THE KENNEL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16455, 17 June 1921, Page 3

THE KENNEL.

AMONGST THE CANINES. j (By “ GREYHOUND ’) A few days ago I wap present- in Court, when the County Court Judge had to decide upon tho valuo of a cocker spaniel (writes Leigh Woods in the *’ Weekly Scotsman ”). His Honor was apparently not familiar with the physical virtues of this very delightful breed, and no doubt he looked for guidance to the experts. Two were j called on one side and three on the | other. Those on the plaintiff’s side were able lo speak with forty years’ j experience of breeding and judging ] cocker spaniels, and they set the value ct' the dog at £35 or £4O. ’File three called by the defendant in the action agreed that the spaniel was w-orth no more than £3. On the one side the exports maintained that she. was valuable for breeding purposes: on the other that she was useless. Here was an absolute conflict of evidence which, it is very hard to think was either reasonable or honest, and the Judge in the end discounted the testimony of a well-known spaniel expert, a veterinary surgeon, ana a gentleman who said he had hod between 80.000 and 00,000 dogs through his hands, and decided that the dog was worth £tio. At the shows up and down the country one judge is constantly reversing) the decision of another judge, and every exhibitor will have had singular experiences in this direction. A ladv friend who possesses a very fine hu liter nor had a succession of successes, including two challenge certificates, which, of course, indicated that this particular dog was the best of its variety in the show- A third challenge certificate under a different judge would, of course, make the dog a full champion, ami she was entered at a show with every prospect of coming out at the top of her classes. She was put down in fine form, but failed to get even a third prize. A couple of weeks later this dog was shown at Kdinbnrgh. and in very strong competition gained full championship honours. ft is experiences of this sort that takes tho edge off keenness for exhibiting dogs. In close competition, when a judge has to decide 1 . 2 and 3 j in a class of a dozen or more dogs oi almost equal merit, there is every excuse for a difference of opinion when tho final award is made. Once, at a championship show, when there was a very hot class of wire-haired terriers being judged, four of ns wrote down our views of the best three. Each placed a different dog first, two gave the same for second place, and three decided upon the same terrier for the third prize*. When the numbers were put up wo found that the judge differed from us in each instance, the dog which hud received three votes for third position being placed on top with the challenge certificate. In this particular instance the variations in judgment were easily accounted for. Every dog in the ring was a noted winner. and they were all in perfect condition and handled by fanciers of long experience. The Toy Hog Club’s sl|ow \\ hich held last week at King Edward Barracks in conjunction with the Poultry Show was a littio disappointing. Although tho exhibits were of fairly good class they were not quite as good as one would wish. Mrs Geo. Lewis’s Avonor Little Renown, the -only member of his kennel to compete, carried off both the classed lie was entered for He stood out much above the other exhibits. Airs Lewis very sportingly refrained from entering a big team this year in order to give other exhibitors a chance. Last year she had several competitors in the various classes and secured many prizes, but at this show Avonor Little Renown was her only representative. The commii tee of the- Canterbury Kennel Club held a meeting on Wednesday evening. It was decided fu hold a- members’ show on July 17. at which all dog fanciers arc invited to be present. Mr \Y. O. Lovcrsodge will judge and it has bcou decided to revert to the practice of judging in j pairs on the match principle. j The. system of judging by pairs is I a good one. The- shows are held j partly to help the education of young fanciers, who are- able to see what tho judge is doing when the dogs are brought in two at a time. Il also adds greater interest to the evening to have the dogs competing againsteach other and coming up for subsequent rounds against other doge. There will be two clashes on July 17, one. for novice dog or bitch, any breed, and the other for puppy dog or bitch, any breed. The show will be hold in tho Poultry. Club rooms and I have boon asked to stress tin- point that all fanciers, whether they are members of the club or not, are cordially invited to be present. The club wishes to see all dog enthusiasts enjoying its allows. There is some talk of the O.K.C. holding a members' show in Grand National Week if a. suitable room con be secured. A very good idea—in fact, one which might be carried further in view of the big crowd of sports who will be in town for the races. "Would it not be possible to hold a larger show | than i. 3iia 1, having, say, four or five classes * There is always a crowd in town ooking for attractions during Grand National Week. The O.K.C. is already starting to make arrangements for its big annual show in November. it has been suggested that ail Art L'nion should bo run in conjunction with* the show, and a committee has been set up to go into ways and means. The Ashburton show is on Friday and Saturday next. Dunedin show is on Thursday, June 30, Friday and Saturday. July 1 and 2, and Wellington show is on July 0, 7 and 8. It looks as if the proximity of the dates of the three shows is going to stop entries from each one of them. No man is going to rush his dog from* one end of the country to the other at top speed and I understand that North Island entries for Dunedin are vorv poor.

T believe the Wellington people have an idea of getting Mr Crabtree to judge for them while the Dunedin

people are opposing. Surely some amicable agreement could be come to. T.t seems a pd»y to fetch a man from the other side' ol the world to judge only one show.