KENNEL NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22159, 30 October 1933, Page 5

KENNEL NOTES

(By

“Setter?’)

THE BORDER COLLIE. The Border Collie is not a show dog but for working qualities he is unequalled. As far as the writer knows there is no official standard of points for the breed, but Mr James Scott, of Overhall, Hawick, a recognized authority, gives the following as a _ description of the Border Collie in a book on dogs by A. Croxton-Smith, 0.8. E—- . most important points are rough coats, short backs, strong loins, narrow chest. Mr Scott considers that hair feet are the best for work, although cat-feet are the neatest; it is important that they should be well covered with hair. There is a stop between the eyes and pronounced frontal development; ears prick or semi-prick. He prefers the former, with which he thinks the dogs can hear better. The tail is carried low; stifles well bent and of such shape as to meet the elbow when the dog is springing. A narrow chest and deep brisket permit of easier and freer action.”

The Bearded Collie. The Scottish Bearded Collie is not unlike the Old English sheep dog, but he is smaller, is not so strong in the muzzle, has a small beard under his chin and his tail is not docked. He is a very active dog and is built for galloping uphill. In “Our Dogs” weekly paper in 1910 “Inteopolis” described the Beadie thus: “About the same size and stature of the ordinary collie. Some of those used for work are smaller and thus better adapted for hillside work. His head in formation is somewhat on the lines of the Sandie Sinmont Terrier, rather broad in skull, but more rugged looking. The skull is flat, and the ears rather heavy and carried at the side of the skull. The muzzle is of fair depth and moderate length from the eye to the tip of the nose and not snipey. The eye is more round than almond shaped and a trifle bold. The best coloured eye is dark hazel, but, as the dogs are found in different colours, the eye tint varies accordingly. The nose should be black. The head is finished off with a mass of harsh hair, hanging over the eyes and cheeks, much like unto the Old English bobtail, but not of the same closeness and length, and there should be the resemblance of a goat-like beard under the chin. The coat consists of an inner and outer one. The inner coat is composed of very close, fine hair, while the outer one is of an exceptionally harsh nature, long, and does not lie smooth, giving the dog a rough appearance. All four legs are frilled with hair of a slightly softer nature than that on the body. The front legs are straight and the hind quarters strong. The feet should be very firm and close padded. Body much in length as the ordinary collie, and back level. The tail should be comparatively short and carried with some gayness. Various colours, viz., cairngorm (grizzly red), sandy, very dark grey, steel grey, and grey with a streak of light tan.”

The Old English Sheepdog. This breed is a real working one, and “Setter” cannot understand why it has not become more popular in New Zealand. On the flat farm, especially on a small one, where one dog is required to do the work of sheep and cattle dog, the old English bob-tail would be an ideal helper. Of course, his coat takes a great deal of looking after; perhaps that is why he is not used to the extent he should be. Apart from herding, he is a grand dog. for retrieving on land or in water, is a wonderful guard, a splendid vermin killer, very tractable, and above all a first-class companion. The tail of the old English sheepdog is docked shortly after birth. The reason for this is given that the drovers were exempt from taxation on their working dogs, so they used this method of distinguishing the animals from those that were taxed.

The following is the official standard of points of the old English sheepdog:— Skull.—Capacious, rather squarely formed, giving plenty of room for brain. Parts over eyes well arched and the whole well covered with hair. Jaw.—Fairly long, strong, square and truncated; the stop defined to avoid a deerhound face. Eyes.—Dark or wall-eyes are preferred. Nose.—Black, large and capacious. Teeth—Strong and large, evenly placed, and level in position. Ears.—Small, carried flat to side of head, coated moderately. Forelegs.—Dead straight, with plenty of bone, removing the body a medium height from the ground, without approaching legginess; well coated all round. Feet.—Small, round; toes well arched, and pads thick and round. Tail. —Puppies • requiring docking should have the operation performed within a week from birth, preferably within four days. Neck.—Fairly long, arched gracefully, well coated with hair. Shoulders.—Sloping and narrow at the points, the dog standing lower at the shoulders than at the loin.

Body.—Rather short and very compact, ribs well sprung, and brisket deep and capacious. Loin.—Very stout and gently arched. Hindquarters.—Round and muscular and with well let-down hocks, and the hams densely coated with a thick, long jacket in excess of any other part. Coat.—Profuse, and of good hard texture; not straight, but shaggy and free from curl. The undercoat a waterproof pile when not removed by grooming or season. Colour.—Any shade of grey, grizzle, blue, or blue merle, with or without white markings or in reverse. Any shade of brown or sable distinctly objectionable and not fo be encouraged. Height—22 inches and upwards for dogs, slightly less for bitches. Type, symmetry and character are of the greatest importance, and on no account to be sacrificed to size alone. General.—A strong compact-looking dog of great symmetry, absolutely free from legginess, or weaselness, profusely coated all over, very elastic in its gallops, but in walking or trotting a characteristic ambling or pacing movement. A thick-set, muscular, able-bodied dog, with a most intelligent expression, free from all Poodle or deerhound character. Bark should be loud with a peculiar pot casse ring in it.