150 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



LSbpt. It, 1886. 



THOUGHTS ON MASTIFF BREEDING. 



IS the pi esent accepted fashion in mastiffs compatible -with 

 perfect health and development: in other words, is it pos- 

 sible to breed dogs to tlie standard without inviting deform- 

 ity? This question has frequently recurred to the writer sug- 

 gested by the crooked limbs of many of the most noted prize 

 winners of the day. To a.Ilude to the deformities of the mas- 

 tiffs of England might seem an unkindness, and to dwell on the 

 defects to be noted in the kennels of American breeders good 

 taste will not sanction. Material to illustrate the theory of 

 the writer is absohitely indispensable, and the mastiffs at the 

 Crystal Palace ai'e chosen, with an apology to their breedere 

 and owners for their selection. A careful .analysis shows 

 not a single mastiff in the front ranks that is not, in a meas- 

 ure, defective in the hind parts; being either weak in the 

 loins, naiTOW in the quarters, cow-hocked or too straight in 

 the stifles, they have slouchy, dragging gaits, or are "stilty" in 

 their movements. The dog considered by manj' to be the 

 best in the world is badly cow-hocked, weak in the loins, and 

 has naiTow hindquarters, which he finds it difficult even to 

 di-ag after him. 



Among the masfcifis at the Palace well-shaped and developed 

 behind, not one was given a first prize. To one was awarded 

 second; in her class there were but two entries. Another re- 

 ceived thu-d prize; four were very highly commended, and 

 the remainder unnoticed. Recall the mastiffs of Amei'ica, and 

 on the fingers of one hand can be coimted all the noted 

 winners that are not imperfect in loin or limb. Surely there 

 must be a reason for all this. The one which naturally sug- 

 gests itself, and in which a ready solution for these deformities 

 is found, is over-eating and insufficient exerise. Were they 

 due to other and constitutional cause,s the intirniities would be 

 general, that is, the forelegs as well as those behind would be 

 affected. Consider then the origin of the most ijromiueut pi-ize 

 winners in England, wei-e they not bred in London or its 

 suburbs? Was it possible for them while being matured to 

 have had freedom of movement sufficient to develop perfect 

 hmbs and symmetrical bodies? Again, do not English breeders 

 generally theorize that raastifis ?need but httle exercise, and 

 therefore restrain them from active exertion? Answei's to 

 these questions must aid in sustaining the theory of the 

 writer. PoUowtng out this line of reasoning, would mastiffs 

 if allowed sufficient libei-ty duilng the growing .stage— per- 

 mitted to gambol, run and jump in constant activity as their 

 natiu-es prompted them — then have developed into that cart- 

 horse form, with short legs, heav.y body, and lazy, waddling 

 gait? In the human exjjerience perfect health and develop- 

 ment is born of activity. Exercise does not invite the accu- 

 rauJation of fat, nor in the matm-ing youth promote low 

 statures and coai'se heavy fi'a.raes; rather does it tend to a 

 symmetrical growth, greater height and slenderer limbs and 

 bodies. WUl any one gainsay that the tall_, slender, muscular 

 man of quick, active movement is healthier by far than the 

 short, heavy, obese man, with his slow, labore'd manner and 

 duck-hke gait? 



It is proper to assum e that the representative dogs in England 

 a.re found in the front ranks; in fact in accepting a type of 

 mastiff demanded by the present fashion, deformity in hmb 

 is one of the characteristics. The dog tnat waddles along with 

 a slouchy gait, who finds a walk laborious, a canter tortm-e, 

 a i-un impossible, is the one chosen as neai-er the standard of 

 to-day. Within the year a mastiff has been imported to this 

 country of which a judge in England, an acknowledged 

 authority on the breed, is reported to have said that he con- 

 sidered him the best specimen for breeding purposes he ever 

 saw. The writer has carefully examined the dog in question 

 and can honestly say that never before has he seen a mastiff' so 

 deformed. The muscles of the thighs are wasted, and 

 paralyzed to such a degree that were his hindlegs of wood 

 his movements would be as graceful and uni-estrained as now. 



Is it possible that specimens like this can be regarded as 

 proper for breeding? Can heads formed even in the most 

 perfect moulds compensate for incomplete development and 

 deformity of limb? If so, why this marked distinction, why 

 are abnormalities consideredless important in this breed and 

 fatal faults in others? Had Beaufort, Elcho and Glencho 

 been faulty in the loins and cow-hocked, would they have won 

 their premier positions? True, they are sporting dogs and 

 speed is an essential, but is not perfect symmeti-y and develop- 

 ment as necessary in one breed as in the other? Consider for a 

 moment other animals. In a competitive class of thorough- 

 bred staUions, would not lameness from spavins, cm-bs, navi- 

 cular diseases and other abnormalties disqualify, no matter 

 how perfect the horse is in form? In breeding cattle and 

 sheep, is not success dependent in the main upon the selection 

 of perfect sires? The farmer in improving his grains selects 

 only the soimd and healthy seeds for planting. The breed- 

 ers of domestic animals must appreciate the value of a high 

 degree of health in progenitore, for the reason that all signs 

 of defective nutrition or impaired development are transmissi- 

 ble. Dr. Manley Miles has given a case in point: "A mare 

 affected with ilugbone that unfitted her for farm work was 

 kept as a breeder for several yeais. The colts were uniform 

 in color, and as they showed no indications of disease when 

 two or thi-ee years old, they found ready buyers at good 

 prices. At the age of five years or six, however, they all had 

 ringbone to a gi-eater or less extent, and several were entirely 

 disabled." The same author has stated: "In horses, strain 

 of the back tendons, swelled legs, gi-ease and roaring are 

 often hereditary." Instances are not wanting showing that 

 even slight defects in animals are inherited. 



it is generally believed, and on good evidence, that in man 

 and animals the offspring derive from the father more than 

 the mother, exteraal form and frame, from the latter more 

 than the former, the ^'ital organs, the hmgs, stomach and men- 

 tal nature. Knowing this, should it not be insisted upon that 

 the sires have all the essentials, and especially among them 

 well developed frames and muscles? 



This fact was well understood by BakeweU and his succes- 

 sors in the breeding of Leicester sheep; of them LordSomer- 

 ville said: "It would seem as if they had at first drawn a 

 perfect form and then given it life." Of the fundamental 

 l&ws in breeding, Youatt asserted that from passages in the 

 Old Testament bearing on this point, the best jirinciples of 

 breeding were understood at the time it was written. 



It must not be forgotten tha^ not only is health in a high 

 degree essential in progenitors, but also harmonious develop- 

 ment of the muscular system. Compare the wild boar of the 

 past with the pig of to-day. Wild life and activity developed 

 the former, breedmg and want of exercise has made the latter 

 a loathsome thing. 



In our bench shows the witer has studied mastiffs, has 

 found there pictures of grace and symmetry, with blood pure, 

 eyes bright, head in proportion, bodies well knit and limbs 

 in harmony; all indicative of active jiowers, capable of 

 niaking a run of several miles behind a team, or a jump over 

 a "five-foot" fence. 



Those same dogs he has seen enter the ring to be displaced 

 by others, cow-hocked and weak-loined, lame, shuffling speci- 

 mens. And why! because their heads, as the Almighty had in- 

 tended, were in keepmg with their bodies, and theii- legs in 

 harmony with all. Of tuem the criticism made was ' 'deficient 

 in head and leggy." "Leggy I" that term has now become 

 common from its continued application to our mastiffs. And 

 yvhence comes it? Tiie wild boar had legs and was "leggy;" 

 the pig of the present has the shortest possible. The foi-mer 

 was symmetrically developed by activity, the latter is propa- 

 gated" largely by restraint. 



The beau ideal of an athlete is a man, tall, muscular, grace- 

 ful. The short "stubby" boy, by weU-ap|Jointed exercise and 

 gytanasLic ti aining, becomes the ideal. The same boy, if de- 

 creed to live a sedentaiy hfe, would ^ow less in height, be 

 gross in frame, lazy by nature, slothful m habits, and possibly 

 fat, short-legged, with a shuffling, slouchy movement. H 



two puppies are selected, Utter brothers, one given perfect 

 liberty to run the fields, jump fences and follow his own 

 promptings; the other kenneled, allowed but a small yard, 

 there to eat, gi-ow fat, occasionally bai-k and largely doze his 

 time away, who can gainsay the result of this experiment? 

 The first wiU in nearly all cases be more slender in bodv and 

 have limbs, at the sight of which in the ring the average 

 judge of to-day will wisely shake his head, say "leggy" and 

 turn to award the prizes to cripples with hydrocephalic heads, 

 and loins unable to bear a firm pressure of tlie hand, 



By then- awards, virtually, breeding is directed, at least in- 

 fluenced. The question of health, muscular strength and de- 

 velopment, the possibihty of transmitting vices, weighs little 

 when compared to better shaped heads and priae-winning 

 records. 



Should this be so? Should a race of cripples be encouraged by 

 awards, while dogs having perhaps little longer muzzles, but 

 rich, p ure blood, strong, healthy, well-made boclies and pow- 

 erful limbs, are displaced by those so hnpei'feet hi constitutions 

 and stmcture, they must transmit to their "get" if not absolute 

 weaknesses and deformities, at least a tendency to the same. 



Following this subject a step further, a dog is valued no 

 less for his intelligence than his beauty of form. Why can 

 it not be said of him as of man — 



"Mens sana in corpore saao." 



Infirmities in man warp his nature, propagate eccentricities, 

 rendeidng him capricious if not morose. Among those of rich 

 pm-e blood, well developed bodies and limbs, and healthy to a 

 high degree, would more naturally be sought buovaticy of 

 nature, bright, keen inteUigence. Might not the same physiolog- 

 ical law exist among animals? Ceitamly it doas not seem 

 unreasonable to suppose that not only deformities and infirmi- 

 ties embitter their natures, render them impatient and savage, 

 but inactivity vitiates faculties; lazy, indolent habits bhmt 

 perceptions and dull understandLsg.— ".4s/i,monf," in American 

 Kennel Register. 



DEW CLAWS ON ST. BERNARDS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The article headed "With the St. Bernards at the Hospice" 

 in your jjaper dated Sept. S, interested mo very much, as I 

 have lately imported several fine specimens of the race, and 

 among them one nearly two years old that was bred by Heiu- 

 rich Schuhmacher and by him exhibited at the late dog show 

 at Basle, Switzerland, before being dehvered to me. As soon 

 iis I get back to New York I will send you a full copy of the 

 dog's pedigree, which runs back to the dog Barry, that was 

 sent to the HosiJice by Heinrich Schuhmacher. Itls not my 

 object to enter mto any controversy on ttie question of the 

 impoi'tance of dew claws as a sign of the genuineness of the 

 breed, but would hke to say that Heimich Schuhmacher, as 

 well as Dr. Kiinzli, President of the Kennel Club, "Barry" at St, 

 GaU, Switzerland, and other eminent breeders in Switzerland, 

 all agree with the rule adopted by the Swiss Kennel Club (of 

 which I also have the honor of being a member), that as re- 

 garding dew claws, "the presence or absence of either single 

 or double dew claws has no significance whatever, as the 

 same cannot be t-onsidered as a sign of the race." This can 

 also be read in the Cierman edition of Vero Shaw's ' 'Book on 

 the Dog," page (38.5. Furthermore, it is a fact that in one and 

 the same htter of pui^s animals will be found with single, 

 with double and without any dew claws, and this where both 

 Ijarent dogs did have dew claws. W. J. Ehrich. 



Saranao Lake, N. Y., Sept. 9. 



THE ATTLEBORO DOG SHOW. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In passing through Attleboro, Mass. , Tuesday, I stopped off 

 to see the dog show of the Attleboro Pah, and there found 

 "Will" Tallman in fine feather and with his hands full, being 

 the "chief cook and bottle-washer" of the kennel department, 

 but he stole time to show me around. On a bench at the end 

 of the room lay champions Plantagenet. Foreman, Flash 

 and Beaut<3rt, for exhibition only, and they were, as usual 

 with dogs under Tallraan's care, in hrst-cla.ss condition, 

 although they are being worked all of the time m the field. 



In the open English setter class, dogs and bitches. Peck's 

 Bad Cxui (Mack B.— Chica), awarded first, is a beautiful little 

 bitch, with good body, legs and feet, but to my idea a trifle 

 faulty in head, of the Grladstone type. Belton II, was awarded 

 second, and is a fair dog. In the' Gordons champion Ehoda 

 had a walk-over. Topsy, first in open class, is really a fine 

 bitch and woidd receive a good place in large shows. The 

 rest of the class was onlj ordinary. Elcho, Jr., had a walk- 

 over in champion Irish class; Goldstone first and Bess (Glen- 

 cho— Igune II, ) second in open class, H, W. Smith's kennel 

 of greyhoimds was represented by Mother Demdike, Mcmnon, 

 Steulaway and Ben, but had not been judged when I left. A, 

 H. Wakefield & Co, had a fine display of beagles, but I did 

 not have time to take down the awards in that class. 



JeweU, a Beaufort pup, took first in pointer class vnlh Jock 

 second. A fair display of pugs was made, but awards had 

 not been made. There was an excellent showing of American 

 foxhounds. After doing the bench show, we \dsited the Black- 

 stone Kennels, and there found what we expected, "a perfect 

 kennel," a description of which I have not time to make at 

 this writing. Tallinan goes South about Oct. 1, with a string 

 of dogs that I doubt have ever been equaled by any one hand- 

 ler in this countiy, and shows how popular "Billie" is. Just 

 look at it ! Champions Plantaganet, Foreman, Flash, Elcho, 

 Jr. , Rhoda, Beaufort and Bradford, who won first the only 

 time shown. Good luck go with him. Rosecroft, 



AL^IOIS .—Editor Forest and Stream: In regard to the 

 name of Albion, I wish to state that at the time of naming 

 my dog I had no knowledge of its having been claimed by 

 others, nor have I claimed the exclusive right of naming dogs 

 throughout the counti-y. As for "originahty," I think that 

 despite Mr. Porter's claim to such, 1 have heard the name 

 Albion before; in fact history, as taught in om- common 

 schools, shows that England was called Albion centuries ago, 

 at a time when the nomenclature of canine pets was not a 

 source of disijute between owners, or a means of revenue to 

 kennel registers.— F. F. Dole (Now Haven, Conn., Sept 14). 



THE PHILADELPHIA DOG SHOW.— Editor Forest and 

 Stream: M.r. James A. Stovefl, of Philadelphia, Pa., has ac- 

 cepted the i)osition of judge for beagles, dachshuhde and Bas- 

 sets. Mr. K. H. Hoft'ecker, of Middletown, Del., wiU be the 

 third judge for foxhoimds. Mr. J. R. Pierson, of Brooklyn, 

 who is now in England, has accepted for greyhounds, deer- 

 hounds and Itahan greyhounds. The Pennsylvania Railroad 

 wilJ cany fi'ee dogs m keimels when accompanied by their 

 owneis. The Philadelphia and Reading Raflroad wUl do 

 so too, • 



COMPLETE THE RECORDS.— Owners of registered dogs 

 are requested to communicate to the American Kennel 

 Reqister all winnings which have been taken since the registry 

 of the dogs. It is important that the record of each registered 

 dog should be made complete, and this can only be done by 

 the co-operation of owners. 



POINTER DOG STOLEN.— A liver and white pointer dog 

 was stolen on August 10. One of his ears is hver and the other 

 ticked, his tail is shghtly docked, answers to the name of Spot. 

 A hberal reward will be jmid for his return, or information 

 that will lead to bis recovery. Address S. S., «6 Reekman 

 street, New York. 



FRAUDULENT PEDIGREE.— CoUingwood, Ontario, Can,, 

 Sept. 1.— Editor Forest and Stream: Some two or three 

 months ago I purchased of Mr. H. C. Miller, of Hudson, N. Y., 

 the liver and white pointer bitch called Fancy, Mr. Miller 

 stated that she was about three yeai-s old and" by champion 

 Croxteth ex Royal Fan. The bitch pleased me very much as 

 she was certainly a very fine animal to look at, and a stylish, 

 fast worker tti the field. I kept her until I was ordered to 

 this post to remain for several months, when I sold her to Mti 

 Percival, of Stanton, Mich;, who has lust written mo that Mr.. 

 Dilley, of Wisconsin (who owns Royal Pan); has wntten hifn 

 that the bitch Fancy was not from Royal Fan, nor was she by 

 Croxteth; in fact, her pedigree was a fraud from beginning tb 

 end, and that it Was exposed as a fraud through Forest and 

 Strbaji long ago. Now that I come to think the matter over, 

 it strikes me that I remember of seeing something in Forest 

 AKD Stream about a fraudulent pedigi-ee, in which Mr. Miller 

 was interested; but in buying the bitch I never gave the mat- 

 ter a thought, as I considered Mr. Miller a gentleman. Now, 

 can it be possible that Mr. Dilley is mistaken a little in this 

 matter? As I understaQd it, ilr,' W. A, Coster bred and raised 

 the Croxteth ex Royal Fan litter. The bitch Fancy has a 

 head strongly resembling Croxteth's, andlthoiightit just pos- 

 sible that Mr, Dilly might bo mistaken. Will you kindly let 

 me know if Forest as^d Stream did once contain an article 

 on this bitch's fraudulent pedlgi-ee? I have just %vritten to 

 Mr. Miller asking him to please explain.— C. E. Lewis. We 

 republish from Forest axd Stream of July 17, 1884, the letter 

 of Mr. Coster in relation to the matter. We fail to see 

 how Mr. MiUer can justify himself in selling the bitch 

 with a proven false pedigi-ce. Following is the letter; 

 "Editor Forest and Stream: The pechgree of the pointer bitch 

 Fancy, said to be by Croxteth ex Royal Fan, about three 

 years old, and so advertised by Mr. Miller, Is undoubtedly a 

 fraud, from the fact, corroborated by Mr Ddley's letters on the 

 subject, and my personal knowledge that the only bitch of 

 that breedmg was sent to me. This bitch pup was whelped 

 Nov. 87, 1881, at Mr. Dilley's kennels, Rosenclale, Wis., was 

 hver and white, and I kept her in my yard till quite large, 

 then I passed her over to a friend, Thomas F. Connolly, of 

 this place, to break and train for me. Dvmng that early fall 

 I sent her to a friend in the South, to work her on quad. After 

 some time I received a letter from him stating that she was 

 so gunshy and intensely nervous of every noise^ that she was 

 worthless. I wrote for her and told my friend Hamilton he 

 could have her under certain conditions, as I did not want to 

 bother with her any more. He disposed of her, and at thia 

 present date of writing says he can produce her in New York 

 '•ity- in four hours. This bitch is the only one that came East, 

 beyond a doubt. Therefore, the only construction in accord- 

 ance with the facts in Mr. Miller's explanation, is that , 



has been made the victim of a l asually imposition, and. 



in ah innocence has transferred with the bitch Fancy this im= 

 position to Mr. Miller, Who the originator of this is deponent 

 saith not, but one thins is sore, whoe-Ter it is, aU subsequent 

 purchasers have been most shamefully duped, and I feel it my 

 duty to advise Mr*. Miller to ferret out this originator. I will 

 cheerfully give and obtain all facts, dates, etc, , and personally 

 aid him with my best endeavois. He has my sincere sym- 

 pathy, as I have sidfered some few years ago in the same 

 manner.— W. A, Coster (Flatbii.sli, L. I,)." 



THREE DOG STORIES.— A number of tough fish stories 

 have been told by anglers of this city dilring the present season, 

 and there seems to be a rivahy between them to see who can 

 spin the biggest yam and then vouch for the truth of it. Some 

 fair fish stories have been told, lait everybody after read* 

 ing the foUowing will admit that Mr, Augustus H, Drury, the 

 lawyer, of this city, is far ahead of all competitors, and that 

 he certainly deserves a chromo or some other mark of dis- 

 tinction. Mr. DiTU-y has just returned from a trip through a 

 part of New York State, where he had been enjoying his 

 v-acat^ion, He stopped for some time near Monticello, where 

 hunting and fishing is supposed to be good. Mr, Druiy, ao^ 

 cording to his statement, one day took a notion to go out af tei* 

 woodcock. He boiTOwed a giui, a dog, some cartridges and 

 other things that are supposed to be necessary for a successful 

 hunt. The dog Was recommended to him as one of the finest 

 woodcock dogs in the vicinity, and he was cautioned to be 

 very careful with him. Mr. Drury was hunting along the 

 banks of a smah stream, when the dog suddenly came to a 

 dead point. IVIr. Drury looked and saw the dog pointing 

 dh'ectly into the water. He wondered what the dog had 

 struck,' but as the animal seemed to mean business Mr, Diniry 

 investitgated, and found chat the dog was pointing a pickerel, 

 which lay partly concealed in the water under some ovei-- 

 hanging alder bushes, Mr. Drury was not after pick^ 

 erel, h^t he coidd not resist the temptation; so he blazed 

 away. He hit the pickerel squarely, carrying off nearly 

 the whole of his head. The dog retrieved the fish, and Mr. 

 Drury wondered by what scent or instinct the dog had 

 discovered the ijresexjce of the fish. Mr. Drury returned 

 to the place where he wa.s .'stopping, and subsequently 

 while the cook was preparing tUe pickerel for supper, the 

 mystery of the dog's pointing was explained. In removing 

 the stomach of the pickerel it was foimd that that organ was 

 enormously distended. Cuttuig [open the stomach revealed a 

 whole flock of woodcock. The fish had gobbled up the game 

 and the dog, tnie to his reputation as a good woodcock dog, 

 had pointed to the birds, Mr. Drury will please go up head 

 and stay there. And that he has one prime i-iualiticatiou for a 



food lawyer no one need doubt.— Pa/('/-.so/i Fress, Sept. 9. 

 heriff McKeo says that the intelligence or the nose of the dog 

 referred to in yesterday's Press does not amount to anything 

 compared to the nose of a dog a fi lend of his owned. He 

 thinks that any dog with a half way decent nose ought to 

 be able to smell out a flock of woodcock even if the birds are 

 concealed in the stomach of a pickerel. The Sheriff says he 

 had a friend who had a wonderful good dog for coons. If 

 there was a coon within a mile of the dog the coon's doom 

 was sealed, for the dog would certainly smell him out, One' 

 day the dog was out with his master after coons. They stopped 

 at a smaU raih-oad station just as the train drew up. The dog 

 came to a dead point on the tram. The owner of the dog m- 

 sisted that there must be a coon on board the tram or that 

 the train had i-un over a coon. His dog could not Ije mis- 

 taken. The traki was sejvrched, but there was no coon and. 

 no gore on the wheels. The man's faith hi the dog did not 

 waver for an mstant. "Are you sure that there, is no coon 

 onboard this train?" he inquu-ed of the brakemau. "l am 

 sure there is not. The nearest thing to a coon is the conduc- 

 tor and his name is Coon." "That settles it," said the owner of 

 the dog ; ' 'I knew there was coon on this train. "—Paterson Press, 

 We have heard and read many ttrauge things about dogs from 

 childhood, but we never heard of a mox'c novel oi' intcrcstmg. 

 canine freak than one it was our privilege to witness m Bath, 

 a few days ago. "Rex," Mr. Samuel S. Seely's handsome., 

 iutelhgent setter, recently took upon himself the duties and 

 respoiisibihties of a hen. Mr. H. W, Gamsey, with whom 

 Rex formerly lived, had a brood of chickens hatched, and the 

 old hen not caring for them properly, they were taken from 

 her. Rex's svmpat hies were evidently touched at seeing the 

 peeijinig orphans thus cruelly left all aiono in the oiid, and 

 he at once generously adopted them and became as anxioi^ 

 for then- comfort and welfare as could the hen herself. 

 Strange to say the chickens did not object in the least to their 

 novel foster parent and it is certainly a rai-e sight to see 

 them all together. At night Rex crawls into then- coop and 

 the grateful chicks nestle hi the long hah about his neck and 

 paws, Dm-ing the day he follows them about the yard and 

 can scarcely be induced to leave his novel proteges a moment. 

 He will lie down and the chicks clamber all over hiui m great 

 glee and to his evident delight. In order to see how he would. 



