KENNEL NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23335, 20 October 1937, Page 16

KENNEL NOTES

(By

RETRIEVER)

Fanciers are reminded that entries for the Canterbury Kennel Club’s annual show, to be held at the A. and P. Association’s grounds, at Addington, Christchurch, on November 11 and 12, close with the secretary, Mr W. M. Jack, 24 St. Martins road, Christchurch, on Friday, October 22. The judge is Mr J. J. K. Dwyer, Sydney. Mr E. Blomfield of the Cargill kennels, is disposing of his Airedales. This presents a good opportunity for anyone interested to secure dogs of a calibre which will prove good in any company. The dog Sultan Supreme is just turning 18 months old and at the last Southland show secured three firsts, even going so far as to beat his father, Wherepuni Tiapo, who was by Mountain Bushman out of Austral Lady Betty (Aust.). Sultan Supreme is out of Clydesdale Beauty imported from Australia by Mr Blomfield, and represents some of the best breeding in that country, being by. Com., Gr., Cham., Stoneleigh Solario out of Clydesdale Princess. Clydesdale Beauty is only three years old and should prove a fine stud proposition for anyone considering taking up the breed, as both dog and bitch are being offered at a low figure.

Mr Blomfield is,»l understand, considering the establishment of a kennel of black curly retrievers, a breed which was very popular some years ago. GUN DOG TRIALS Arrangements for the championship gun dog trials, to be held at West Plains, are well in hand and are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on Labour Day, and will continue throughout the day. The classes will probably be run in the following order: Open (water), (three dogs on mark); Puppy (land); Open (find and push out); Novice (water); Open (double retrieve over water). The dog gaining the highest aggregate for the three open classes will be the champion for the season. Entries for the Otago Kennel Club’s show held on Friday and Saturday, although not up to the usual in numbers, lacked nothing in quality and competition was good. The classes for sporting dogs, especially cocker spaniels, were strong. Mr J. Soler, of Owhango, was the judge. Southland fanciers had quite a successful time, Mr W. Hislop s Alsatian, Prince of Ruakuri, gained two firsts, Mrs W. Hislop’s Alsatian, Silver Laddie, one first, Dr Ritchie Crawford’s curly retriever, Waipori Digger, two firsts and challenge, Mr J. Friend’s curly retriever, Gypsy Lady, two firsts and challenge, Mr P. Hennessey’s Springer, Lady Gilda, three seconds, Mr A. W. Broad’s Labrador, Beauchamp, one second and one third, Mr J. J. Dobb’s English setter, Rosefield of Terrado, four firsts and best setter owned by Otago Club member, and Mr J. J. Dobb’s curly retriever, Mansfield of Terrado, one first and two seconds. Although not the primary job of a retriever the New Zealand sporting dog’s education cannot be regarded as complete until he has become proficient in the art of “quartering”, his ground in seeking the game which is to be shot and retrieved to hand. “Quartering” consists of covering the whole of a field, length and breadth by a systematic movement of the dog from one side of the field to the other. The trainer should take his puppy to a long narrow field and the lesson begin at the end of the field towards which the wind is blowing. After calling the dog to heel the trainer throws out a tit-bit towards one side of the field, commanding the dog to “seek,” and waving the hand in the desired direction. If the puppy does not find it he should be taken up to it. Another piece can then be flung in a diagonal direction, and the command repeated. Most puppies will display great keenness and nose work will benefit as he finds these pieces without being shown the exact spot. Care should be taken to prevent any tendency to hunt at too wide an angle. Encourage the puppy and do n6t curb his own initiative unless he tends to get out of control. It will soon be found that he will turn in expectations as each tit-bit is found. The rewards can become scarcer as the lessons progress being held in reserve for occasions when the dog’s concentration does not appear to be at its best. USE OF DUMMIES When commanding the dog when it is close at hand a soft tone should be used, because if a dog is bellowed at when near at hand, the same bellowing will only amount to a whisper when the dog is 60 or 100 yards off. The lessons proceed with the use of dummies which are concealed in various spots, without being seen by the dog, which is told to seek from a considerable distance away, working “upwind.” When the dog finds and picks up the dummy, the trainer should turn about, but if the dog shows intentions of retrieving the trainer should immediately adopt the position for delivery of the dummy. As each dummy is retrieved it can be dropped in a fresh place while the puppy is hunting for the next, and this procedure can go on until the puppy shows signs of tiring when work should cease for the day. After the course of lessons in retrieving from up-wind, they can be repeated down-wind, which is considerably more difficult but necessary to exercise the puppy’s scenting powers to the full. Later a cold pigeon can be used, and a puppy should always be proficient on feather before being introduced to fur. A spring thrower can be used as the lessons progress and several dummies can be thrown out in various directions while the puppy is made to “sit” and mark the positions in which they fall. Any inclination on the part of the pupil to run in as each dummy is thrown should be repressed with a sharp command. The dummies can be thrown over hedges and across water, so that real shooting conditions are produced, apart from the actual “baptism of fire” which will be discussed in a later article. FOR SALE, Young Brindle Bulldog, bred from excellent stock. Apply “F. 8.,” Times Office. 5243