THE KENNEL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20042, 3 September 1920, Page 3

THE KENNEL.

AMONGST THE CANINES. my " i}itmmvxD:>) ; A meeting of. the committee of the Canterbury Kennel Club was "held on Wednesday eveniug. It was reported that Mr W. Anderson, of Iticcarton, bad accepted the position of judgo-of the working sheep dog classes at the November Show. These classes, by tho way, are an innovation which, should prove popular. Glasses will be on tlie schedule for rough, smooth and bearded col Hob. The Agricultural and l'astoral Association has donated two special, pri7.es to each of the three classes—.Gl Is for ho best and. 10s (Id for the second best dog. These prizes will be in addition to the ordinary prize money. A special prize of £1 Is for the best exhibit in each of the classes for working gun dogs has been donated by the Chmtciiurch. Gun Club. The schedule for the show should be ready in the- course of a-few days, The attention, of members of the Canterbury Kennel Club is drawn to the members' match, which will be hold at the Poultry Club's rooms on tho evening of "Wednesday. September 15, and to tho judging competition, which will be held in conjunction with tho match. This match is one of the series of monthly events which was broken last mouth owing to the Wellington Show. The evenings held by tho club in former months have proved. very popular, and the donation of good prize's for both the competitions in thi.H month's fixture should make it more attractive than ever. Tlie second annual meeting of tho Otago'Kentiel Club was held at Dimedin on Sent-enibcr 25. There was a good attendance of members and fan- ■ piers, Mr Henderson, sen., presiding. The balance-sheet was adopted after, a, favourable discussion, comment, beintf inado by several members of the satisfactory position of the club at the close of its first year of existence. All present spoke enthusiastically of the pros-"' poets for the ensuing year. The following office bearers were elected:— Patron, Mr E. Coua; president, Mr L. S. Gibson; vice-presidents, Messrs W. Henderson, sen., A 7. Smith, K. W. Brown, C. N. Crawford, R. M'Mccking and the Jlev Rather Graham; committee, Messrs C. A. Huttou, P. Eohieril, F. Robertson, A. Robertsou. G. Childs, 15. O'Connor, M. Kcnuelly, .). M'Gratif, nnd E. A. Scolon; honorary IreaiiUrcrJ Mr "W. Henderson, jun.; honorary secretary, .Mr E, T. Hodgson. Several members reported that they would donate special prizos, and the prize list for the coming show, to be held iu February nexl, should be worthy of competition. It appears that the Socicle Centrale (the French Kennel Club) have decided that before an Alsatian wolf dog could become a champion hejuust be a- winner of a prbjc at field trials. This decision has raised a great deal-of discussion in France, for breeders of Alsatians do not'feel very friendly to- 1 ward it, but " L'Kleveur " -is strongly of opinion that the French Kennel Club were perfectly right iu passing the above resolution, the Alsatian wolf dog being a utility clog and not. a dog " cle luxe." , In commenting on a judge taking on all classes of dogs, Mr Thco. Marplcs | (England) Bays: "An all-rounder, ali though ho can hardly know everything ; about nil breeds well, and is often i found to be wanting in knowledge) in. connection-wilh some, is not rjuito so prone to lay great stress upon a few prominent features of a breed and sacrifice others. His long practice in judging mauy different breeds seem* to have broadened his outlook upon, dogs generally; he is more concerned with tho all-round excelleuco of a dog, looks more to its general soundness, and, in the case of a utility dog, to its possession of those working features which should fit it to perform its particular avocation to the best advantage, rat-hor than to its excelling, almost to abnormality, in some particular featuro and be lacking in others. But great knowledge on the b.yeds upon which a, person elects to adjudicate is not in itself sufficient to ensure a really reliable and true exponent of the virtues and weaknesses of dogs, and make a successful judge. There avo other qualities, such as complete coufideucfl in his or her knowledge, quickness ni perception (since the time available i'oj' a judge to make-up his or her mind is very short at most), and last, but Jim, least, sufficient firmness to register honest promptings of the mind in the matter. It is perhaps in connection with, the last-named quality that the ' weaker sex ' fail somewhat more thau do the ' sterner sex'; but there an many strong-minded women for all that, who, as a rule, make the besi judges of their sex." ■ •