KENNEL CHATTER.

Star (Christchurch), 6 February 1903, Page 1

KENNEL CHATTER.

NOTES. (BySIBIUS.) Birmingham Show, held on Dec. 1 to 3, furnished but little news, as no new faces of special note put .in an appearance. Spratt's Coronation Cup wa"s awarded to Mr Newbitt's pointer Champion Coronation followed by Mr George Raper's foxterrier ' Coastguard of Notts, and. Mr T. Nelson's Irish setter Carntyne Gaunkaan. As the cup is valued ati 150 guineas, and was won outright, its award was the event of the show. No fewer than 175 dogs competed, but the selection of the winner was a popular one. Sales were very few, and no big' prices were recorded in the dog Bectioa. Commenting on the action of Mr W. W. Thomson, the well-known authority on the Collie, in passing over collies with uneven marks, which came before him in the judging ring, and M'hich action has met the approval of other judges, one of whom, Mr F. WiLdgoose, has written to the "Stock-Keeper" on the subject, "Hotspur 1 ," of the Melbourne " Leader," says : — "With .ill due difference to. Mr Wildgoose and Mr Thomson, most Australians who know the value of a sheep dog will say that- a Collie should not be disqualified fpr having an uneven mouth. In the first place, the Collie's mouth should "never be used when he is working, and, as a shep : herd's dogi we fail to see why so much imBprtance^ibpuld, be placed on- an- .uneven mouth. Secondly; me Collie "gtandard per* mits the mouth to be slightly overshot, and the men who framed the Collie Club standard, were not novices in the breed, but ye» terans, who were* practical in their ideas. Is it essential for the shepherd's dog to have a punishing jaw ?" It is not , long since " Hotspur," acting as judge, alleged uneven mouth as a grave fault in one of the best-mouthed Collies in Australasia. " Hotspur " " don't know whei^e he are." DOGS. IN 1902; "The Field," in. its annual review, has the following on canine matters: — The kennel wprld has not been devoid of incidents during the year now quickly closing, but none of them have proved of very great importance. The quarantine of dogs- brought from the Continent and other foreign places into Great Britain and Irelamd continues to be as vexed a question as ever, but with rabies rife in France and elsewhere, there is not the slightest likelihood of any modification of the present. law on the subject being made. Dog shows, as numerous as heretofore, have not in all cases proved financially successful, and as a forecast ifc may be hinted that one or two of the larger exhibitions will not appear fn the list of fixtures .during. 1903. Is it a sign of the times that the increasing number of privately managed shows are run merely as commercial speculations because they pay their way ? Field trials have gone on amain, an addition having been made by the arrangement of public competitions, for retrievers, which has resulted in a long and interesting correspondence in "The Field" on the retriever as he is ajid as he ought to be. Similar competitions will be held next year, and we are promised a resuscitation of bloodhound trials. The Kennel Club has rearranged the groups for, sporting and nonsporting dogs, but we are of opinion that the sections sliould be four— viz., sporting, nou-sporting, terriers and toys. The 'specialist club council of representatives to the Kennel Club has. had a year's work, and there is nothing to show ior it excepting more or less, a split in the cabinet with the resignations of certain officials. The Kennel Club itself is partaking more of a> social character than it Jhas hitherto done, and, it has, just decided to again attempt to deal with the over-trimming question. The dog in his varieties continues to increase in value and popularity, and it is pleasing to find that the infirm monstrosities which were examples of our British bulldog a few years ago have given way before.p opular opinion to creatures more active. However, in many cases certain points are still developed until they become abnormal, and so injurious to the animal possessing them. Five hundred pounds has recently been paid for a terrier, and nearly double that sum by an enthusiast for a. bull-dog, wh'lst £100 or less will) as a rule, buy the best pointer or setter that the- modern breeder can produce. Certain of the toy dogs axe increasing their popularity, and the advance of the. biack'pug has bean so great that it is nob unusual to find him in greater numbers than the older fawn, his cousin. Pekinese spaniels are said to- be the coming race, and certainly their pleasant features and superb ma-hogany-red , jackets are very attractive. Then the tiny Griffon Bruxellois is likely to take a share of future popularity. As already stated, the- dog quarantine regulations between the British Isles and foreign places and our colonies (excepting the Channel Islands) remain in force, and they are of such a nature as practically to prevent the importation of dogs to this country. As a fact we have now plenty of dogs of our own,- and if they ate not' in sufficient varieties any enthusiast from the material he can lay his hands on, may, during the forthcoming year or two, form fresh socalled breeds to^suib his fancy._ ,

1 Unless a nation is morally! healthy, as well as physically/there is 'bui little hope for its future.— -Sir W» B. Richmond.