KENNEL NOTES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20064, 22 March 1935, Page 12

KENNEL NOTES

(By “Mastiff.”)

“Mastiff” will be pleased to answer questions, which may be addressed C/o “The Timaru Herald,” relative to dogs. The Irish Terrier This terrier is one of the most reliable of all the terrier family and one of the most companionable, most game, and good looking. The origin of the Irish terrier is somewhat of a mystery, but as his name implies, he has certainly been evolved to suit the sporting conditions of his native country and is a true product of Ireland alone. The dog was, and is still, used in Ireland for bolting the fox, /or rabbiting, and for killing vermin generally, and it is rather surprising that the breed has not achieved greater popularity in New Zealand for there is ample scope for them in both town and country if only to wage war on rats and rabbits, for which purpose they would be hard to surpass. One of the gamest of all the terriers, if not the gamest, his pluck and daring have earned for him the sobriquet Dare Devil. One of his attributes, and perhaps at the same time a fault, is that he will tackle anything in the canine world, size and breed without exception. When “off are characterised by a quiet, caress-in-viting appearance, and when one sees them endearingly, timidly pushing their heads into their masters’ hands, it is difficult to realise that on occasions, at the “set on” they will fight unto the last breath in their bodies. He gives much to his master, being a one dog one man dog and in return his characteristic devotion demands much from that master. The true Irish terrier of to-day is a dog of from 231 b to 261 b, red or wheaten red in colour, with a long punishing head, short back and wiry weather resisting coat. He is one of the most popular terriers on the show bench in England and America and some really first class specimens are to be seen on the show bench in New Zealand. I think the Irishman is the coming popular fancy in this country after some years of decline. His coat should be straight and free from curl, and in colour “red-wheaten” and a speck of white on the chest is no bar to the thoroughbred. The eyes should be a dark hazel colour, small and not prominent and full of fire and intelligence. The ears should be small and V shaped, sit well on to the head and dropping forward closely to the cheek. The neck should be a fair length and gradually widening toward the body, well carried and free from throatiness. The feet should be strong, fairly round and small, toes arched, and toe nails absolutely black. Both face and hind legs should move straight forward when travelling and the true Irish terrier should be framed on lines of speed, rather than a “cobby” or hunter appearance. Signs of Advancing Age in a Dog

Puppyhood endures until the age of 12 months and the majority of breeds may be said to have reached maturity at one year old. the exceptions being the largest breeds which are probably not matured until they have nearly attained their second year. Provided that a dog has been reared and cared for in a rational manner, its average length of life will be about twelve years. Environment, exercise, feeding and general hygiene, all exert their influence upon the length of an animal’s life, so it is up to the owner who loves his dog to study all these facts. After twelve months of age, dogs become more sensible, are usually cleaner in habits and often get over their juvenile ailments. When puppyhood is over there are no very decided indications of a dog’s age, except that with advancing age the teeth gradually lose their pearly whiteness and show progressive wear of the points and biting edges, and a yellowish discoloration beginning from the gums and working towards the tips makes its appearance after two and a half to three years of age. It is only to be expected that a dog taught to retrieve stones will very soon exhibit a quite abnormal amount of wear of its teeth. A similar effect would be produced by the habitual gnawing of bones, though of course to a less extent. On the other hand the teeth of dogs which are allowed few bones and subsist mainly upon soft foods are much earlier subjected to deposits of tartar or decay. A sign of old age observed in dogs is the appearance of white haits about the muzzle, particularly on black dogs, or those with black faces. A very old dog will, in addition, show a faint cloudiness of the lens of the eyes, indicating the onset of impairment of vision which generally becomes manifest about the eighth or ninth year. In some cases this may appear much earlier, while in others it may not happen at all. Although the average length of a dog’s life is from 11 to 13 years, one may often see dogs of eight years of age showing all the evidences of senile decay, such as rheumatism, emaciation. asthma, defective hearing and sight, etc. There are no very definite indications of a dog’s age to be gleaned from his teeth, since their work is not to grind, as some animals, but to cut and tear, they do not get much worn from their natural work throughout life. These features become accentuated as time goes on, until at six or seven years, according to the food and attention the dog has received throughout his life one or more of the symptoms of old age already mentioned make their appearance.