THE KENNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 31

THE KENNEL.

By

Terror

Fanciers and breeders of doge are cordially invited to contribute to thin column. “Terror” will endeavour to make th>a department as interesting and 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 cheerfciUy responded to.

Ladies as Office-bearers.—“ Omega,” of the Melbourne Leader, in reference to the Canine Control Council, says : “ When those interested came to look through the list of those eligible to be nominated for election as office-bearers of the new controlling body for canine affairs to be formed, it was found that in many breeds quite two-thirds of the registered owners of the dogs were women, and women are deemed by the constitution not to be eligible to hold office: When the list of those nominated is examined one is bound to admit, with all due respect to the men, that the intelligence of the average woman in the dog world can compare quite favourably with all of them, and when it is known that most dog clubs, either directly or indirectly, are run principally by women, it seems the height of impertinence to deny them the right to a seat on the council.”

The Finsk Spetz'.—The success achieved by Sir Edward Chichester, Bart., by exhibiting in foreign dog classes in England, has attracted a good deal of attention and admiration to the Finsk Spetz, and a contributor to Our Dogs explains that “it was while elk-hunting in Norway that Sir Edward Chichester came across what was to him a very attractive red dog—a dog so foxy in appearance, so beautifully coloured, so fiery, and with such a marvellous orange-hued coat that he took an immediate fancy to it. Sir Edward ascertained that the dog which had so fascinated him was what is called the barking bird dog of Finland and Lapland, and after a great deal of inquiry and trouble, extending over many months, he managed to secure two very fine specimens from Finland. On their arrival in England, Sir Edward Chichester found that the two Spetz not only fulfilled his hopes of what their appearance would be. but he discovered that these dogs were equally beautiful in disposition. Wider experience of the Finsk Spetz corroborated the earlier impressions. and as the breed proved that it was absolutely reliable with children of all ages, Sir Edward has always six or seven of these dogs running at their own free will in all parts of the house. Sir Edward Chichester got the fullest information about the Finsk Spetz from the Finnish Kennel Club, to the effect that these dogs occupy the place of favouritism in the canine cult of Finland—firstly because of their national characteristics and secondly because they are used in the pursuit of game. In the latter connection field trials are held from time to time, and are followed with keenest interest by Finnish sportsmen.” A puppy’s milk teeth develop during its first few weeks of life, and are replaced by permanent teeth. Usually these are developed without much trouble, but occasionally the permanent teeth pene trate the gums before the milk teeth have fallen out. It is advisable to examine a pup’s mouth from time to time.

Tire bulldog Bing, a world-war hero, decorated for service with the United States expeditionary forces in France, was buried in the soldiers’ cemetery at Dennison, Ohio, a few weeks ago with military honours. Bing was the only dog to receive a bonus from the United States Government. He was assigned £l2 a month as a soldier’s pension. His citation from the French Government was for “scenting gas and saving a company from death.” Bing suffered as a puppy by inhaling gas in the trenches. During his last few months he lay on a cot in the American Legion Headquarters, but the pain from rheumatism became so acute that he was chloroformed. Skin Trouble.—Skin complaints often cause much discomfort to dogs. A writer in Our Dogs (England), relating his own experience, says : “ I breed, spaniels, and never had a case of skin trouble until I was presuaded to buy two blueroan bitches. When they arrived I found that all the fur was off the ears, only the leather remaining, but was told that the pups were always pulling the fur off each other’s ears. I had no suspicion that anything was wrong until my own dogs began to have small patches. One had all the fur off one ear, only the leather remaining, and various running sores began to appear on different animals in various patches again. I soon dried up the places with boric powder and starch, and they turned to dry scurf. I used to feed on brown bread and cooked meat every day, but I stopped that and put them on a raw meat diet every day—nothing else, —and I am pleased to say

that that did the trick. All my dogs’ skins cleared up, and all at ouce I found I had no skin trouble whatever, and 1 can tell you I had had it for months and months. My dogs are now in the loveliest condition —not a blemish on any of them.” The Smooth Fox Terrier. —Besides the nine points of a good smooth fox terrier there are an almost countless number of side issues, any of which may become of primary importance in deciding a terrier’s destiny and value. At cricket there are only nine ways of being out, and very few who did not have them dinned into them in very early youth can gabble them, off. Here they are : (1) caught, (2) bowled, (3) 1.b.w.. (4) hit wickets, (5) run out, (6) stumped, (7) handling. (8) interfering, (9) hitting twice. At the terrier game there are also nine essentials : 1) head, (2) neck, (3) shoulders, (4) ribs, (5) quarters, (6) stern. (7) limbs, (8) coat, (9) action. But whereas at cricket there are no other ways of being put out, a terrier is beset not only with all these, which should be perfect, but also with a vast number of other points, any one of which may knock all the ciphers off the numerical statement of a terrier’s value. Perhaps the commonest of these is the incorrigible “ short dock,” which represents an unpardonable human blunder, taking but two seconds to perpetrate, but mutilating a terrier for the term of its natural life Another is condition—that subtle testimony to physical health and well-being which is so perfect in some individuals as to require no thought or care whatever, but in others a matter of constant anxiety and much painstaking effort, while a third is that happy medium between obstreperous high spirits on the one hand and faint-hearttfd lethargy on the other, a. quality, which prevents a terrier, from either striving to administer sudden death to his rivals or concentrating entirely upon the chemical composition of the earth between his forefeet. This is sometimes technically known as “ ring manners,” and though born in some terriers, by others it must be achieved by an occasional lesson upon how to make the most of their natural gifts while wearing a collar attached to a lead.—-Rosslyn Bruce.

The .Bulldog. —The writer of “Bulldog Barks ” in Our Dogs comments as follows in a recent note:—“Mr A. CroxtonSmith’s considered opinion on any breed of dogs is always worthy of careful examination, and I advise bulldog fanciers to try and obtain a copy of the Field of July 5, and to study thoughtfully his article on page 21, which is entitled ‘ Deforming the Bulldog : _Where are we going ? ’ In this article" Mr CroxtonSmith admits that for some years past the older breeders of bulldogs have evinced much concern about the general trend of affairs, and goes on to say that several weeks ago Mr Sam Crabtree made some very pertinent remarks in which he strongly deprecated the efforts which are undoubtedly being made to raise the standard weight of bulldogs, and in which he asserted that he could see no reason for having bulldogs over the standard weight of 501 b, as the great majority of dogs over 601 b were coarse, too heavily wrinkled, had big, heavy ears, and •were shapeless in body. With these remarks I am entirely in agreement, as I have declared in my ‘ Barks ’ on more than one occasion of late. Later on in his article Mr Croxton-Smith argues that, in the ambition to get typical heads, soundness and body properties have been sacrificed, so that to-day we do not possess the heavy front quarters, pear-shaped bodies, and cut-up of loin of the past, and he-adds that in the days of ch. Rodney Stone (i.e„ 30 years ago) muscle was of more importance than blubber, whereas to-day the idea seena

to be that a superabundance of fat gives the massiveness of body that is desirable, whilst many of the present-day dogs are very much out at the pasterns. Mr Croxtqn-Smith’s long and intimate connection with all matters appertaining to our friend the dog entitles his words to be read and digested with the greatest respect, and, frankly speaking, I was very pleased to . read his article, which in most respects confirms what I have been trying to preach for some considerable time now. There can be no possible doubt whatver that for a number of years now we have been tending to get our dogs too big, too coarse, too shapeless in body, and too devoid of muscle. But there is also no doubt in my mind, from the many letters that I have received on the subject, that this type of dog’s day is beginning to set, and that the fashion for dogs of over 601 b in weight with enormous, heavily wrinkled heads, and fat, shapeless bodies is beginning to disappear. Type in head is. of course, absolutely essential, but we must have type in body as well, and what we want is an absolutely sound and reasonably active dog of standard weight (451 b to 551 b) which possesses, in addition to good head properties, heavy front quarters, a ‘ roach ’ baek, a pear-shaped body, the desired cut-up loin, and light but muscular hindquarters. It must also be borne in mind that many of the coarse, oversized dogs lack type in head just as much as in body, having heavy, low-set ears and coarse, ropey wrinkle, which is by no means characteristic of the breed. The dog that I have tried to portray is the ideal that we must strive for, and such a dog’s beautiful body shape would only be spoiled by a superabundance of fat. In Mr Croxton-Smith’s . closing . words, ‘ the bulldog, as a national possession and one of the finest of our native breeds, should be cultivated with- the utmost care, and any departure from the correct type, whether in head or body, should be received with protest.’” NOTED COLLEGE IN DANGER. Money is urgently needed if the Royal Veterinary College in Camden Town, London, is not to be forced to close its doors after being in existence for 150 years. Professor Hobday, the principal of the college, explained the gravity of the situation to the Daily Mirror the other day.

The sum of £30,000 has already been raised voluntarily. The Government will add £ for £ to this, making £GO.OOO, and has made a further offer of £70,000 without conditions, bringing it to a total of £130,000. The departmental committee set up by the late Government reported as the result of its investigation that a minimum sum of £325,000 was necessary for buildings and equipment, togetner with £21,000 annually for maintenance. The Government has since made the further statement that it considers £250.000 will suffice for buildings and equipment, and has now added the promise of a further sum of £50,000 on condition that the college authorities raise another £70,000.

If every sportsman or woman who loves horses will help, even, it is suggested, if only by contributing a proportion of their winnings until the end of the year, the amount would soon be forthcoming. The grej'hound authorities have already shown their approval, and if the dogracing public also makes gifts it will help substantially.

“ Owners of pet dogs might endow kennels in memory of those who have been faithful friends and companions,” said Professor Hobday. “If every dog and cat owner in the British Isles_contributed a shilling or even sixpence eacTFit would give us a huge sum. Garden fetes and gymkanas held in various parts of the country are also suggested.” Professor. Hobday pointed out that England, which is the most animal-loving country in the world, has been curiously neglectful towards veterinary science. What would happen to Great Britain if there were no veterinary surgeons and veterinary colleges ceased to exist ? “ When Russia dispensed with its veterinary service disease contagious to mankind swept through the country like a plague. Rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease devastated their herds of cattle.”