132 The Dog Book 
to speak of, the same amount of work in breeding to notable performers, a 
similar number of their progeny to select the young entry from and the same 
amount of labour expended in their training would have made just as high 
a grade as we have now. If it was all in the blood, in this particular Dan- 
Laverack cross, why was it that Mr. Llewellyn had to go outside for new 
blood, and then drop down to the bottom again with his field trials entries. 
It was little wonder that with bad dogs put in front breeders were 
all at sea in knowing what to breed to for type. Dogs went up and down in 
the prize lists—H. C. at some second-class show and second at New York, 
then back again to a commendation. The result was that every breeder 
could find warrant in breeding to almost any kind of a built dog, and most 
of them bred to dogs-that had won in the field, no matter what they looked 
like. The natural result followed of worse mixed classes than we had 
had at any time since the introduction of the Laveracks and the separation 
of imported dogs from natives, a distinction that had long been done away 
with. 
It was not until about 1892 that we began to see daylight again, and 
although Albert’s Ranger, imported at that time, was lacking in some 
of the essentials we deem necessary in a field dog, he was yet a dog of 
exceptional quality, and in some respects of type also. Almost at the 
same time Cincinnatus Pride appeared, a dog lacking in quality compared 
with those of the best type, but still of good parts and symmetry. For 
several years these two held sway in the show ring till Sheldon came out. 
This was a remarkably good son of Rockingham, and it was undoubtedly a 
most unfortunate thing that hardly had this grand dog been discovered 
than he was lost to breeders. Coming out at New York in 1896, he defeated 
both the dogs just named, and although the decision was much discussed, it 
was upheld at the four succeeding shows under different judges, one being 
a very severe critic of the first award. For seven shows he kept up his 
winning gait and then fell sick and died. He was a dog of grand formation 
and all a setter, while he was of great quality. Those opposed to his 
successes kept calling him a Laverack, possibly under the impression that 
that was a term of reproach, forgetting that his dam was by Belton, a Duke- 
Rheebe-Laverack bred one, and eligible to the inner circles of exclusiveness; 
although, lamentably for the sake of the name Llewellyn, Mr. Statter bred 
Belton before Mr. Llewellyn ever owned Dan, with which he is claimed to 
have started the line of dogs given his name as originator. Sheldon’s 
