DOG LORE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 48, 21 October 1912, Page 2

DOG LORE.

(By Laverack.) The astronomical world is becoming deeply agitated as the illimitable illumination of the Aurora Borealis oi Taranaki—the Stratford Show—approaches. Humans from all parts of the Dominion have signified their intention of going to the dogs fast. Misplaced love affairs is not the cause, but anxiety to be present at the grand spectacular canine parade of all the dogs exhibited at the ever-growing, fast-becoming world-famous show of shows. Any owner who has confidence enough in the merits of his dogs to desire to show them must bear in mind that excellence in symmetry and formation will probably be thrown away if condition is bad. For exhibition purposes condition is everything. A firstclass specimen, however grand he may be in many points, if his eyes are dull and listless and his coat ragged, cannot fail to suffer from comparison with a dog who, though perhaps inferior in some points, is lively and vivacious, thereby showing himself off to the best advantage when he is in the ring before the judges. The latter should—if they do not always—judge a dog as he is before them, not reckoning what his performances have been or what merit he may develop with age. In getting a dog up for exhibition, therefore, an owner should try and make him look his best, never losing sight of the purpose for which the breed exists, and trying to bring his pet into the ring not only looking well, but fit to do his duty. A sporting dog looks ludicrous when he appears fat and flabby—like “Lizzy,” the hippopotamus—and displaying to everyone how utterly incapable he would be of doing half a day’s work. A bulldog or bull-terrier loaded with flesh instead of muscle is a sorry sight; and a black and tan or a toy terrier with a ragged staring coat cannot hope to be “in it” when competing for the prize of beauty with others of the same breed whose jackets shine like satin.

Experience can only be bought by practice, but here is a notable fact for the benefit of beginners: viz., that the most consistently successful exhibitors of late years have been those whose dogs have been shown in the best condition. I was once profoundly impressed by a hint given by a friend, whose opinion in certain breeds was low. “You will have to learn to show your dogs,” was all he said. I marked, learned, and profited by his suggestion, and never knowingly sent a dog off to a show who had not something in the way of condition to recommend him. To attain this end is difficult, merely from the fact, that different dogs require different treatment ; by following certain rules, however, great progress can be made, and if due attention is paid to feeding, exercising, and grooming, the most delicate dogs can be so vastly improved in- both health' and appearance 1 that the judge may cast the'“glad eye” on them.

Not many shows can afford the expense, of engaging a sufficient number of judges to enable each class to be judged by a gentleman who is qualified to do so, and there are not many judges who are able to deal fairly by all breeds. The unfortunate result of this is that many varieties are unsatisfactorily placed time after time, or else certain dogs are constantly found in the same positions, from the fact of the same judges being always selected for the duty. It is unduly hard upon any good young dog to make his first appearance before a judge who has frequently awarded high honours to other dogs in the same class, and who must fee] considerable diffidence in over-looking them when a stranger appears. Judges are only mortal after all, and their ideas cannot fail to become so moulded to the form of a dog they have once admired, that the order in which many dogs will be placed at our leading shows is often correctly anticipated before the event comes off, so much so, that many exhibitors reserve s their young dogs until they can first bring them out under a gentlemen whose judgment is unbiassed in favour of a certain animal, to whose good points he has already paid substantial recognition. That we happily have in New Zealand judges equal to any of the Continental men, is recognised by the executive of the Stratford dog section, who being possessed of expert' knowledge themselves, are thus enabled to select adjudicators whose awards give equal satisfaction to both winner and loser, and eliminate that ill-feeling which the following suggests: Mrs Winner: “I see the judge has gone and got his hair cut.” Mrs Loser: “Yes, the coward.” Point judging is strongly advocated by a large section of breeders, who aver that if a certain number of points be awarded to each property, and the dogs judged by this standard, as few errors and complaints as at the Stratford Show would be the result, Whilst admitting that a standard is essential for each breed, and that the relative value of each numerical point is made clearer by being awarded a numerical value, I cannot express any sympathy with those in favour of point judging. The impracticability of consistently awarding the identical number of marks to each dog is so obvious that it is impossible to adopt the system, and the time wasted over the calculations is enormous. Several clubs which at their origin ostentatiously included point judging in their programmes have been obliged to abandon the idea as unsatisfactory; and it may fairly be taken that the system is unpalatable to the majority of exhibitors throughout the Dominion. An especial objection to my mind is that when dogs are judged by points, one notoriously defective in one portion of its anatomy can lie awarded a prize, whereas under any other system he could not succeed. Almost unbounded confidence is placed in judges by New Zealand exhibitors, who realise the necessity of practising philosophy and not being

too highly elated by success or downcast by defeat. Unfortunately there are a few who, suffering from a multiplicity of deranged ideas, cast aspersions on the judge. In my checquered exhibition career, in which 1 have tasted of the sweets and the sours (more or less; considerably loss of more than more of less), 1 have never yet known a judge wilfully displace a dog. In fact, I would advocate that judges be given catalogues instead of the judging books so commonly used; and this seems to be a rational action when adopted by committees who permit exhibitors to lead their dogs into the ring. The absurdity of playing at secrecy, as now carried on by committees who use the blank books and yet permit the presence of exhibitors in the ring, is so conspicuous to all but themselves, that one would be better occupied tossing sunbeams with a fork than criticising such proceedings. I fervently hope that the day is not far off when the authorities will have firmness enough to stand by their judges and openly defend their integrity, without admitting a possibility of their acting unfairly, which half-and-half precautions most certainly imply. There is always something repugnant to New Zealanders when things are not fair and above board.