FOXES FOXHOUNDS & FOX-HUNTING 



repeated in 1920, and 1921 at Rydal. At the 

 192 1 show the quality of the hounds exhibited — 

 particularly the bitches — was very good indeed. 

 So far of course the show has not affected fell 

 hounds one way or another, and we can only 

 hope that in the future working ability will not be 

 sacrificed to exhibition points. 



To make a success of breeding hounds, proper 

 pedigree lists should be kept. Then if things go 

 wrong at any time you can turn up the required 

 pedigree and see at once where the mistake in 

 breeding has been made. Pedigrees of Lakeland 

 hounds appear to have oftener been handed down 

 by word of mouth than on paper, which is a great 

 pity, for complete records would have been most 

 interesting and instructive reading. In breeding 

 fell hounds, or any other hounds for that matter, 

 make up your mind what strains you will depend 

 on. No matter how good looking a hound may 

 be, or what honours he has won at shows, have 

 nothing to do with him if he comes of a strain you 

 do not approve of, or have reason for doubting. 

 Chance breeding is no good, for though you may 

 strike a " plum" now and then, such a one is 

 useless for stud purposes, as he is pretty sure to 

 reproduce the faults of his ancestors in his 

 progeny. 



Concerning the pace of the fell hounds, the late 

 Joe Dawson who was huntsman to the Patterdale 

 hounds before they became known as the UUs- 

 water, was once asked if his hounds were in good 

 " fettle." " Aye, mi' lad," he replied, " they 

 can kill owt but fleein things, an' they hev to be 

 a gey bit off t'grund." 



Apropos big south-country hounds, the late 

 Tommy Dobson, for many years Master of the 

 Eskdale and Ennerdale, was more than once 



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