THE KENNEL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16815, 18 August 1922, Page 2

THE KENNEL

By

“Geryhound."

The Canterbury Kenel Club held a very successful members* local show in its rooms on Wednesday evening. There was an entry of twelve dogs, and Mr J. S. Durie gave entire satisfaction ae judge. The show was divided into three classes—novice, puppy and open. Mr D- McKenzie won the first two with Shirley Grand, and Mrs F. Baldock was successful in the open class with her Pomeranian Brookland Bu6s, a litter brother to Brookland Pat. V Shirley Grand, by Ch Shirley Mac. ex AVoolston Sootia, has a very fine outline for a bitch, beautiful coat and colour. It is a really good specimen. *** Brookland Bflss, by Oh Sunbright Jewel, ex Brookland Pearl, is a lovely specimen of Pomeranian, and is as good a dog as has been seen in Christchurch for some time, •** Messrs G. and F. E. Biltcliff’s Westpoint, of Waariki (by Speak, ex Ch Dusky Pearl) was runner up in the novice class. It is a good locally bred dog, and should win in good company later on. * * Brookdale Prince, owned by Mr A. J. Mc-Entee, was runner up to Mr D. McKenzie's Shirley Grand. He is a fine dog, but is at present out- of coat. v The secretary of the Canterbury Kennel Club, Mrs F. E. Biltoliff, has now a supply of art union books in connection with the November show, I understand that Messrs G. and F. E. Biltcliff. of the AA'airiki Kennels, find it necessary, owing to lack of accommodation. to dispense with their Airedale Terriers, and will only breed Wire Fox Terriers. AH have already been disposed of, except AVairiki Winning Way and AVairiki AA’ilhelmina. Mr A. Kerr, of AYoolston, has purchased a Cocker dog puppy by Southboro’ Sentinel ex Vogel Rattle, from Air S. C. Crisp, of Sumner. Air F. Nance, Riccarton. has disposed of his Wire b*ox Terrier bitch China to Air R. McAleer, of Spreydon. A correspondent, “L.H..” sent te “ Our Dogs,” Australia, the following appreciation of the lady dog:—AATien buying a dog, nine out of ten persons prefer a dog to a bitch. The man who understands canines will, on the other hand, plump for the bitch. Personally. I prefer the latter. So far as temperament, alertness and working capabilities are concerned. generally speaking, bitches are far superior to Hogs. They are nothing like so head strong or so self-willed, and thus are far more readily kept under control. In the house, too. they will be found to bo far cleaner and more readily trained to behave well, and mind their manners. than the males of the species. Again, if you were to ask the average sportsman which he prefers as a gun dog. or the average master of bounds, as a pack, T have little doubt that both would pronounce in favour of bitches. Also n,s house guards, the female, according to personal experience, is much to be preferred. *.* Poms lend themselves to trimming, j but if the owners knew how easily the judge sees it, and how they alter the natural appearance of the breed they i would not do it. writes C. S. Burner in j “ Our Dogs.” Pomeranians are never “ improved ” by trimming, if genuine, but mv < onnot wonder at it. There is, no doubt, more faking in various ways than. ever, just because there are more dogs and breeders, but it has become a fine art with experts, and what the j eye cannot see the heart does not grieve, j But the clubs have no Pom experts, j and they only make them hideous. 1 ; read of my friend. Paul Todd, having ! trimmed an Airedale, to show the club J how to do it. He should have told I them how to breed non-trimmers. I don’t know whether ho did it well, but !

It is a curious departure, however, and savours of putting a genuinely good coat on the same footing as a faked cue. They don't all need trimming, and should not. Whilst many of our dogs are only valued for their appearance, in some lands their value is appreciated for their working qualities, remarks a writer in the Australasian.” The show ring is accountable in many cases for the carelessness of fanciers in judging the animals according to their intrinsic merit, in Great BHtain the ehow-dog fervour is giving way in some breeds to their working qualities. As instances there is the field-dog, who- hag to acquire a reputation at an organised field trial bei ■ore being eligible for the title of champion, and in other directions the working dog is coming te its own. A late instance is the Border Terrier, which now has a club devoted to its interests. The standard for this terrier reads as follows:—‘‘As the Border is essentially a working terrier, and being of necessity able to follow a horse, must combine great activity with gamenees. Dogs should not be more than 14lb to 171 b in weight, and 13in to 16in in height at the shoulders, while bitches may be up to 151 b and loin in height. The head, like that of an otter, should be moderately broad in skull, with short, strong muzzle, and level teeth. Black nose is preferred, but liver and flesh-doloured do not disqualify. Tho eyes of a Border are dark, with keen expression, and the ears small and V dropped. Tlie body must be deep, narrow, and fairly long ribs, carried well back, but not over-sprung, as a terrier should be capable of being spanned bv both hands behind the shoulder. The forelegs must be straight, and not too heavy in bone, the feet small and catlike, the stern short, undocked, thick at base, then tapering, set, high carried gaily, but not curled over back. The coat should be harsh and dense, with close undercoat, the skin thick, and the colour red wheaten, grizzle, or blue and tan.”