DOGS FOR SHOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 December 1939, Page 7

DOGS FOR SHOW

QUESTION OF CONDITIONING. Besides the question of training dogs for showing, there is another side of the preliminary preparation that is also important. No experienced person would think of taking a dog to a show without taking special pains to have him looking his best and a good deal of thought should be given to the matter. The meaning of "condition” is sometimes misunderstood by novices who delude themselves into the belie! that it implies carrying an extra amount of flesh. At every show one sees dogs whose chances have been ruined because they are too fat. Not only does a super-abundance of fat spoil the outlines of the body but frequently it makes the head appear to be disproportionately small. When this is pointed out. to an exhibitor the excuse usually offered is that the dog is such a good doer that it is impossible to keep him within reasonable bounds. In nine cases out of ten this is nonsense. The probability is that the dog has been exercised insufficiently or has received unsuitable food. The remedy is to increase the exercise feed only once a day and make readjustments in the diet. Ordinarily, a dog does best on a mixture of biscuit foods and meat. If. however, he is too fat put him on lean meat exclusively until after the show. On the other hand, some clogs are shown too low in condition hav- I ing been worked hard; or it may be I that they are naturally bad "doers." In | that case, cod liver oil and a little chemical food given at meal times should bring about an improvement. For some weeks before a show most breeds should be given additional walking exercise, preferably on hard ground with the object of hardening the flesh, developing the muscles and tightening up the feet. Splayed open feet, slack loins and deficient muscular development are serious handicaps.