THE KENNEL

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 35

THE KENNEL

rJr Terror Fanciers pnl breeder* of dogs are cordfallv fiiv ■< «»■*• tifbute items to this columu. *' Terror " will em'i - :ii<tVe

— Mr James Hog&, the ELtrick Shepherd, living in his early days among the sheep and their quadrut>ed attendants, and an accurate observer of nature, as well as an exquisite poet, gives the following incident of the collie, .with, which the -fader will not be displea^d. "My dog Sirrah was bejond all comparison the best dog I ever saw. He had a somew hat 6urly and unjjooiable temper, disdaining all flattery, and refusing to bo caressed ; but his attention to my commands and interest will never again bs equalled by any of the canine race. When I fii-st him. a dro\er was •filing him with a lope. He was both

lean and hungry, and 'far from being a beautiful animal; for he was almost blaok, and had a grim face, striped with dark brown. I thought I pcrcened a sort of sullen intelligence in his countenance, notwithstanding his deiected and forlorn appearance, and I bought him. lie v, as ocarceh a >car old, and knew so hUl<j of herding that he had iu.\cr turned a. sheep in Ms life ; hut as scon as he discovered that it >\u-5 hi? duty to do so. and that it obliged me, I can never forget with what anxiety and eageui< h..- learned hisdiilerent evolutions, and wh^n I once made him understand a dncccion he ne\er forgot or mistook it." One night, a laigc flook of lambs that were under the Ettrick Shepherd's caie, frightonod by something, scampered away in three different dnections across the hills, in spite of all that ho could do to keep them ■ together. "Sirrah," said the shepherd, "they're a' awal" It, was too dark for the dog and bis master to sco each othor at any distance, but Sirrah understood him, and set off otter the fugitives. The night passed on, and Ho»? and his assistant traversed every neighbouring hill in anxious but fruitless search for tho lambs ; but he could hear nothing of them nor of the dog, and he w-as returning to his master with the doleful intelligence that he had lost all his lambs. "On our way home, however," says he, "' we discovered a lot of laniLa at the bottom of a deep ravine called the Flesh Clench, and the indefatigable Su-rah standing in front of them, looking lound for some relief, but still true to his charge. AYe concluded that it wae one of the divisions which Sirrah had been unable to manage, until he came to that commanding: situation. But- what was our astonishment when we discovered that not one lamb of the flock was missing ! How he had got all the divisions collected in the dark is beyond my comprehension. Tho charge was left entirely to himself from midnight till the rising sun ; and if all the shepherds in the forest had been there to have assisted him, they could not have effected it with greater promptitude. All that I can say is that I never felt so grateful to any creature under the sun as I did to my honest Sirrah that, morning."

— A few weeks back I published a letter signed '"Station Shepherd." an authority on the subject of ucrkino- sheepdogs, thanks to whose initiative some 10 or 12 .years back a most interesting discussion took place in these columns rclatne to tfie merits of the collie, and comparing working with show strains. " Station Shepherd's" last letter I hoped would draw a con trove rayon similar linos to the last, but, sceminsrlv. the shepherds of Otago and Southland are like preseut-day poultry men, strictly of a utilitarian turn of mmd — content to be faithfully served by their dumb friends, and. the less "talk" the hotter. I believe shepherds seldom pat their d-ogs ; dogs, they argue, are for Work, and fondling spoils them: but they will admit that dogs, though never co clever otherwise, cannot read the Witness, and consequently won't be spoiled as workers by printed words of praise; and I hope that with this hint there will bo no necessity for a long time to corns to again quote Yowatt or the Ettrick Shepherd foi clever dog-work. I invite shepherds and station workers generally to favour my readers with records of achievements by collies of the Dominion. More interesting literature I am sure could not he "orved up in "The Kennel."

—Mr F. T. Barton, M.E.0.V.5., gives the following recipe for mpnge ( c areoptic) : Oil of tar 1 drachm, oloate of mercury ointment ioz. precipitated sulphur 2 drachms, nowderod oxide of zino 2 drachms, glycerine 1£ diachms. soft soap 2oz. Apply a little to sores night and morning.

THE M'KENZIE COLLIE CLUB

An excellent meeting of patrons of the M'Kenzic County Colho Club sva^ hold at Mr Gunmen's, Bmke's Prsn, on Si'tuiday evening, when considerable interest was manifested in the near approach of the annual competitions, to be held under the auspices of the club at Burke s Pa*s. The usual date, the 'ast Thursday and Friday in March, being available, it was resolved to adhere thereto. The club's rsual four-class programme, with £15 cash in prizes, and several specials in each class, is sure to draw good competition, as well as the ever-increasing sportive competition among rival kennels and eocieties. Strong competition from outside is hoped for, and the officials, as" is their usual wont, aic bent on leaving no stone unturned to ensure strong competition and general satisfaction. Locally tbe club is being strongly supported. 41ready a record number of special prizes have been donated, and these have been allotted. The club gives a gold' medal to the champion dog. and Mr R. Fraser gi\es £2 for the best team of three dosrs. one in each open class. Mr Burnett ethos £2 for Maiden Hunt aw ay, the president gives a valuable trophy to the youngest competitor in the Maiden Class, and sonic half-dozen other valuable epeoials are given. The only alteration in the usual programme has been effected in replacing the "driving" event with a "short pull" (about 200 yards), yard and drive off along a defined course. The club's programmes will be issued at once, and will be available from practically all secretaries of kindred clubs. The iisual members' dinner and annual ball are also to eventuate, so this year's gathering should be even more attractive than ever. . A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the donors of fcho numerous specials.