Kennel Notes.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 9, 14 May 1920, Page 11

Kennel Notes.

Show Dates : — Dunedin Fanciers' Club, June 17, 18, and 19. An exhibit well worth seeing will be R. W. Brown's deerhounds. Bulldogs are not so numerous as prsviously, and Airedales are also fewer in number. Fox, Irish and Sydney Silkies will be fairly numerous; Cocker Spaniels and Setters will also be well represented, some very fine specimens having been entered. Mr Brown has spent a pile of money in importing some of these dogs, one of the number being a big winner at the best shows in England. The Ladies' Bracelet class has brought forward some gcod dogs, and the competition will be very lteen. Two of the successful competitors at the last Dunedin Shotv will again do battle. It will be interestirrg to watch how they fare after examination by four judgos. Wo would not be surprised to see some new blood carry off the bracelet. . You never know till the numbers go up. Todd Bros' motor garage, Dee street, will mako a splendid hall for the Show. Well lighted, airy and plenty of room. The Club is greatly indebted to the above mentioned firm for their kindness in placing a po.rtion of their splendid garage at the disposal of the Club. FEEDING. To be successful in the breeding and exhibiting of dogs the owner must pay the strictest attention to the all-impor-tant question of feeding. A dog, whether well bred or not, cannot make growth out of nothing* or grow well out of poor and insufficient food. To produce sound, healthy, well-developed, firm-fllihcd and muscular dogs ono must feed on proper lines, and not be under the impression that a dog will grow fit and well on sloppy foods, livcr and other offal. An experienced breeder or judge has only to look once at a dog to know whether it is being fed propcrly, as the result is easily seen from the condition of its body and coat. Meat is the dog's natural food, and this should be given raw, or cooked as a change. Like ourselves, the dbg is fond of a variety in its menu, and the same kind of meat should not be fed week in and week out. One or two of Spratt's dog biscuits should be given first fching in the morning, and the meal in the evening. Many dog owners assert that their dogs will not eat a biscuit, but this is probably due to the fact that they have receiv&d an over-abundance of meat in their puppyhood and look on any other class of food with suspicion. In a country like New Zealand, where the butchers can close their sliops for almost half a week at certain holiday times, it is necessary that a dog should be encoura-ged to eat biscuits. For the dog who -refuses to eat a biscuit, the best plan to adopt is to mince some raw meat, then mince one or two biscuits, and to eat the meat the dog must also eat the biscuits. This makes an excelleni meal, and should be given to dogs that are too forward in condition — probably through over-feed-ing on fat-producing gpeats. Remember that, as some people say, "it costs no more to- keep a good dog than a poor ono," is not true. It costs much more to properly feed and maintain wellbred dogs than ill-bred ones. The former's digestion and assimilation, like other functions, are more or less hereditary, and demand an ample and well balanced feeding. An excellent tonic for keeping a dog always fit and well is Bendow's dog mixture, and given regulariy will ward off many ills that the dog is subjedk tfx