THE KENNEL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8004, 6 May 1904, Page 4

THE KENNEL.

NOTES, (Bj smius.) Tie giant St Bernard Barry Lord lately passed away in Melbourne at the age of. seven years. Some time ago Jaia owner, ;Mr Angliss, leased , the dog to Mr Charles Arnold^ the actor. Under the latter's' tuition Barry was changed into a tractable stage dog, and a little child could lead him. The "Stock-Keeper" says, without hesitation, that taken altogether no better collection of collies has ever been, brought together than that at the Collie Club's show at Blackpool, on March 2 and 3. Amongst the principal winners were Mr W, T. Horry's Champion Sapho of Boston, who secured the sixty-guinea trophy ; Mr R. Tait's puppy Wishaw Leader also had a very successful outing. The Forty-fifth Derby was won by Mr Harry's Horus of Boston, and Mr H. E. Packwood's Billesley Beautiful won both, the Oaks and the St Leger. ■ At the meeting of the' Collie Club, held at Blackpool in March, nothing was done regarding the vexed question of uneven mouths, consequently, says the "StockKeeper," we suppose the same see-saw placements; will be as before ; still, we suppose if the members are satisfied, it need worry no one else. The subject, we believe, was seriously discussed, those two magnates, Messrs Ainscough and Stretch, giving their opinions on the subject. •, Mr C. H. Clarke, who judged fox terriers ajLGruft's show, in his report in the "Kennel Gazette,'^ says:— "lt was a great pleasure to me judging the fox terriers after so many years' absence from the ring,but I was sorry to find that breeders in their efforts to secure comparatively fancy pointa had sacrificed the most important one in terrier character, so much so that unless judges discourage in every way dogs that have not this essential there ia a chance of the breed being ruined. I spoke fc several old breeders on this subject, and they quite agreed with me that something must be done before it is too late. These remarks apply especially to. the smooth variety. The wire-hairs, I am glad to say, seem to be much better at present, but I should advise breeders to take warning by what has happened with the smooths, and n,ot sacrifice the breed to exaggerated fancy points." Attention has recently been centred on the length of time which has elapsed since the «diet forbidding cropping came into force, and particularly in connection with imported dogs, many of which, though palpably born since' lß9s, are registered as " birth unknown," and so evade, the rule. Surely, saya the " Stock-Keeper," after nine years it is quite time to stop the fegistration of all cropped dogs, for as matters now stand, foreign-bred dogs are favoured, to the disadvantage of home-bred ones, to say nothing of the temptation to fraud, which many believe to be indulged in by an improper use of the word " imported." At the present day it is practically impossible (says the " Court Journal,," London) for aj-woman to spend an entire day wita a dog tucked tinder her arm. Her very first check would be from the hallporter of her club. The exclusion of dogs from clubhouses has, indeed, been the source of much trouble and not a little unpleasantness, but it was inevitable. Then the prevailing fashion of only dining and lunching at one's own house aa a novel experience presents another bar to carrying a. dog about. The motor, too, has helped to kill tie pet dog. Altogether, it is not surprising that the "lap-dog "fashion has almost disappeared. . As an illustration to show that the rule of the Beimel Club relating to unrecognised i shows is unworkable, the " Stock-keeper " says :r~" We will take for example an agri- , cultural show, which provides a class for dogs^-and in Scotland they are many— and which , has the nobility and gentry of the neighboterhood as promoters, exhibitors and judges, and, with perhaps one or two exceptions, are ignorant that such governing bodies in the kennel arena as the Kennel Club or the Scottish Kennel Council are in, existence, and who may make an entry or two to support their local show, not with the intention of matting money, but merely to be represented^ they will decidedly object to be brought to book "by the Kennel • . •'■'.■. ■'•'•. . " <■'.'■' ■■•- ' "■'/••"..■■ i - :v > ■) ■ ■

Club, and have their names put upon the defaulters' list of the Kennel Club, or any other club, and it will still be more awkward for the secretaries of agricultural shows to inform them that they have been I disqualified by the Kennel Club, and refuse to pay* them their prize-money. Such a line of procedure would involve the agricultural society in a law suit which would mean ruin to euch shows, and if we are any judges the secretary of an agricultural show in Scotland will never adopt such a rule." Perhaps the New Zealand Kennel Club will see that it is as badly advised as. the English institution on this point.