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CHAPTER LXVI. 



THE BERGHUND. 



AFTER the production of the Leonberg, and its temporary success from a pecuniary point of 

 view, it was naturally improbable that other and opposition breeds would not appear. The 

 production of the Berghund, or mountain dog of Germany, therefore, caused but a very small 

 sensation in Continental canine circles. 



This breed was fabricated by the well-known opposition (to Essig) dealer Friedrich, of 

 Zuhna, in 1872, and owes its origin chiefly to Newfoundland blood. At the same time that 

 Friedrich made this experiment, a Mr. Bergmann, in Waldheim, was making a similar trial, 

 and both bred the same type of mongrel, which they sold to the public as a distinct breed. 



Unlike the Leonberg, which appears to be very largely composed of St. Bernard blood, the 

 Berghund shows more of the Newfoundland cross, though, as in the case of its rival, the 

 character and dignity of the parent breed is almost obliterated by the adulteration which 

 it has undergone. Nevertheless, in both instances large massive dogs have been produced, 

 and it is most probable that the mixture of so many different breeds has had the effect of 

 increasing the size and stamina of their descendants. Still, it is with the Berghund, as with 

 the Leonberg, quite impossible to include it in the category of an accepted breed, and all efforts 

 which may be made in certain quarters to receive them as such should be resisted. 



We publish an illustration of Herr Friedrich's stud Berghund Moulon, which will give our 

 readers an idea of the sort of animal which has been represented as being a distinct breed. The 

 Newfoundland blood is so discernible in Moulon that no reference need be made to it ; but we 

 can assure our readers that the illustration we reproduce is from a likeness of a dog which is 

 recognised in Germany as being typical of what some fondly but foolishly allude to as "the 

 breed." It is, of course, impossible for us to give the points of either the Berghund or Leonberg, 

 as these do not appear to have been decided upon by their originators. We therefore have 

 decided to refrain from any further remarks upon them, and are content to rely on the illustrations 

 which we publish to give our readers an idea of what these two mongrel " breeds " are like. 



