The American Book of the Dog - The Origin, Development, Special Characteristics, Utility, Breeding, Training, Points of Judging, Diseases, and Kennel Management of all Breeds of Dogs

By Vintage Dog Books

First published in 1891. A fascinating collection of essays on the breeding, characteristics and training of each of the major breeds of dogs in the United States. Including essays on the English and Irish Setter, the Pointer, Greyhound, Deerhound, Foxhound, Basset Hound, Dachshund, Bloodhound, Russian Wolfhound, Beagle Hound, Water Spaniel, Sussex Spaniel, Field Spaniel, the Chesapeake Bay Dog, the Bedlington, Irish, Bull, White English, Yorkshire , Airedale, Scottish, Skye and Maltese Terriers, Collie, Old English Sheep Dog, Great Dane, Newfoundland, Mastiff, Bulldog, Dalmatian, Pug, Mexican Hairless Dog and Toy Spaniels. This text has been republished here for its historical and cultural significance. Including a new introduction on dog breeding.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vintage Dog Books
• Release date: Sep 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781473341876

Book preview

FULL PAGE ILLUSTRATIONS.

Chesapeake Bay Dog, Barnum, Retrieving a Wounded Goose

Flushed

English Setter, Toledo Blade

English Setter, Cincinnatus

English Setter, Gloster

English Setter, Rowdy Rod

Irish Setter, Ruby Glenmore

Irish Setter, Sarsfield

Gordon Setters, Malcolm and Gypsey

Pointers, Duke of Vernon and Miss Freedom

Smooth-Coated German Pointer, Walden

Rough-Coated German Pointer, Ratiz

Pointer, Lady Dufferin

Pointer, Robert le Diable

Dead Bird

Pointer Puppies

Deerhounds, Phyllis, Robin Adair, Lady Dare, and Fergus

Irish Water Spaniel, King Slash

Millie and Jock

Bedlington Terrier, Christmas Carol

Bulldog, Bellisima

Bulldog Puppies

SMALLER ILLUSTRATIONS.

English Setter, Daisy Foreman

English Setter, Roderigo

English Setter, Plantagenet

Irish Setter, Tim

Irish Setter, Elcho

Irish Setter, Elcho, Junior

Gordon Setter, Bob

Gordon Setter, Little Boy

Gordon Setter, Pilot

Pointer, Croxteth

Pointer, Patti M.

Greyhound, Master Rich

Greyhound, Balkis

Foxhound, Joe Forester

Basset Hound, Nemours

Dachshund, Waldemann II.

English Bloodhound, Bono

English Bloodhounds, Rosemary and Ripple

English Bloodhound Puppies

English Bloodhound, Barnaby

Russian Wolfhound, Czar

Russian Wolfhound, Elsie

Beagle Hound, Trailer

Irish Water Spaniel, Dennis O’Donoghue

Irish Water Spaniel Puppies

Clumber Spaniel, Johnny

Clumber Spaniel, Quester

Field Spaniel, Black Prince

Cocker Spaniel, Doc

Cocker Spaniel, Brant

Cocker Spaniel, Neptune

Cocker Spaniel, Mike

Cocker Spaniel, Jersey

Chesapeake Bay Dog, Polly

Fox Terrier, Lucifer

Fox Terrier Puppies

Bedlington Terrier, Syrup H.

Bedlington Terrier Puppies

Irish Terrier, Nora

Irish Terrier, Mars

Bull Terrier, Starlight

Yorkshire Terrier, Lancashire Ben

Yorkshire Terrier, Bradford Harry

White English Terrier, White Prince

Airedale Terrier, Weaver

Scottish Terrier, Meadowthorpe Donald

Skye Terrier, Lovat

Black and Tan Terrier Puppies

Black and Tan Terrier, Meersbrook Maiden

Maltese Terriers, Brendoline, etc.

Collie, Scotilla

Collie, Boss

Old English Sheep Dog, Sir Cavendish

Great Dane, Minca Mia

Great Dane, Don Cæsar

Great Dane, Major

Great Dane, Juno

St. Bernard, Sir Bedivere

St. Bernard, Prince Regent

St. Bernard, Otho

St. Bernard Puppies

Mastiff, Beaufort

Mastiff, Edwy

Mastiff Puppies

Dalmatian Coach Dog

Poodle, Pierrot

Diagram for Clipping Poodle

Pug, Dude

Mexican Hairless, Me Too

King Charles Spaniel, Romeo

Blenheim Spaniel, King Victor

Schipperkes, Midnight and Darkness

INTRODUCTION.

BY THE HONORABLE JOHN S. WISE.

IT gives me great pleasure, at the request of the editor, to write an introduction to THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. Mr. Shields asked me, some months ago, to write an article on the Pointer for this work, and I deeply regretted that I was too much engaged at the time to comply with his request, for I felt then, as I do now, a deep interest in the success of his enterprise. However, my inability to join his staff did not prevent him from having that noble breed ably treated, for the gentleman whom he secured to write of it has prepared a most able, exhaustive, and instructive paper, as have nearly all the other contributors on the various breeds of dogs.

Mr. Shields is too well known to the readers of sportsmen’s literature to require any introduction, and in selecting contributors to this work he has displayed rare good judgment. His list of writers embraces the names of a great many gentlemen who are recognized as leading authorities on the subjects of which they write. While these articles may, in some cases, be more or less tinged by the peculiar views of their authors, the book, thus drawn from many different minds, is not only very eclectic in character, but, in my judgment, much more correct and valuable, as a whole, than it could be were it the production of an individual.

I have been particularly glad to notice that many of the writers have framed their articles on these lines, and have quoted largely from the writings of others, not contenting themselves with merely expressing their individual views.

The book is exceedingly interesting. It is free, too, from the sameness of expression and treatment so often found in books of this character written by one man. It is, moreover, a very instructive book, and of practical value, in many features, to the owners and breeders of dogs.

This is an American book, describing the American standard of dogs, the appearance of American dogs, and the American diseases of dogs, as well as the American remedies which will cure those diseases. By this I do not mean to belittle foreign animals or foreign literature on these subjects. On the contrary, the foreign literature, up to the present time, is far superior to ours, and all our dogs are descended from foreign importations. The idea I intend to convey by the above remark is that certain conditions and peculiarities of our climate vary not only the appearance of our dogs and the standards applicable to them, from the appearance and standards of other countries, but the diseases to which they are subject and the treatment which should be applied to them. All these things are considered and dealt with in Mr. Shields’ book in a way not, in the nature of the case, to be found in foreign authorities, however excellent, and that is why I commend this as an American work.

Another valuable feature of this book is the illustrations. Many of these are artistic and beautiful in a high degree. The portraits of several dogs of world-wide reputation are shown, and those of many other typical specimens, less widely known, add to the interest and attractiveness of the work. Nearly every breed is illustrated, and of some breeds several good specimens are pictured.

A statement of the value of American dogs would startle a stranger to the subject. It is no exaggeration to say that the aggregate salable value of sporting and pet dogs in this country amounts to several million dollars. Our bench shows and field trials are in every way equal, if not superior, to those of Europe. Canine interests in this country have for years past engaged the careful attention of many of the most successful business men in this country. Excellent talent is employed in the larger American cities for the exclusive purpose of writing upon canine subjects; and their journals are extensively and profitably circulated.

Knowing all this, I am sure that a great demand will be found for so excellent and comprehensive a book as this. The topics treated in this work, to wit: The origin of breeds; their early history; development up to the present standard; special characteristics; utility, excellences and deficiencies; directions for training, for breeding, and for kennel management; notes on diseases, with directions and prescriptions for treatment of same; preparation for bench show or field trial; the future of the breeds—all these are well selected and well treated.

The special article on diseases and their treatment, by one of the most eminent living authorities, is of itself a valuable addition to the library of the sportsman.

I sincerely hope the book will meet with the cordial reception it deserves.

NEW YORK, June 26, 1890.

FLUSHED.

THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG.

THE ENGLISH SETTER.

BY BERNARD WATERS,

Kennel Editor of the American Field, and Author of Modern Training, Handling, and Kennel Management.

REGARDING the origin of the English Setter, nothing is known to a certainty; but, in this particular, the absence of knowledge does not differ from that concerning all other old breeds of dogs. That the English Setter is a very old breed is beyond question, as will be shown more fully hereinafter, by reference to some ancient-literature on the subject; but that the ipse dixit of one or two ancient writers should be given so much credence is unaccountable. However, the obscurity, which envelops the past, quite as effectually prevents disproving any errors in the statements of the old writers as it does the proving of their statements to be correct. This is more particularly noticeable as, in the present day, captious critics are ever ready to differ from those who are more or less recognized as authorities, while accepting without question the sayings of writers of two or three hundred years ago. According to the popular belief, one which is supported by nearly every author of modern sporting literature, the English Setter is supposed to have originated in a Spaniel ancestry. To show on what this belief is founded, a few excerpts from recognized authorities will be presented.

Stonehenge, in his work, The Dogs of the British Islands (edition of 1867), treats of the Setter as follows:

As some difference of opinion appears to exist with regard to Setters, we have determined thoroughly to satisfy ourselves as to their origin and best form, and we have called all the best authorities to our assistance. We propose to place the result of our labors before the public, and to add our own. conclusions.

There is no doubt that the sport of hawking was known and practiced by the ancient Britons, and that the Roman was totally ignorant of the science; but the invader at once came to the conclusion that the system might be improved, and introduced the Land Spaniel, if not the Water Dog also, into this country.

These dogs roused the game, and this was all that the hawker required of them in those early days; but in after years, as we shall see, dogs were required to point, or, in the language of the quaint old writer, sodainely stop and fall down upon their bellies, and having so done, when within two or three yards, "then shall your Setter stick, and by no persuasion go further till yourself come in and use your pleasure."

At first, then, without doubt, the Spaniel was merely used as a springer for the hawk, which was subsequently neglected for the net; and the propensity of the dog to pause before making his dash at game was cultivated and cherished, by breeding and selection, until, at last, gratified by observing the action of the net, he yielded his natural impulse of springing at all, and set, or lay down, to permit the net to be drawn over him. After this, the hawker trained his Spaniel to set; then he cast off his hawks, which ascended in circles, and waited on until his master roused the quarry from its concealment, when she pounced upon it like a pistol-shot.

When used either with hawks or for the net (especially in the latter case), a far heavier dog answered the purpose than what we call a High-ranging Setter. The net enveloped a whole covey in its meshes, and few manors would allow of many coveys being taken in a day; whilst the disentangling the birds, and securing them, allowed time for the heavy dog to rest and regain his wind.

Richard Surflet, who wrote in 1600, gives us the following information. Writing of the Field or Land Spaniel, of which sith before no author hath fully intreated, he describes him as gentle, loving, and courteous to man, more than any other sort of dog whatsoever; and as "loving to hunt the wing of any bird, especially partridge, pheasant, quails, rails, poots, and such like. He tells us we are to choose him by his shape, beauty, metal, and cunning hunting; his shape being discerned in the good composition of his body, as when he hath a round, thick head, a short nose, a long, well-compast, and hairie eare, broad and syde lips, a cleere red eie, a thick neck, broad breast, short and well-knit joints, round feete, strong cleys (high dew-cley’d), good round ribs, a gaunt bellie, a short, broad backe, a thicke, bushie, and long-haired taile, and all his bodie generally long and well-haired.

"His beautie is discerned in his colour, of which the motleys or piede are the best; whether they be black-and-white, red-and-white, or liver-hued-and-white; for, to be all of one colour, as all white, or all blacke, or all red, or all liver-hued, without any other spot, is not so comely in the field, although the dogs, notwithstanding, may be of excellent cunning.

"His mettall is discerned in his free and untired laboursome ranging, beating a field over and over, and not leaving a furrow untrodden, or one unsearched, where any haunt is likely to be hidden; and when he doth it, most coragiously and swiftly, with a wanton playing taile, and a busie labouring nose, neither desisting nor showing less delight in his labour at night than he did in the morning.

And his cunning hunting is discerned by his casting about heedfully, and running into the wind of the prey he seeketh; by his stillnesse and quietnesse in hunting, without babbling or barking; but when he is upon an assured and certain haunt, by the manner of his ranging, and when he compasseth a whole field about at the first, and after lesneth and lesneth the circumference, till he have trodden every path, and brought the whole circuit to one point; and by his more temperate and leisurely hunting, when he comes to the first scent of the game, sticking upon it, and pricking it out by degrees; not opening or questing by any means, but whimpering and whining to give his master a warning of what he scenteth, and to prepare himself and his hawke for the pleasure he seeketh; and when he is assured of his game, then to quest out loudly and freely.

After describing Spaniels which delight in plains or the open fields, and others more adapted for covert, he goes on to say: "There is another sort of Land Spannyels which are called Setters, and they differ nothing from the former, but in instruction and obedience, for these must neither hunt, range, nor retaine, more or less, than as the master appointeth, taking the whole limit of whatsoever they do from the eie or hand of their instructor. They must never quest at any time, what occasion soever may happen, but as being dogs without voices, so they must hunt close and mute. And when they come upon the haunt of that they hunt, they shall sodainely stop and fall down upon their bellies, and so leisurely creep by degrees to the game till they come within two or three yards thereof, or so neare that they can not press nearer without danger of retrieving. Then shall your Setter stick, and by no persuasion go further till yourself come in and use your pleasure. Now the dogs which are to be made for this pleasure should be the most principall, best, and lustiest Spannyel you can get, both of good scent and good courage, yet young, and as little as may be made acquainted with much hunting."

There is no doubt that the Setter is a Spaniel, brought by a variety of crosses (or rather, let us say, of careful selections) to the size and form in which we now find him. He is the most national of all our shooting dogs, and certainly has existed for four centuries. His form probably has improved.

The net used in different countries required the same character of dog. He might be slow, heavy, or slack, and soon fatigued, but he would answer the purpose. But when shooting flying superseded the use of the net, the moors, the Grampians, the Norfolk turnips (before they were sown in drills), the Irish potato-fields, the low Scottish wolds, or the fens of Lincoln, all required dogs of different types, accommodated to their several hunting-grounds.

The description of the Setter’s manner of hunting is both quaint and spirited; yet there is nothing whatever in the writings quoted which implies that the Setter had a Spaniel origin. Palpably the Setter was then an established breed, as shown by the assertion that "there is another sort of Land Spannyels which are called Setters." That Setters and Spaniels should be classed, as being of the same family, several centuries ago, is not remarkable; nor is it remarkable that a sporting writer’s dicta at that time should be unquestioned, since there were but few of them, and people at large were uneducated in such matters. With all the advantages of a sporting press, a multitude of writers, an extensive sporting literature, and numerous annual bench shows and field trials as educational institutions, there have grown up a wonderful diversity of opinion and misinformation in respect to the different breeds at the present day. It is not strange, therefore, that, in the year 1600, Richard Surflet classed the Setter as a Spaniel, although, as mentioned hereinbefore, he refers to this breed as another sort of Land Spannyel.

In the chapter on the Sussex Spaniel, in the same work, Stonehenge says: About the year 1555, a duke of Northumberland trained one ‘to set birds for the net;’ and soon afterward the Setter was produced, either by selection or by crossing the Talbot Hound and Spaniel. The utter absurdity and thoughtlessness of such an illogical statement is self-evident to anyone.

A duke trained a Sussex Spaniel to point, and soon afterward the breed of Setters was produced. Why could not all breeds be thus taught to point? This is rendered still more absurd by the fact, well known to all students of natural history, that an educational act is not transmitted to the progeny. That Stonehenge was not quite positive in his inferences is shown by his remarks in the revised edition of the same work, published in 1878, wherein he treats the subject as follows: The Setter is, without doubt, either descended from the Spaniel, or both are offshoots of the same parent stock, originally—that is, before the improvements in the gun introduced the practice of shooting flying, it is believed that he was merely a Spaniel taught to ‘stop’ or ‘set’ as soon as he came upon the scent of the partridge, when a net was drawn over the covey by two men; hence he was made to drop close to the ground, an attitude which is now unnecessary. There is thus an absence of positiveness in his later opinions on the subject; in fact, there is no proof adduced whatever to support the speculation.

TOLEDO BLADE.

Owned by J. E. Dager, 1053 Grand Avenue, Toledo, Ohio.

Gordon Stables briefly disposes of the subject, in The Practical Kennel Guide, as follows: The Setter used to be called a ‘Setting Spaniel,’ and was known in England long before the Pointer, and was probably first introduced by the Romans.

Laverack, in his work, The Setter, says:

I am of the opinion that all Setters have more or less originally sprung from our various strains of Spaniels, and I believe most breeders of any note agree that the Setter is nothing more than a Setting Spaniel. How the Setter attained his sufficiency of point is difficult to account for, and I leave that question to wiser heads than mine to determine. The Setter is said and acknowledged, by authorities of long standing, to be of greater antiquity than the Pointer. If this be true, and I believe it is, the Setter can not at first have been crossed with the Pointer to render him what he is.

A more modern writer, one who is generally very sound, and always instructive, Mr. Hugh Dalziel, treats the subject at some length. The following quotations give the main points of his position:

Difficult as it admittedly is to trace the history of any of our modern breeds of dogs, although in so many instances their manufacture, if I may use the term, into their present form is of comparatively recent date, there is, in respect to the Setter, a general agreement among writers and breeders that our present dog is largely derived from the Spaniel; indeed, the proofs of this are conclusive. The family likeness is, in many respects, yet strongly preserved; and in some kennels where they have kept pretty much to their own blood, following different lines from our show and field-trial breeders, this is markedly so. The writer on Setters in the Sportsman’s Cabinet, 1802, tells us that in his day, in the northern counties, the Pointer was called the Smooth Spaniel, the Setter the Rough Spaniel; and although he speaks of this localism with surprise, as a misnomer, it was really the preservation of an old distinction—the Setters, or Setting Spaniels, being so named to divide them from their congeners, used for different work, and named Cockers and Springers.

Somewhat inconsistently with the conclusion that the proofs are conclusive, Mr. Dalziel continues:

Whether the modern Setter has been produced from the Spaniel by careful selection, or by a cross with the Pointer or some other breed, it is difficult to decide.

In the American Kennel and Sporting Field, the late Arnold Barges voiced the common belief in the following:

The best of modern writers, among whom I may mention Stonehenge, Laverack, Idstone, all say that the Setter is a direct descendant of the Land Spaniel, and speak of a Setting Spaniel as the first Setter. There is no doubt that this is the correct theory, and that our Setter is a pure, unadulterated, but improved Spaniel.

Briefly, nearly all modern writers, owners, and breeders hold these opinions in the main, there being some variation here and there; but however much these beliefs may vary one from another, they all have their inspiration in the facts that the Setter was in ancient times called a Setting Spaniel, and that he has some analogies in common with the Spaniel.

A few of the objections against the theory that the aboriginal ancestry of the Setter was in the Spaniel may be mentioned:

First. The arguments and proofs adduced are founded on such imperfect data, with no contemporaneous support, that they could be applied with equal force in proving that the Spaniel is a variation of the Setter. Setting Spaniel might be a localism, as was calling the Pointer a Smooth Spaniel.

Second. Those who assert that the Setter is an improved Spaniel are not positive or consistent in the assertion, and depend more upon the numerous repetitions of matters of hearsay, all of which center more to the inconclusive fact that some centuries ago the Setter was called a Setting Spaniel, than upon any absolute knowledge.

Third. If the Land Spaniel had such an inherent tendency to variation, it would undoubtedly have multiplied the variations, thus forming numerous sub-varieties, or distinct breeds. It is well known, however, that the Setter breeds true to race-forms, as does also the Spaniel.

Fourth. If the Spaniel did throw off a variety—for without some variation there could not have been any change of form—it would probably have been lost by intercrossing with the parent type, by the natural tendency of animal organizations to revert to parental forms, or by the destruction of the variation as being mongrel. This conjecture is not improbable, since no breeder at the present day would consider his stock pure if the progeny were not true to type, nor would he allow such progeny to exist; therefore there is no probability that such variation would be cultivated and preserved, even if it existed.

Fifth. There would, in all probability, be in existence numerous intermediate gradations of forms from the Setter to the Springer, showing more or less perfectly the different stages of transition; for it is hardly tenable to suppose their total destruction, leaving the two breeds distinctly established, without any connecting link between them.

Sixth. There is an absurdity in the statement that a Spaniel was taught to point, and that soon thereafter the instinct became general; for if one educational matter became hereditary, why did not all others become hereditary at the same time and in the same manner?

Seventh. The pointing instinct, as exhibited by the Pointer and Setter, is applied for their own profit in hunting, and has no reference whatever to the purposes of the gun.

In advancing on their prey, of which game birds are but a part, Setters (and, for that matter, Pointers also) must approach cautiously on the birds which are lying close and concealed from view. The dog must rely solely on his powers of scent in his approach to the place of concealment, and must locate the birds with precision to make a success of his effort. As he approaches the birds, his muscles become tense, preparatory to the spring to kill, and he stops for a few moments to gauge the distance and location of the birds, then springs with astonishing quickness and precision, and not infrequently effects a capture. If he has the birds accurately located as he draws to them, the preparatory pause, technically called the point, will be very short, or perhaps there will be none. This phenomenon is such as is exhibited by dogs in training, and not such as is exhibited by broken dogs. It requires a long course of training to bring the dog to steadiness on his points to subserve the purposes of the sportsman; but this only shows that, by training, the sportsman has diverted to his own use a quality which is an aid to the dog in gaining a food-supply in a state of nature, the dog being a carnivorous animal. That the act of pointing, so far as its practical application is concerned, is but partially instinctive is demonstrated by the various methods which the Setter has in pursuing his prey; for instance, when drawing on the trail of birds, he is mute, and shows the greatest caution in avoiding making any noise, knowing that noise would alarm the prey and destroy all chances, as a chase after birds would be hopeless. In chasing rabbits, which are a part of his prey, and which he hunts with greater zest than birds, he gives tongue merrily and makes no attempt at caution. That this trait of pointing may also be acquired is a well-attested fact. The writer had a Bull Terrier which was an excellent squirrel-dog. From seeing an occasional ruffed grouse shot, he learned that they were objects of pursuit. When he struck the trail, he would road cautiously and silently, making a point at the proper place with excellent judgment, and in this manner, by his intelligence, giving many good shots. On squirrels, he was noisy and rapid in his work. There are a number of such instances mentioned by authors.

Yet the popular belief, in respect to the purposes of the pointing instinct, is opposed to these views.

The following, from British Dogs, contains the gist of the popular teachings and belief on the subject: I look upon the form exhibited by Pointers, and some Setters, when standing to game as an inherited habit, the result of education. The stop, or point, voluntarily made by our dogs now, is the inherited result of training the breed, generation after generation, to forego the spring onto the game natural to a carnivorous animal, in order to serve the gun. This is quoted as being an accurate expression of how the pointing instinct was developed; therefore it will serve as an expression of the general belief and not as that of a single individual.

It does not explain in the least how the instinct originated, for at the beginning it could not be an inherited habit, the result of education. It is still more inexplicable when we remember that so few individuals were taught to point. Moreover, educational properties are not transmitted; if so, the constant training which dogs have received in domestic life, for innumerable generations, would be inherited; that they are not can readily be seen when comparing the behavior of a dog which has been reared in and about the house, from puppyhood, with that of one which has been reared exclusively in a kennel. Other educational acts which are constantly taught to all dogs are not inherited; therefore, why should an act taught to a few dogs become instinctive in a breed of dogs? It is against all experience that an educational act taught to one generation should be transmitted to succeeding generations. The horse, through many centuries, has been given a thorough education, one which included a much larger percentage of the breed than does the education of Setters; yet the colts of to-day have to be educated precisely in the same manner as their parents were. Thus if one educational quality became instinctive by education, why did not all other educational qualities, which were equally or more uniformly taught, also become instinctive? This merely shows an inconsistency in the position; but even without this, it is untenable, otherwise the teachings of naturalists must give way to the speculations of those who have given the matter superficial consideration.

Darwin, in The Origin of Species, when speaking of instinct, says:

Domestic instincts are sometimes spoken of as actions which have become inherited solely from long-continued and compulsory habit; but this is not true. Again, as in the case of corporeal structure, and conformably to my theory, the instinct of each species is good for itself, but has never, as far as we can judge, been produced for the exclusive good of others.

In other words, an animal never has an instinct for the benefit of some other animal; instincts being directly for the benefit of the individual having them, or the preservation of the species. This subject admits of much greater scope in treating it, but sufficient has been advanced already to give the reader a fair general knowledge of all that is known of the origin of the Setter. He may have had a Spaniel ancestry; but whatever his origin, it is now in the realms of speculation. At best, there is no relation whatever between such a trifling cause and such a great and unrelated effect; however, the main proofs to sustain the belief that the Setter had a Spaniel ancestry are fully set forth, so that the reader can form his own conclusions. When carefully analyzed, there is but one conclusion; i. e., that the origin of the Setter is not known.

CINCINNATUS.

Owned by J. E. Dager, Toledo, Ohio.

The development of the English Setter, and his rise to his present high place in the appreciation of sportsmen, are matters of a comparatively recent period. Numerous strains existed in England, each of which had its admirers and supporters, and for each special claims of excellence were made.

In this country, the stages of transition in the development of the English Setter have been somewhat irregular in respect to progress; but, at the present time, it is generally conceded, that the high-class English Setter, as he exists in this country, has no superiors. The first impetus given to the general improvement of the English Setter in America was due to the importation of some of the best blood from England, and the coincident growth of field trials. The Laveracks, a strain so called from having been bred and preserved by the late Mr. Laverack, through his life-time, had a great deal of prominence in the sporting world, although the purity of his breeding, and, consequently, the pedigrees which he presented to the public, were questioned as to their correctness by prominent breeders, and, it would seem, with a great deal of justness; for there are many matters incidental to them which it is difficult to explain consistently with Mr. Laverack’s pretensions.

The first field trials—the inception of general progress in field sports in America—were run near Memphis, Tenn., in 1874, under the auspices of the Tennessee Sportsmen’s Association. For four or five years thereafter, general progress was slow; breeders having so many conflicting interests and theories in regard to breeding, as to which were the best strains, that it required a certain length of time to determine which were the best dogs, and which the best methods of training—thus approximating to at least a general agreement on sporting matters. Although there are still many which are unsettled, because of the whims, preferences, prejudices, beliefs, different needs and training of sportsmen, it is a matter for congratulation that they are educated to a point where differences of opinion are now confined to large classes of sportsmen—one class against the other—where, a few years ago, it was each individual’s opinion arrayed against those of all others.

The field trials furnished an available public test to determine the claims of the different breeds and strains to superiority. The importation of the blue-bloods, so-called, led to the keenest of competitions in the field trials with the native stock; the result demonstrating the superiority of the imported stock to the native. The win of a dog at a field trial added largely to his monetary value, as well as to the satisfaction of his owner in having the best, or one of the best dogs; thus establishing a standard for others to strive for. In this manner, the spirit of rivalry or emulation which the competition engendered, created a widespread and active demand for better dogs as to field-work, and purer blood as to breeding. This, in turn, resulted in engaging breeders in efforts to supply the demand; and as the blue-bloods added to their victories over the native Setter, the latter dropped more and more out of the competition, until, at the present day, they are seldom represented in the field trials, and but little in the pedigrees of the favorite lines of breeding—in most instances not at all. En passant, it may be said that the native Setter had many admirable qualities, but was chiefly deficient in the speed and dash of the imported stock. The Llewellin Setter—a cross of the Duke-Rhæbe blood on the Laverack—a strain of English Setters bred by Mr. Llewellin (England), found greater favor with sportsmen in this country than any other strain; and the fine-bred English Setter in this country at the present time has more of this blood than any other, although it has largely lost its claim to the name of Llewellin; that is, a cross of the Duke-Rhæbe blood on the Laverack.

With field trials there came a demand for a higher grade of skillful training; and as the occupation became fairly remunerative, as well as congenial to men who were passionately fond of shooting, it rapidly was monopolized by them, and soon reduced to a fine art—at least, in so far as the complex composition of a dog’s nature would permit.

The special characteristics of the English Setter are his beauty of form; his rich, silky, glossy coat; his intelligence; his merry, dashing manner of hunting in the field; his keen scent; and his remarkable judgment in the application of his efforts, and adaptability to the character of the grounds and the habits of the game birds which he is hunting. Combined with these are great powers of physical endurance, which he usually retains until the encroachments of age impair them. In motion and on point, the English Setter is the embodiment of beauty, spirit and grace. The high-class English Setter finds and locates his birds with great rapidity, when he once catches the scent of them; in fact, any habitual hesitancy or pottering are elements of certain defeat, in a competition.

As shown by the records of public competitors, the character and extent of ownership, and the preference and opinions of the most expert sportsmen, the English Setter is the superior of all other breeds for work on game birds.*

In breeding Setters, if superior field performances are the qualities to be attained, the rules for guidance are simple. Breed only to dogs of the highest individual merit. Breeding to a poor dog, simply because his brother, or other blood relation, is a known good performer, is the most fallacious theory in breeding. The poor dog is much more predisposed to transmit the poor qualities which he has than the good qualities of his related blood which he has not. By such course, the best strain can be, in time, rendered utterly worthless. Without this care in selection, or material of the proper quality to select from, but little progress, if any, can be made in improving the stock. The Setter, being a working dog, should be bred on as near a working type as possible—a type which admits of a combination of speed, strength, and endurance. The elegant racing-lines of the Greyhound admit of the exercise of great speed, but it can not be sustained for any comparatively great length of time. The Setter requires a symmetrical but stronger construction, the demands of his work requiring that he should be able to work all day, or several days in succession, at a reasonably fast pace. Gradually, however, the breed of English Setters has been diverging into two types—one encouraged by bench shows, the other by the demands of practical field sportsmen. The former is of a cobbier type, with a preference for a needless profusion of feather—fashion having, in a measure, taken the Setter from his domain as a working dog and transferred him to domestic life as a pet and companion; a position to which his docility, intelligence, symmetry of form, beautiful coat, and affectionate disposition eminently qualify him.

Bench shows and field trials have become established institutions, and gain a stronger and wider support year by year. The preparation of a dog for either, entails a great deal of skillful labor and diligent attention. For a bench show, a dog must be in the highest physical condition; therefore in the highest state of health. These can only be accomplished by regular feeding, exercise, grooming, and cleanliness in his yard and sleeping quarters—particulars which, by the way, should be observed at all times, whether preparing for competition or not.

DAISY FOREMAN

Owned by George W. Neal, Westville Conn.

A Setter, when mature, should be fed but once a day. This is sufficient either at work or rest; but it should be good, wholesome food, and all that the dog will consume. A liberal proportion of meat may be used; in fact, when at work, the dog may with advantage be fed on a meat diet exclusively. During the close season, the dog, if confined, should have as large a yard as possible for the purpose of exercising, and thereto the owner should give him a run night and morning. The dog is a nervous, restless animal, generally of unlimited energy and spirits, and plenty of exercise is an absolute requirement to keep him in good health. In connection with feeding a dog, it may be mentioned that it is a mistake to give a dog a large, hard bone. The dog will gnaw it by the hour, but he gets no nourishment, and wears out his teeth. Young dogs may be frequently seen with their front teeth worn to the gums, from the effect of this kind of misdirected kindness. Soft bones, which the dog can crush easily, such as the ribs of sheep, etc., keep the teeth white and clean, and gratify the dog’s craving for bones.

Good, clean straw makes an excellent bedding. It should be changed as often as it gets broken or soiled; about twice a week will usually be often enough, unless the weather should be very rainy and the ground muddy, when it should be changed oftener. Where but one or two dogs are kept, any dry, clean out-building will do for a kennel; or a small kennel can be made at little expense.

The field training of a dog is an art on which there is a voluminous literature. The modern trainer has improved greatly on the methods of his predecessors, and the American trainer of the present has no peer in his special calling; a calling which has its hardships, however, for it is shorn of all artificial advantages which are incidental to training on a preserve in England. The trainer, when the training season begins, locates in some favorable section in the South, where he has an abundance of old fields, open and cover, and where birds are known to be plentiful; thus training his dogs in actual hunting. In this manner, they get their education in practical work. The trainer has to reconcile himself frequently to the discomforts of poor lodgings, worse fare, and isolation from congenial civilization. But fondness for the dog and gun overcomes all the hardships of the profession, and the trainer often can not be induced to engage in more remunerative and settled occupation. The prices for training a dog vary from $100 to $150, according to the perfection in training which the owner desires, or the reputation of the trainer—winning at field trials adding to a trainer’s reputation and to the demand for his services.

An English Setter of good breeding, showing superior merit and winning in competition, is worth from $500 to $2,000, taking the sales of the past few years as a standard by which to judge.

The training of a dog requires from five to six months to complete, under the tuition of a skillful trainer. When the dog is ten months or a year old, he is at the best age for training, having then sufficient physical development to endure the work, and mental capacity to understand it.

The methods of training in vogue at the present time differ radically from those of a few years ago. Then it was assumed that a dog should be trained in every detail, even in the manner in which he should perform his work; now the dog is taught to direct his efforts in the interest of the gun, but the manner, being natural to him, is developed to its greatest capacity simply by giving the dog ample experience to exercise it; for without ample experience to learn methods of hunting, after his own manner, he can not make progress in skillful hunting.

The most essential qualities in hunting are pointing and ranging. To become a skillful performer and proficient in the first quality, a dog must have delicate scenting powers and great judgment in using them; to be a good ranger, he must have good speed which is well and uniformly maintained, and great stamina to sustain long-continued periods of work. To these he must add great intelligence, to the end that his efforts be directed with judgment; the intelligence displayed in his methods being commonly called bird sense. A dog possessing the latter quality will be incomparably superior to one without it, even if the latter is equal or superior in other qualities. A dog having bird sense hunts out his ground in the most thorough, yet intelligent manner. He takes his course from one likely place to another, makes a circuit about likely fields to strike the trail of anything which may be feeding, avoids bare, unpromising ground in his casts, and always takes advantage of the wind in beating about, in thicket or open. The dog which beats about without any plan in his work, hunting promising and unpromising ground alike, never becomes a skillful finder. The dog having bird sense always has a good memory, and if hunted on any grounds once or twice, will remember the location of every bevy found, and hunt them out afterward with remarkable quickness. Therein lies the great superiority, in this country, of intelligent ranging over the artificial method of beating out the ground, called quartering, in which the dog is required to beat out the ground at right-angles to the course of his handler; thus going constantly in parallel lines excepting when turning at the ends, the distance between the parallels being theoretically the range of the dog’s nose. Thus a dog with keen, sensitive functions of smell could take wider parallels than one whose nose was dull or poor. In this country, no attention is paid to the teaching of quartering by the expert handler; and indeed it is not required. If a dog in hunting out large tracts of country can not do so intelligently, he is imperfect as a hunter, and no artificial methods of ranging can supply the natural deficiency. In England, quartering is useful, for the reason that the grounds and manner of cultivation favor it; but what in this respect is advantageous there, is not so here.

GLOSTER.

Owned by Mr. J. L. Breese, Tuxedo, N. Y.

The education of a dog should begin when about ten months or a year old. It should not be inferred that nothing whatever should be done before such age; on the contrary, a great deal is taught, but it is done by taking the puppy out for exercise runs, and by associating him with his master, thus enabling him to learn a great deal from his own observational powers. Hence a puppy should never be kept chained in a kennel if it is possible to avoid it. At ten months or a year old, the puppy has outgrown many of the frivolous habits of puppyhood, besides having more physical and mental capabilities.

The trainer first gives the pupil a thorough course of yard-training, teaching him to Drop (to lie down to order and signal), to Hold up (to rise to order and signal), to Go on or Hie on, to walk at heel, to Come in, and to retrieve, although the latter accomplishment is better left out till his second hunting season.

To teach the dog to drop, tie a cord, about three or four feet long, to his collar; hold the cord in the left hand, a whip in the right. Give the order Drop and a moderate cut of the whip on the shoulder at the same instant; repeat this till the dog lies down, being particularly careful to avoid hurry and to use the ordinary tone of voice. After a few moments, speak to him kindly and give the order Hold up.

Be careful to guard against such noise or violence as will frighten the dog. When done properly, no fears are excited. Let the lesson last about fifteen or twenty minutes; then pet the dog a few minutes before giving him his liberty, so that his fears, if he have any, will be dissipated. Give two lessons each day, regularly, and regular progress will soon be apparent.

Hie on or Go on is easily taught when exercising the dog; the order which frees him from restraint being consonant with his inclinations always, is soon learned.

More time should be taken to teach obedience to the order Heel during the yard-breaking, as, if taught thoroughly, the dog may become habituated to walking behind his master, and may come in from hunting whenever uncomfortably fatigued or warm, and thus acquire a very annoying trait, which will be difficult to cure, or may possibly be incurable.

When actual field-work begins, it is the better way to let the dog have his own way for several days, and, if he be timid or indifferent, several weeks, if necessary to develop his courage or interest. Coincidently, he is learning methods of pursuit and a general knowledge of details pertaining to hunting. The dog is gradually brought into subjection by regular hunting and skillful use of the check-cord and whip, always avoiding such punishment as will destroy the dog’s ardor or excite violent fear of his master. As to the manner of roading and pointing, it should be left entirely to the dog; the effort of the trainer being directed toward establishing steadiness on the point and ranging to the gun. If the trainer be constantly endeavoring to establish some ideal manner of working, he will find himself engaged in a most profitless, wearisome, and endless task; for instance, if the dog roads his birds naturally, it is a loss of time to endeavor to make him proficient in hunting for the body-scent, with a high nose, etc. The aim should be to develop the capabilities which the dog has, rather than the capabilities which some other dog has and which he has not.

Retrieving is taught either by what is called the natural method, or by force. In the former, advantage is taken of the dog’s fondness for play during puppyhood. An object, commonly a ball or glove, is thrown out, and the puppy runs after it, takes it in his mouth, and is ready for a frolic. By degrees he is brought to fetch it to command. With age the playfulness disappears, and with regular lessons the obedience, from regular discipline, becomes habitual.

The majority of trainers and handlers order their dogs too much. The fewer orders that can be given, the better; and the most artistically trained dog is the one which will work steadily to the gun without orders.

The following standards and points of judging for the English Setter are taken from Stonehenge:

The points of the English Setter may be described as follows:

The skull (value 10) has a character peculiar to itself, somewhat between that of the Pointer and Cocker Spaniel—not so heavy as the former’s, and larger than the latter’s. It is without the prominence of the occipital bone so remarkable in the Pointer; is also narrower between the ears, and there is a decided brow over the eyes.

The nose (value 5) should be long and wide, without any fullness under the eyes. There should be, in the average dog Setter, at least four inches from the inner corner of the eye to the end of the nose. Between the point and the root of the nose there should be a slight depression—at all events, there should be no fullness—and the eyebrows should rise sharply from it. The nostrils must be wide apart and large in the openings, and the end should be moist and cool, though many a dog with exceptionally good scenting powers has had a remarkably dry nose, amounting in some cases to roughness, like that of shagreen. In all Setters, the end of the nose should be black, or dark liver-colored; but in the very best bred whites, or lemon-and-whites, pink is often met with, and may in them be pardoned. The jaws should be exactly equal in length, a snipe-nose, or pig-jaw, as the receding lower one is called, being greatly against its possessor.

RODERIGO

Owned by Memphis and Avent Kennels, Memphis, Tenn.

Ears, lips, and eyes (value 4).—With regard to ears, they should be shorter than the Pointer’s, and rounded, but not so much so as those of the Spaniel. The leather should be thin and soft, carried closely to the cheeks, so as not to show the inside, without the slightest tendency to prick the ear, which should be clothed with silky hair, little more than two inches in length. The lips also are not so full and pendulous as those of the Pointer; but at their angles there should be a slight fullness, not reaching quite to the extent of hanging. The eyes must be full of animation, and of medium size, the best color being a rich brown, and they should be set with their angles straight across.

The neck (value 6) has not the full, rounded muscularity of the Pointer, being considerably thinner, but still slightly arched, and set into the head without that prominence of the occipital bone which is so remarkable in that dog. It must not be throaty, though the skin is loose.

The shoulders and chest (value 15) should display great liberty in all directions, with sloping, deep shoulder-blades, and elbows well let down. The chest should be deep rather than wide; though Mr. Laverack insists on the contrary formation, italicizing the word wide in his remarks on page 22 of his book. Possibly it may be owing to this formation that his dogs have not succeeded at any field trial, as above remarked; for the bitches of his breed, notably Countess and Daisy, which I have seen, were as narrow as any Setter breeder could desire. I am quite satisfied that on this point Mr. Laverack is altogether wrong. I fully agree with him, however, that the ribs should be well sprung behind the shoulder; and great depth of the back ribs should be especially demanded.

Back, quarters, and stifles (value 15).—An arched loin is desirable, but not to the extent of being roached or wheel-backed—a defect which generally tends to a slow, up-and-down gallop. Stifles well bent and set wide apart, to allow the hind legs to be brought forward with liberty in the gallop.

Legs, elbows, and hocks (value 12).—The elbows and toes, which generally go together, should be straight; and if not, the pigeon-toe, or in-turned leg, is less objectionable than the out-turn, in which the elbow is confined by its close attachment to the ribs. The arm should be muscular, and the bone fully developed, with strong and broad knees; short pasterns, of which the size, in point of bone, should be as great as possible (a very important point), and their slope not exceeding a very slight deviation from the straight line. Many good judges insist upon a perfectly upright pastern, like that of the Foxhound; but it must not be forgotten that the Setter has to stop himself suddenly when at full stretch he catches scent, and to do this with an upright and rigid pastern causes a considerable strain on the ligaments, soon ending in knuckling over; hence a very slight bend is to be preferred. The hind legs should be muscular, with plenty of bone, clean, strong hocks, and hairy feet.

The feet (value 8) should be carefully examined, as upon their capability of standing wear and tear depends the utility of the dog. A great difference of opinion exists as to the comparative merits of the cat. and hare foot for standing work. Foxhound masters invariably select that of the cat; and as they have better opportunities than any other class of instituting the necessary comparison, their selection may be accepted as final. But as Setters are especially required to stand wet and heather, it is imperatively necessary that there should be a good growth of hair between the toes; and on this account a hare foot well clothed with hair—as it generally is—must be preferred to a cat foot naked, as is often the case, except on the upper surface.

The flag (value 5) is in appearance very characteristic of the breed, although it sometimes happens that one or two puppies in a well-bred litter exhibit a curl or other malformation, usually considered to be indicative of a stain. It is often compared to a scimiter, but it resembles it only in respect of its narrowness; the amount of curl in the blade of this Turkish weapon being far too great to make it the model of the Setter’s flag. Again, it has been compared to a comb; but as combs are usually straight, here again the simile fails, as the Setter’s flag should have a gentle sweep; and the nearest resemblance to any familiar form is to the scythe, with its curve reversed. The feather must be composed of straight, silky hairs; and beyond the root, the less short hair on the flag the better, especially toward the point, of which the bone should be fine, and the feather tapering with it.

ROWDY ROD.

Owned by Mr. George W. Ewing, Fort Wayne Ind.

Symmetry and quality (value 5).—In character, the Setter should display a great amount of quality, a term which is difficult of explanation, though fully appreciated by all experienced sportsmen. It means a combination of symmetry, as understood by the artist, with the peculiar attributes of the breed under examination, as interpreted by the sportsman. Thus, a Setter possessed of such a frame and outline as to charm an artist would be considered by the sportsman defective in quality if he possessed a curly or harsh coat, or if he had a heavy head, with pendent, Bloodhound-like jowl and throaty neck. The general outline is very elegant, and more taking to the eye of the artist than that of the Pointer.

The texture and feather of coat (value 5) are much regarded among the Setter breeders; a soft, silky hair, without curl, being considered a sine qua non. The feather should be considerable, and should fringe the hind as well as the fore legs.

The color of coat (value 5) is not much insisted on among English Setters, a great variety being admitted. These are now generally classed as follows, in the order given: (1) Black and white ticked, with large splashes, and more or less marked with black, known as blue belton; (2) orange and white freckled, known as orange belton; (3) plain orange, or lemon and white; (4) liver and white; (5) black and white, with slight tan markings; (6) black and white; (7) liver and white; (8) pure white; (9) black; (10) liver; (11) red or yellow.

To show the present high type of the modern English Setter, several portraits of well-known prize-winners are presented. The exquisite symmetry, combined with strength, in the English Setter are thus made apparent to the eye.

Daisy Foreman (A. K. C. S. B., No. 5711), famous as a bench-show winner, was whelped June 14, 1885. She is by Champion Foreman, out of Jolly Nell. She is black, white, and tan, with a ticked body, and evenly marked. Her weight is forty-three pounds. Her winnings are as follows: First in puppy class, New York, 1886; second and two specials at Waverly, 1886; first and special for best English Setter at Danbury, 1886; first at Stafford Springs, 1886; fourth and special at Newark, 1887; second and special at Providence, 1887; first at Boston, 1887; first at Hartford, 1887; first at Hornellsville, 1887; first at Danbury, 1887; second at New York, 1887; second at New York, champion class, 1888; second at New Haven, champion class, 1888; second in challenge class at Boston, 1889; first in challenge class at Boston, 1890—in fact, she is one of the best English Setter bitches bred in America. She is owned by Mr. George W. Neal, Westville, Conn.

PLANTAGENET.

Bred by Mr. J. C. Higgins, Wilmington, Del.

Cincinnatus and Toledo Blade are both owned by Mr. J. E. Dager, Toledo, Ohio, and are renowned as combining both bench and field-trial qualities. Cincinnatus is black, white, and tan; is by Count Noble, out of Dido II., the choicest Setter blood of the world. He divided third, all-age stake, Southern Field Trial Club, 1888; divided fourth, all-age stake, Eastern Field Trials Club, 1889. On the bench, he won first and four specials, Columbus; third, open class, and first, novice class, New York, 1889; first and silver medal for best English Setter placed in any field trial in America, Chicago; first and two specials, Toledo, 1889.

Toledo Blade is black, white, and tan; is by Roderigo, out of Lillian, famous for the transcendent superiority of their qualities afield; and the breeding also is of the very choicest. Toledo Blade won second in the all-age stake of the Southern Field Trial Club, 1888; second, all-age stake, of the