MY FAITHFUL FRIEND

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4171, 11 August 1939, Page 7

MY FAITHFUL FRIEND

FASHIONABLE NEW BREEDS. v If you want a dog a little out of the ordinary with companionable qualities it is worth considering some of the new breeds that are becoming fashionable among British fanciers.

For a large dog the Pyrenean Mountain dog is hard to beat. In his original home he is of ancient origin and has been used for centuries for

the same purpose as our sheep dogs. He is therefore gentle, good tempered and obedient, active and strong. In

general build similar to the St. Bernard, he is less massive. His colour is generally white with lemon or brindle markings; his coat is soft and beautifully thick.

Another Continental dog used for herding sheep and cattle is weier, found chiefly in the part of Germany adjoining the Swiss Mountains. The first appearance of these dogs in Britain was at Cruft’s show in 1937, and they appeared at the same show again last year.

A little larger than the retrievers, they have black bodies with tan points on the muzzle, breast, front legs and toes. They are good temper-

ed, energetic, intelligent and obedient, and have most kindly expressions. Another dog whose debut was made at Cruft’s show two years ago is the Basenji, a native of South Africa, and used by the human natives there for hunting game. He cannot be compared to any British dog but may be described, as far as appearance goes, as a mixture of hound and terrier. Rather smaller than an airedale, he has small, brown eyes, erect ears and a curly tail. The colour of these dogs is usually chestnut with white points, but they are occasionally cream, creamy brown or black. Gentle and good tempered, they make excellent companions, particulars for those who dislike noise. For, according to reports, they never bark.