378 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Apbil 21, 1898. 



bedience; yet all these parts apparently are ignored or lightly con- 

 sidered. 



A well-broken dog is hopelessly handicapped at a field trial as 

 conducted at present. The continuous blowing of whistles and. 

 loud interminable orders will balk such dog so constantly as to 

 bewilder him or at least so mar his work as to place him outside 

 of all chances to win. 



Then on April 7 you give us something that sounds very 

 different to me; your first love must have turned the cold 

 shoulder, or you have joined another church. Let us read 

 again from your powerful pen: 



Now, what are the purposes of a field trial? They are generally 

 considered as being a test of the natural capabilities of the dogs; 

 and by actual competition it is apparent wherein the superiority 

 lies. The purposes are not at all as in field shooting. Two dogs 

 compete, one endeavoring to beat the other, and two handlers 

 are at the same time applying their skill to attain the same end. 

 Thorough training is here necessary for several reasons. It is 

 necessary so that a dog's qualities can be properly and methodi- 

 cally exhibited, and it is specially necessary so that an imper- 

 fectly broken dog shall not unduly interfere with bis competitor. 



All associations have wisely refrained from giving any value to 

 breaking or training in the scale, of points. To do so would be to 

 give value to qualities due to education and the superior skill of 

 one handler over another. The natural qualities of setters and 

 pointers, so far as they relate to Held work, are pointing, rang- 

 ing, speed, tractability and bird sense, which includes intelli- 

 gence, memory, knowledge of the habits and haunts of birds, and 

 the best manner of locating and pointing with skill and preci- 

 sion. Backing is by some considered a natural qualit y, but, at 

 least, it is chiefly peculiar to pointers and setters. If to these 

 qualities retrieving is added then is a quality admitted which is 

 educational and which is not peculiar to the setter and pointer, 

 inasmuch as it can be taught to all kinds of dogs. As between 

 two dogs of equal capabilities, the one which was the better re- 

 triever would probably have had the better trainer. A field trial 

 being for the improvement of the pointer and setter, and it not 

 being an ordinary day's shooting, why should a setter or pointer 

 be required to do something in competition which is foreign to it? 

 It is true that some setters and pointers retrieve better than 

 others, but it is not simply because they are setters. There is 

 just the same difference in the performance of other breeds, or 

 even curs, as retrievers. Moreover, if the value of retrieving, 

 which is largely educational, is admitted in a scale of points, 

 other educational qualities, such as turning to whistle, remain- 

 ing at, heel, dropping to order, steadiness to shot, etc , should also 

 have a value, since they are all essential in an ordinary day's 

 shooting. 



You see by the above that when he gets retrieving ignored, 

 then he will want to have us all ignore "steadiness to shot," 

 etc., and in fact it would seern, all orders that makes him 

 practical and useful. In other words, let the dog run as his 

 will dictates and the handler be only able to follow when 

 mounted on a Longfellow, Ten Broeek or Salvator. Please 

 allow me to make an amendment to your ideas of field trials 

 with your so-called "high class dogs" without education. 

 Resolved, that in all future field trials we shall have grey- 

 hounds sent out in all directions with men operating power- 

 ful telescopes to see if there are any birds in the county, and 

 when there are birds flushed by said greyhounds the men at 

 the telescopes shall mark them down and announce where 

 they are, and then the judges by a given signal (I would 

 suggest firing a gun) will start the handlers on their high- 

 mettled horses with their "high-class dogs," and the dog 

 that gets there first in a single-dash heat shall win the prize. 

 Then there shall be an attendant provided for each handler, 

 to follow on horseback, carrying iu his arms a retriever to 

 bring in any bird that the handler may have dropped by his 

 expertness on some smooth, open place, where it can be 

 easily found. Wouldd't it be grand and high-class sport, 

 you know! 



Now. my good friend B. Waters, don't try any more to 

 erase from my memory those glorious days when I have 

 been out with dog and gun and have strolled so leisurely 

 and comfortably about the stubble field watching my dog 

 making the circuit, knowing full well that if a quail had 

 run ofi, or on, my educated dog would find the trail and 

 locate the bird, standing steady to wing and shot, and at 

 the word he would retrieve in the most careful and consid- 

 erate manner. Don't use your eloquenee to make me forget 

 the days, when by some cooling stream I have hied on my 

 dog to search its bushy banks for partridge or woodcock, 

 but instead do all jou can to make life's memories more 

 agreeable and enjoyable, for there is nothing that clings 

 more pleasantly in one's memory, except it be what has 

 been termed by some "the spirit of the press," when that 

 spirit comes over a young man and he has just the good, in- 

 telligent and enlarging nature to assist him. He may take 

 his dog from his kennel, but he will not go to any field or 

 thicket unaccompanied by such human friend, although the 

 fields may present all the spirit of invigorating grandure, 

 outstripping in its autumnal tints the bow of promise itsei f. 

 but there is nothing else in this wide, wide world that by 

 preference will keep those from the field with dog and gun, 

 whose taste and fancy leads them in that direction on a 

 beautiful day, when the frost has thinned the leaves and the 

 game birds are fat and plump. Give us the dog that is fast, 

 intelligent and stauucb, well educated and under perfect 

 control, and one that will retrieve a bird that has fallen on 

 thin ice over the pond, even though he has to break a chan- 

 nel through the ice for two rods to get it, S. 



Naw Haven, Conn,, April 9. 



Editor Forest and, Stream: 



A few words on retrievers, not on the manner of teaching, 

 as that, I hold, depends upon the dog en tirely. Some will 

 take to it naturally, others will need force, and no arbitrary 

 rule will apply to all, But shall we allow our "smell" dogs 

 to retrieve? That is the question I would discuss, and with 

 a good many yeai\s experience say positively, no. I believe 

 it a serious handicap on our dumb friends to have them 

 pick up and bring in a fluttering or even a dead bird, that 

 their nose must become tainted and the delicate edge dulled 

 by contamination. I am not very "English, you know," but 

 have always believed in their way of having an extra dog f or 

 the retrieving, and where this cannot be bad, break your dog 

 to point dead. This, I say, is and always has beeu my 

 belief, but must admit never my practice. My dogs have 

 always been first-class retrievers from land or water; and 

 when I first, began shooting, thirty-five years ago, birds were 

 more plentiful than now, and it wasn't necessary to draw 

 the cover with so fine a comb to get a fair bag of birds as it 

 is to-day, and my dogs always got so much pleasure from 

 bringing in a shot bird that it seemed like robbing them of 

 half the delights of the day to deny them retrieving. Did 

 you ever start out for a day's sport and early in the morning 

 have your dog interview a skunk, and get "it in his face? I 

 have. And do you know what I did? Took him to a brook 

 and washed off what I could of it, and went home. That's 

 probably what you would have done. You wouldn't expect 

 a dog to smell a bird that day—no. He couldn't smell an- 

 other skunk. 



Do you know how close an old ruffed grouse will lie when 

 skulking, she hears you when you first come into the cover, 

 brings her feathers down and gives out very little scent. A 

 dog's nose must be fine to catch it, and unlessShe happens to, 

 or yourself, step too near, she stays and you go by. A man 

 never knows how many times this happens to him, but if he 

 chances to wing a bird and loses it, it's all his dog's fault, 

 because not a good retriever. We will suppose you walking 

 on the street, and from some neighboring garden came to 

 you the faintest, smell of roses, then take a rose and rub it 

 over your nose and beard and walk the ground over again, 

 do you think you would detect this fragrance in the air a 

 second time.:' 



1 have shot, but very little for the past seven or eight years, 

 trouble with eyesight being the principal reason, but last 

 fall 1 accepted an invitation from Mr. E. O. Damon, of 



Northampton, for a day's outing, and a most enjoyable day 

 it proved. Mr. D. is a sportsman and the owner of general 

 high-class dogs. We had this day but one, his Rod's Whim, 

 and a thoroughly good dog he is, tractable, quick in his 

 work, going to his birds intelligently and holding them 

 well. 



I am not trying to advertise Mr. D. or his dogs, but wish 

 to give a circumstance that occurred in support of my 

 opinion and what I have written. It so happened in driving 

 out in the morning Mr. D. had asked my opinion in regard 

 to retrieving and I had given it much in substance as I have 



iven in this letter. We had been to lunch and already 



ad seven or eight birds in the bag, in tfie getting of which 

 the little dog had made no mistake, showing a nose as fine 

 as silk. As we stepped over a brook a woodcock jumped, 

 which was killed and Mr. D. sent Whim to "fetch." They 

 had a little argument before it was over, but it resulted'Jn the 

 dog retrieving, sitting down and delivering nicely into his 

 master's hand. 



We had gone only a few rods, when directly between the 

 dog and ourselves, not more than 20ft. from us, jumped a 

 ruffed grouse. The dog had been entirely around' the bird 

 and was not 30ft. from her when she rose, but got no scent 

 whatever. 



Mr. D. turned to me and said: "What do you think of 

 that? How do you account for his not scenting the bird?" 

 I only replied that it was a practical, and I thought beauti- 

 ful, illustration of my theory on the retrieving question, 

 and called his attention to my remarks on the rose in the 

 morning; but the woodcock 'being so entirely different, it 

 was like rubbing his nose full of geranium and then ex- 

 pecting him to catch the faint scent of the rose. Had not 

 the bird happened to lie directly in our course, she would 

 have beeu passed, as I believe manyjnore are, than are lost, 

 when a dog is broken to point dead. Wm. M. Williams. 



Springfield, Mass., April 10. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



With regard to whistling at field trials it appears to me 

 that it is a question that involves the much more important 

 consideration of ranging. The way in which a dog ought to 

 range, is I think the great question of the day ,and the pres- 

 ent difference of opinion on that subject is the real cause of 

 nearly all the dissatisfaction we hear of after the trials. 



To teach a dog to range to perfection, requires more time 

 and skill by far than any other part of his education, and 

 when he is thoroughly trained in that respect, whistling to 

 him is only necessary when it is desirable to attract his at- 

 tention or call him in. No dog can be called "high class" 

 which does not range fast and wide in open ground, but a 

 dog that persists in ranging wide in ground that is unsuit- 

 able for wide ranging, and ought to be hunted close, is not 

 properly trained. A "high class" dog is one that does all 

 his work in the best form; many dogs are very strong in 

 some respect and weak in others, it is the dog that handles 

 his game properly, and in good style, neither false pointing, 

 nor flushing, nor pottering, and that hunts his gronud well, 

 that is entitled to be called "high class.' 1 



With regard to retrieving. I think that a shooting dog 

 ought to retrieve in this country, as it is a great convenience 

 to most sportsmen his doing so— at the same time I do not 

 think that a good retriever is necessarily a high-class dog, 

 for it is a matter of fact that many potterers are excellent 

 retrievers. The only value I would place upon it in a field 

 trial dog is: that it gives one an opportunity of judging of 

 bis disposition, a dog that cannot be taught to retrieve well , 

 must be sulky or miserably timid. I am sorry I have not 

 time to write more fully at present, but I have given you my 

 views in a general way C. E. McMurdo. 



Letters from W. B. Wells, Thos. Johnson and A. J. ©rea- 

 son have been received and will be published iu our next 

 issue. 



THE DENVER SHOW. 



THE third annual bench show of the Continental Kennel 

 Club Company was held iu Coliseum Hall, Denver. 

 Col., commencing on April 13 and lasting four days. 



Mr. .John Davidson judged all classes, and h'is awards 

 were well received, there being very little grumbling, and 

 what little there was was from the inexperienced exhibitor. 

 The judging was very good and correct, but it was not a 

 difficult matter to place the winners, as, excepfin one or 

 two classes, the competition was not close. 



The dogs were fed on Spratts Patent biscuits, on which 

 they thrived well during the show. The benching was 

 good, the partitions being of wire work. The building was 

 well suited to the purpose, there being plenty of room and 

 good ventilation. The show was kept sweet and clean. The 

 management was excellent. Mr. R, W. Isenthal, secretary 

 of the bench show committee, acted as superintendent, and 

 it is due him to say that he performed the duties of the 

 office skillfully, thoroughly and obligingly. The prepara- 

 tory work was done by him. Mr. F, W. Rand, the secretary, 

 assisted Mr. Isenthal in running the show, he acting as ring 

 steward. The disinfecting was done with Sanitas. 



The wolf, Greely, Avhich made such a great reputation on 

 such a small performance, was on exhibition in charge of 

 the boy who has cared for it since it was captured. Greely 

 was a most uncomfortable animal on the first day, he walk- 

 ing restlessly and nervously to the length of a long chain 

 with which he was fastened on the gallery in plain view of 

 all spectators. In front of his bench, hanging over the gal- 

 lery railing, several large wolf skins were hung, and on 

 these a large placard was hung which bore the legend, "The 

 wolf that couldn't be killed by any dog." Notwithstanding 

 this very broad claim, the wolf excited very little interest. 

 He was handled freely by visitors, and was led through the 

 crowd of spectators repeatedly in bringing him to and from 

 his quarters, and the only alarm manifested was by the 

 wolf. In this connection it may be said that the defeat of 

 the Psovois was a foregone conclusion in the opinion of resi- 

 dent sportsmen, and they predicted the failure. The fact 

 alone that the dogs were unacclimated would alone insure 

 their defeat, the high altitude and rari fled atmosphere in- 

 capacitating them from any prolonged exertion. Some of 

 the best wolf hunters of that region maintain that the trial 

 proved nothing as to the Psovois' real merits. It may be 

 mentioned also that in Denver the price paid for the wolf, 

 according to Mr. Lowe, the purchaser, was §50, a reduction 

 of T5 per cent, from that given to the public in the reports 

 of the match. What good could be accomplished by adding 

 S150 to a §50 transaction is not apparent. But this is a di- 

 gression from the main subject. 



The attendance was good and there was every indication 

 that the club would come out ahead financially, as it deserves 

 to do. The managers deserve every encouragement in hold- 

 ing their show. 



Mr. Harry L. Goodman, of Auburn Park, Til., took the 

 first special prize, $65, for the handler showing the largest 

 number of dogs in the best show condition; John H. Naylor, 

 of Mount Forest, 111., taking second. 



Mastiffs.-— These classes made a good showing in num- 

 bers, although a number arrived too late to be judged. 

 Mode had a walkover in the challenge class. He was not in 

 good condition. He is light in barrel, weak in back and 

 stands badly on his legs. Hector was first in the open dog 

 class. He is somewhat coarse, ears too large, and he is defi- 

 cient in symmetry. Lyon, second, is long in face, has large 

 ears, was in poor coat and is somewhat coarse. Prince, the 

 reserve, has a poor head, a long, light muzzle, carries lumber 

 in his shoulders and is coarse: he has a good body. The re- 

 mainder of the class was ordinary. Countess, first in the 



bitch class, has a fairly-good skull and shadings, and was 

 easily the winner. Herrorefeet turn out, muzzlelight, sw aj 

 backed, lacking in character. Duchess, second, is ordinary 

 in every respect. 



St. Bernards.— There was quite a good showing in these 

 classes. First went to Don El Pasoln rough-coated dogs, 

 open class. He is a large dog and displayed remarkable 

 activity. He has not sufficient depth of muzzle. He stands 

 well on good legs and feet, has a good body and symmetry. 

 Second went to Caleb, a dog of moderate quality. Prince 

 Bedivere, narrow in muzzle, heavy dewlap, a bit light in 

 body, although the dog was too thin in flesh, forefeet turn 

 out somewhat: he has good bone, excellent hips and hind- 

 legs. In bitches, Alta Berna took first. She was too thin in 

 fiesh; legs well-shaped and muscular; good bone, head, skull 

 a,nd markings. She is only 16 months old and is a remark- 

 ably good puppy, and will improve more with age. Lady 

 Glenwood, second, is weak in hocks, long in face: she has 

 good body, legs and feet. But one rough-coated puppy was 

 shown, Montrose II., narrow in skull, long nose and light 

 body. Victor had a walk over in the open class for smooth- 

 coats, and was ordinary. In bitches, Youla, a clean-limbed, 

 active bitch, won first. She has a well-ribbed body and good 

 symmetry, but having recently weaned a litter of puppies, 

 was not in good condition. Second went to Queen Vera, 

 light, in loin, poor in head, and inferior in quality to Youla. 

 The rest of the class was ordinary. In puppies, Valkyrie, a 

 fair but undeveloped puppy, took first. Jean, second, was 

 in poor condition, lean, and of ordinary quality. 



Great Danes.— Pedro, well known and looking in good 

 condition, had a walkover in the challenge class. There 

 were three competitors in the open dog class. First went to 

 Hindoo, light in body, plain head, rather light built and 

 long cast, and in color a poor briDdle. Don Juan, second, 

 was a common, coarse dog, Charmion took first in bitches. 

 Her skull is narrow and head roughly shaped; she shows 

 throatiness, is light in body and poor symmetry. Second 

 went to Bell: she carries one ear hanging, the other cocked, 

 which mars her expression; she has a coarse head, flat ribs, 

 short, thick neck, and is lacking in symmetry. 



Newfoundlands.— But two were shown in the one class 

 provided for them. Jim. a fair specimen, was awarded 

 second, first being withheld, which was a mistake, as he 

 was entitled quite as much to first as were some poor speci 

 mens which were awarded prizes in other classes. Ben, t he 

 other entry, was weedy and small, and had no merit. 



Bloodhounds.— Jack Shepard. well-known as a winner, 

 had no competition. 



Psovois.— All the entries were Mr. Hacke's. Having 

 been worked on the plains, rabbit coursing, for the. past, 

 few weeks, they were thin in flesh and out of coat. Pospek b , 

 a dog of good bone and muscular development, won first, 

 second going to Zloeem. Two bitches were shown, Prokaza 

 and Zaneza, first, and second in the order named. 



Greyhounds.— Greyhounds were well represented both in 

 number and quality. Lord Neverstill, a large hound of 

 great muscular development, won first in the open class; 

 he stands badly on his pasterns; as he was described in 

 the report, of the Chicago show lengthy mention is unneces- 

 sary. Prince Charley, second, stands on good legs and 

 feet, has a plain head and is pig jawed. Saint, coarse head 

 and ordinary in character, got vhc. In the open bitch class 

 there was a keen and close competition for first prize 

 between two rare good ones, Pearl of Pekin and Little 

 Climber. The judge, after a most careful scruteny, awarded 

 first to the former and second to the latter. Both were in 

 excellent condition and hard as nails. Pearl of Pekin had 

 better and more uniform muscular development, and better 

 loin and back; both have excellent symmetry. Mr. Lowe, 

 objected very positively to the decision, but, while he has a 

 remarkably good bitch, the judge's award was correct. The 

 rest of the class was about average in quality. Four pup- 

 pies were shown. Lord Severnettle is strong in back and 

 has good quarters, his neck is somewhat short, legs and feel 

 good. Punch, second, is quite a fair puppy, poor head 

 otherwise fairly good. 



Pointers.— As a whole, they were an ordinary lot. In 

 the open class for heavy weight dogs Count Graphic, a well- 

 known winner, won first. Second went to Governor Frit/., 

 heavy in skull, coarse head, stands a bit out at elbows, coat 

 out of condition. Two bitches competed. The winner, 

 Nellie Buckles, is sprung too much in ribs, heavy neck, nar- 

 row muzzle, carries lumber, ordinary quality. Graphic's 

 Rose, second, has a plain, light head, narrow skull, is a bit 

 high on legs, but her symmetry is fairly good. In the class 

 for dogs under 551bs. two competed. Graphic's Topic, the 

 winner, is too heavy in neck and shows some throatiness; he 

 was not in good coat, ribs not spruug enough, good back, 

 loin and quarters. Two light-weight bitches were shown. 

 Dido and Bangle R., the former first, light iu bone, narrovv 

 in skull, good back and quarters. Bangle R., second, hay a 

 short, light head and light body. Aberdeenshire Boy was 

 the only puppy shown. 



English Setters.— The open dog class had eight com- 

 petitors. Frank Doncaster, the winner, is good in bone, ban 

 an excellent back aud loin, stands on good legs and feet, a 

 well-shaped head, the outline of which is marred by tbvoati 

 ness, excellent symmetry aud muscular development . Second 

 went to Donald Furness. quite a good setter, but was shown 

 in poor coat and thin flesh. The reserve, Menifee Doncaster, 

 i.s out a bit at elhows, good back, shallow chest, good tegti 

 and feet, and fairly good head. The rest of the class was 

 hardly up to the average, bench-show quality. There were 

 but two bitches, Sis and Crazy Queen: the former winning. 

 The latter is out at elbows, thin in flesh, ears set on too high, 

 a bit flat in ribs. Sis has a heavy masculine head, good legs 

 and feet, fair symmetry. Sandy won in the puppy class with 

 out. competition. 



Irish Setters.— Two poor ones were shown in the open 

 dog class. Dawn, the winner, was shown too fat, carrie.s a 

 great deal of lumber, is not first-rate in legs. Sir Sharon, 

 second, is light in body and weak in hind legs. First could 

 have been very properly withheld in this class. Gipsy H., 

 the only entry in the bitch class, was absent. Two puppies 

 competed. Mohawk Fancy, first, has a poor head, but other- 

 wise is quite a good puppy. Her competitor was ordinary. 



Gordon Setters.— Tom II., a well known dog, had a 

 walkover in the challenge class. The open class for dogs ha, I 

 no entry. Topsy II. had no competition in the bitch cla;?K 

 She was only* average in quality. 



Chesapeake Bay Dogs.— VVyoming Belle, a weedy bitch 

 with no particular merit, was the only entry and was 

 awarded second, fully as much as she merited. 



Irish Water Spaniels.— Four were shown, all of which 

 were out of coat. Two competed in the open dog class. 

 The winner, Tough, is long and light in body, and has a 

 well developed moustache. Fritz, second, has a tail well 

 covered with hair, light body, coarse Lead. Lilly Pad, firsl 

 in bitches, hasastraight woolly r coat, a good tail, litcht body. 

 Rags, second, has a poor coat and is ordinary in quality. 



Clumber spaniels. — A fairly good lot were shown. 

 Bustler had a walkover in the open dog class. Lady Florence, 

 first in bitches, has good legs, feet and body, but is rather 

 small. Second went to Denver Lass, shown too fat. 



Field Spaniels.— Newton Abbott Torso, first, is a very 

 good spaniel, well known as a winner at Chicago this year. 

 Second went to Don, high on legs, plain in head but "good 

 bone; has some topknot and poor field spaniel character. 

 Pippo, the reserve, is high on legs, plain head, open curly 

 coat. Fleet, vhc., is only moderate in merit. In bitches. 

 Denver Dell won first. She has a narrow, light muzzle and 

 is a bit, high on legs. Topsy, second, has a plain head, a 

 light muzzle, and poor symmetry. Feuuie, the reserve, 

 hardly deserved mention. 



