Thomson. This resulted: A. T Millers Runt (354 points) 1. A T Alil(34 _ Points) 2, AV. S. Thomson’s S oS m> Points) 3. Also competed: W. m-i Glen < 3 °), E - Al’Leod’s libby (26). Alaiden Huntaway and Slew.—G. Perkins sAlick (25 points) 1. H. Anderson’s .(24 points) 2, E. Al’Leod’s Barney (12 points) 3. Also competed: N Morgans Bruce (0). G. Aloffat’s Joe (0), S Petersons Tweed (0). G. Madge’s Sweep (0L L. Cuttance’s Rock (11), H. Andersons Bob (11). W. Thomson’s Roy (0). Mick hunted a little rashly; headed the sheep through poles first attempt; careless, through second poles in good .ine, also through third poles; noise, style and command fair.

Tweed hunted well away from pen; through first poles at first attempt; dog careless, through second poles; slow on slew; time called just at third pole. Barney hunted well off course; doubled back and through poles; dog doiii" more slewing than hunting at the second pole Open Huntaway.—lan Watt’s Sid (34 points) 1, 11. Anderson’s Tweed (31 points) 2, AV. S. Thomson’s Fox (294 points) 3, S. Peterson’s Alick (29 points! r competed: H. Anderson’s Taipo (28). G Perkins’s Alick (26), S. Petcrs°n« Fate (0), A. T. Aliller’s Snub (23), TwerfßO)'."”" C ° J ’ (0) - S ' Sid went through the first noles in good line, and also through the second poles; headed at third poles and through in 6min 4 n? c ’ J’tyle, noise, arid command good was careless at the start, but went through the first poles at the first attempt; let sheep a little off line, but went through the second pole-'and through the third poles in good line. Time. 6min 3usec. Command good. Fox hunted through the first poles slewing more than hunting through the second poles, and went through the third pp’es in good line. Time, 6min 45sec. Noise good and command fair. Mick hunted through the first poles, dog slewing more than hunting; went through the second poles, and in good line through the third poles: one sheep missed. Command good. Head. Huntaway, and Slew.—A. T. Millar’s Snub (34 points), 1: G. Perkins’s Mick (31), 2; S. Peterson’s Mick (30), 3; H. Anderson’s Taipo (29). 4. Five others competed.

Special Prizes.—Silver cup. valued at £lO 10s, gift of Mrs AA 7 . S. Thomson — Air A. T. Millar (Clifden. Southland). Silver cup, valued at £8 Bs, for most points in long pull and open huntaway— Air W. S. Thomson. Silver cup. valued at £5 ss, for most points in Alaiden—Mr S. Peterson. Trophy for youngest competitor—Air R. Sheat (Aiilton). Silver shield, valued at £l5 15s, gift of Air Simon Wright, for first in open head — Air AV. S. Thomson. Trophy, gift of Air W. Knox, for oldest competitor—Mr Edward Al’Leod (Gore). Silver rosebowl — A. T. Alillar. Pair of stirrup irons, gift of Air W. Keen, for competito. with most entries —Air H. Anderson.