DOG TRIAL TITLES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 123, 27 May 1938, Page 6

DOG TRIAL TITLES

NORTH ISLAND AND DOMINION BIG EVENT NEXT WEEK. What is certain to be the biggest dog trial ever promoted in New Zealand is to take place at Kai Iwl next week, commencing on Monday and continuing throughout the remainder of the week. It is to be a North Island and New Zealand event, dogs competing from as far afield as South Canterbury in the south and North Auckland in the north. A dog trial is interesting, not only to those closely associated with working dogs, hut to everybody who appreciates that sagacity and friendly co-operation dogs display in company with, and under the direction of, mankind. It is inspiring to watch the well trained dogs carry out their duties. Hours of patient training are devoted to bring them to the standard they attain. The long head, the short head and yard and the huntaway are the three major classes on the programme. The North Island titles are to be decided first and then the seven 'op dogs are sent over again to compete for the New Zealand title. A dog trial undertaking is vastly different from the rough and tumble life many of those same dogs have at home. It has been said tha- some trial dogs get to the course and are bewildered by the sudden shyness ol their owners. Instead of performing their tasks in a blue haze of Australian and other adjectives, the animals go cut and are asked to respond to calm, drawing-room language. The task is beyond them. If only the boss would swear once it would put them at their ease. Swearing out loud loses points (so It is said), but the wise owner, who has studied true technique, ensures that when he leaves his farm he can appropriately twist his face to interpret every swear word in the dictionary. Thus he never leaves his dog in doubt as to what he thinks of him while the animal is undergoing trial. Ann the quicker a dog is on understanding a look from an owner the nearer he gets to championship class. (So they say!) Yes, dog trials are interesting—a conflict between human and canine emotions. With a human as judge it might be inferred that the scales weigh heavily against the canine, but it is surprising how sagacious even humans can be when it comes to knowing a good dog from a bad one.