THE KENNEL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17834, 30 April 1926, Page 10

THE KENNEL

(BY “ THE TYKE.”)

Dr Gillett. of Kaiapoi has sold a very promising English Setter dog puppy by Oh. Ramaitc—Sardonyx to Mr R. Macready of Christchurch.

Mr Lamb of Rangiora has also bought a dog puppy of the same breeding.

Cocker Spaniel enthusiasts will rcgreat to hear of Mr IT. A. Taylor’s loss in the death o fthat good dog Ch. Edewale Billy.

I hear that Mr D. W. Westenra, of Dunsandel, has disposed of two of his Seatyham Terrier puppies from his bitch Cleopatra’s Windfall. One dog puppy has gone to Mrs Hawkins of Wind whistle, while another has been secured by Mr Arthur Grigg of Longeach. Mr Westenra is keeping a dog and a brace of bitches for himself.

The judging of Pekingese at shows is commented upon in the latest number to hand of "Our Dogs,” the leading kennel paper in England. The writer commended the judge of the breed at the big kennel club show for her sound judgments, stating that every dog in the class was handled, run for action, and seen on the table. Those with no chance were then "politely waved from the riqg.” The paper adds: “This weeding-out process enabled the onlookers to follow every stage to the final win, which is the best education for a just opinion.” Mr Fred Rogen, now in Victoria, has again become prominent in the dog world, his present speciality being cocker spaniels. Mr Rogen, not having time to personally attend to the canines, has taken in Mr Somerville as a partner in the dogs and to manage the kennels. Dogs bought in New Zealand appear to be the leaders in these kennels —dogs which have done well in New Zealand and also in Australia. Dog fanciers will be interested to learn that the latest treatment for distemper is to apply the ultra-violet rays. Installations of violet ray apparatus are already used for treating canine patients. The dog is placed in a special basket, and provided with bluetinted goggles whilst the treatment is in progress. It is necessary to expose the dogs to the rays for about 15 minutes at a time, and it is understood that the treament is very effective.

"Who is judging?” One often hears the remark when fanciers are asked to enter for the various shows—“ Who is judging? You know I would not show under So-and-So, he does not like my dog.” This is not the sporting spirit that should exist among fanciers. A dog is "put up” to-day and perhaps “down” to-morrow, but a good sport generally comes again, , and in the long run is successful. This is not fair to judges appointed, who like to see good *-uitries in all classes they are judging.

Poor entries dishearten any judge. Why not send in your entries irrespectively, as to whom is judging. The judge must understand the various breeds he is asked to judge or the clubs would not appoint him. Poor entries show a vote of no confidence in the judge and also in the committee that appoints him.

His Majesty King George has commanded that Queen Alexandra’s favourite dogs should end their days in peace at Sandringham. This news will be universally welcomed. It will be remembered that at the time of the Queen Mother’s passing one of her pets whimpered piteously for days and nights, and though it has somewhat recovered from its grief, the dog has never been the same since she died. k TRAINING A PUPPY. To educate a dog so that it will grow up a credit to the owner and the family from which it sprang is not so easy a task as might at first sight appear to be the case; in fact, considering the vast number of dog owners, the number who are rally capable of imparting those lessons to the average house dog which tend to make its keeping a pleasure rather than a pain are singularly It would not be too much to say that the bulk of the dogs that are ordinarily kept as companions and guards do not receive the slightest training, and of house manners, as understood by the owners of trained dogs, they are absolutely ignorant. They probably were acquired as puppies, and have just been allowed to grow up, as it were. If a dog is a nuisance, it is the fault of his training. Development along the right lines depends on the amount of watchful care bestowed on the animal in his juvenile days, while deterioration may result from careless guardianship, slip-shod correction, the overlooking of faults at their inception, or the questionable habit of leaving a dog a good deal to himself and his own whims.

A dog quickly takes on the leading traits of his master’s character. He is the most impressionable of creatures, and responds quickly to any treatment. Treat, him like a dog, and he will act like one. I reat him like a human being, and he will quickly develop human traits. Keep him under close restraint, and the brute in him will be uppermost. Allow him reasonable liberty and discipline, sensibly and justly, and the human in him will appear. The human eye has wonderful influence on the lower creation, and where a dogs conduct is under surveillance, he is sure to be sensible of the attention; this sensibility may be made to serve as a strong deterrent against wrong-doing. Rectitude should thus become a habit and in course of time the dog will be found worthy of being trusted even when out of sight or in strange places. One of the first steps in trailing a

dog is to teach him his name, and to use this one always, especially at feeding time. Do not try to teach a puppy more than two or three things in one day, or he will get confused and in the end will have learned nothing. Such matters as obedience and proper behaviour in the house should receive careful attention, and, when it is certain the dog understands what he has to do, a close watch should be kept to see that the orders are carried out. Disobedience should be followed at once by a suitable punishment, so that the dog may associate the penalty with his wrong-doing. A whip is not wanted, for a well-trained dog requires no more chastisement than a sharp word from his master.

While the majority of people who keep dogs almost invariably require them to possess some sort of indoor manners, it is much to be feared that nothing like the same desire is manifest in owners with regard to the outdoor comportment of their canine charges. It is, however, more important that a dog should be trained early in his career to outdoor manners than it is for him to be perfect indoors; for whereas the one can undoubtedly prove a great nuisance, the other may be the means of bringing about a fatal injury. Take the case of the boisterous, barking animal which is so fond of snapping at the heels of horses, Such a dog may be the direct cause of a horse bolting and perhaps throwing its rider. The sheep-worrier is another source of trouble, inasmuch as each season vast numbers of the timid animals and their lambs arc sacrificed. In some country places dogs arc often turned out into the street at nightfall to reappear no more till the next morning; night is occasionally made hideous by their quarrelings; and the character of the animals cannot be much improved by these nightly perambulations. Bad habits in such a case may be. expected to appear, such as the regular visit Ui some chosen cfiicken-ruu. in

the neighbourhood, trespassing in yards and gardens, or baying up other dogs confined for the night in their kennels. Chaining up a dog sometimes lias a sobering effect where waywardness is in evidence, but such restraint should not be severe in its length, and by no means perpetual; still, prompt correction of any fault i$ essential, both on a principle of a stitch in time saving nine, and also in order to acquaint the dog with his master’s notions regarding misbehaviour as early in his career as possible. An adult dog that has acquired bad habits will rarely become amenable to discipline, for which reason it is desirable when purchasing a dog to get one that is not more than six months old, and it is important to take in hand the training of the puppy right from the first day of his arrival at his new home. Try to develop the young dogs confidence, and, when he has obeyed a command, pat him approvingly, and he will quickly realise what this means. Do not bluster or lose your temper. The most successful trainers are those who are quietest, but who insist upon being obeyed.