THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 31

THE KENNEL.

By

Terror.

Fancier* and breeders of doga aie cordially invited to contribute to thia column. “Terror” will endeavour to make thia department ae interest my and up-to-date as possible, but in order to do thia he must have the cooperation of his readers, hence he trusts thio invitation will be cheerfully responded to.

“ Collie.”—There is only one method by which, so far as I know, of correcting the carriage of the ears, and that is by weighting the tips of the ears till they tip over. A thin piece of leather is stuck on to the inside of the ear with cobblers’ wax and replacing it when necessary till the tips fall over naturally without being weighted. “ Owner.” —Certainly, you should allow the bitch to breed. It is a natural function, and if prevented at ’recurring seasons the result is premature age. Also, it often tends to develop an obese condition. Any act •in defiance of Nature’s laws has generally to be paid for by suffering. Maxted, who is a recognised authority, says that such practice is cruel in the extreme, and if great cane be not taken fruitful causes of unsightly lacteal tumours, if not of still worse troubles.

“ X.” —The fact that your terrier is continually fouling his bed suggests kidney trouble. Dogs are naturally cleanly in this respect. If chained to a kennel they generally extend the chain as far as possible from the kennel before relieving themselves. As to the cause of the kidney trouble and the proper treatment you should consult a veterinary surgeon. The Cardiff Championship Show advertises that a rest tent will be erected for the exclusive use of lady visitors, and that writing materials, aspirin tablets, and eau-de-Cologne maj 7 be obtained free of charge from the attendant there. It is evident that we can still look to the Old Country for new ideas. At some dog shows even in New Zealand eau-de-Cologne for people with sensitive noses would be appreciated. It is interesting to note that, whereas all our terribrs are of British origin, our toy dogs are exotic immigrants. With the exception of the sprightly Yorkshire terrier and the miniature black and tan we have no British toy dogs. The Yorkshire terriei is a very old favourite in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and is mainly kept in those counties, though the rage for them has spread, and many good specimens are to be seen far away from the coasts of England. A very small dog. 41b is considered a nice weight for a show specimen. It is very short in the back, has a moderately long head, ears very small, and carried as a fox-terrier’s. It is a long-coated dog, the longer the better, provided the coat is quite straight. The body colour is a bright steel blue; lege and portion of the head, chest, and the face to be of a rich golden tan. All tan markings to be absolutely free from dark hairs, or, as it is called, sootiness. Tail cut short, and just carried higher than the level of the back. Must be active, sound, and straight in forelegs. Yorkshire Terriers.—According to Our Dogs anyone who denies that the Yorkshire terrier is a terrier has still something to learn, and illustrates its contention by stating as a fact that a tiny Yorkshire bitch weighing 21b loz recently killed a mouse caught in the room in which she was exercising. She was on it in a flash, shaking and killing it in approved fashion.

The Fox-terrier.—“ It seems to be a point on which experts differ, whether it is possible to select . the “ pick of the litter ” with any certainty at a few weeks old. Two such masters as the late Mr Losco Bradley and Mr Redmond held opposite views; the former used to say lie took any one almost at random; while the latter would travel 250 miles to make a selection, spend an hour in careful examination, and return after lunch for another detailed search before selecting his choice; and it must be added that he very generally had no reason to regret his caution. In the case of Ch, Danesgate Diana, Captain Holdsworth is reasonably proud of the fact that he selected her from a litter of four at about eight weeks; he sold her to Mr Padwick at about double that age. It - must always be a matter of great satisfaction when an early purchase makes good. It may well be repeated that a puppy of six or eight weeks is worth more than four out of five of them are at six to eight months; although the little rascal has eaten perhaps two or three pounds’ worth of food, and demanded much care and labour, he has by tlfis time either made good, when he may change hands at £5OO, as Diana is believed to have done, or else have sunk into the “companion” status and be worth little more than the cost of his food. The value of a baby puppy lies in his potentiality for greatness, which has passed away when be has matured. The

large fanciful prices paid for yearling thoroughbreds follow the same rule, of course; for one that makes good, nine at least fail to fulfil the highest hopes, but the one success amply covers the failures, if not in finance, at least in sentiment, and perhaps in both.”—Rosslyn Bruce. General Complaints.—“ Two good rules for dogkeepers to learn,” says Robert Leighton in his book “ Your Dog,” “.at the outset of any sickness, are, firstly, that in case of any doubt, or if the trouble is at all serious, they will save time, money, and maybe the dog’s life, by promptly calling in a qualified veterinary surgeon; and secondly, that in nine cases out of ten the dog’s ailments are the same, with the-ssame symptoms and the same results, as in ourselves. Any woman accustomed to nursing children should be competent to nurse a dog. in sickness. The dog can receive the same treatment as a child for such ailments as diarrhoea, consumption, colic, stomach disorders, sore eyes, cuts, burns, poisoning, fits, and the other disturbances incidental to human infancy; for the remedies and cures are precisely similar, only that in giving medicine to a dog tire dose should be relative to his size and condition. In the case of a terrier the dose of any medicine is one-fourth of that prescribed for an adult human. In dealing with the -sick dog one should use more common sense than physic, and it is well to remember that nursing and a little extra attention, to diet often effect a cure without any drugs at all.”

Contrasts in Dog Life. —“A dog’s life indeed ! ” says an English writer, commenting upon the statements of an Australian visitor to England contrasting London and Sydney conditions. Expressing surprise at the amazing number of dogs he had seen in the world’s metropolis, the antipodean said : “In Sydney there is an absolute scarcity. This is due to the fact that there dogs may not be taken in any omnibus or tramcar, neither are they allowed in any hotel or restaurant, ferry ship or club.” Miss M. E. Martino, who returned from England at the end of last year, bringing two high-class Irish setters with her, was also impressed with the differences. In England, she says, dogs are allowed in trains, and on the tops of buses and trams with the permission of the conductors. They are also allowed in hotels, .restaurants, cafes, etc., if "under control” and well behaved.