86 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jam. 20, 1894. 



FIXTURES. 



DOG SHOWS. 



Jan. 16 to 19.— Saratoga Poultry and Kennel Club, at Saratoga, N. 

 Y. L. W. Clute, Ballston Lake. N. Y., Sec'y. 



Jan. 23 to 26.— New Orleans Fanciers 1 Club, at New Orleans, La. G. 

 W. Sentell, Jr.. Sec'y. 



Feb. 20 to 23.— Westminster Kennel Club, at New York. James 

 Mortimer, Superintendent. 



Feb. 27 to March 2.— Columbus Fanciers' Club, at Columbus, O. G. 

 F. Mooney, Sec'y. 



March 7 to 10.— City of Straits Kennel Club, at Detroit, Mich. Guy 

 D. Welton, Sec'y. 



March 13 to 16.— Mascoutah Kennel Club, at Chicago, 111. J. L. 

 Lincoln, S«c'y. 



March 20 to 23.-St. Louis Kennel Club, at St. Louis, Mo. 



April 3 to 6.— New England Kennel Club, at Boston, Mass. D. E. 

 Loveland, Sec'y. 



April 18 to 21 —Southern California Kennel Club, at Los Angeles, 

 Gal. C A. Sumner, Sec'y. 



May 2 to 5.— Pacific Kennel Club, at San Francisco, Cal. H. W. 

 Orear, Sec'y. 



May 15.— Portland Kennel Club, at Portland, Ore. D. L. Williams, 

 Sec'y. 



FIELD TRIALS. 



Feb. 1.— Blue Ridge Futurity Stakes, at New Albany, Miss. 



Feb. 5.— Southern Field Trial Club's Trials, at New Albany, Miss. T. 

 M. Brumby, Sec'y, Marietta, Ga. 



Feb. 12.— United States Field Trials Club's Spring Trials, Grand 

 Junction, Tenn. P. T. Madison, Sec'y, Indianapolis, Ind. 



POINTS AND FLUSHES. , 



[By a Staff Correspondent,] 



The Field Trial Dog. 



As AN example of what a useful, practical working dog 

 should be, the field tria 1 dog has for years past steadily 

 grown in disfavor. In practical exhibitions wild, half- 

 trained dogs, with handlers rushing and scrambling to save 

 the work of the dogs or prevent willful errors, could not well 

 prodnceother results. Strictly for commercial purposes a 

 distinction was made by one who competed largely in field 

 trials, between a field trial dog and a plug shooting dog, the 

 latter name from its derivation carrying an odium with it. 

 It was wrong. 



A writer in Forest AN.D Stream of Dec. 16 gives an excel- 

 lent letter on the field trial dog and the plug shooting dog, he 

 writing over the nam de plume of "Nil. If writers holding 

 such views would present them as intelligently as the writer 

 referred to there, is no doubt but what a better and more cor- 

 rect understanding would be reached. 



As a matter of fact, there should be no difference between 

 the best field trial dog and the best shooting dog. A winner 

 at a field trial ought to be a most satisf net ,ory performer in 

 practical field work. There are no inherent principles in the 

 competition nor in practical field work which create a true 

 distinction between a field trial dog and a field dog. 



In talking over this matter with some of the most skillful 

 handlers at the trials in North Carolina in Novemlber last 

 thev frankly admitted that a field trial winner ought to be 

 the best field dog. They concede it fully, but under certain 

 loose methods of conducting field trials, the best dog, if well 

 broken, may not win anything, and, indeed, may make a 

 poor showing, as will be more fully understood by farther 

 reading. 



This and That. 



Both in theory and practice field trial handling, if confined 

 to an exhibition of a thoroughly trained dog's best perform- 

 ance, is a simple art. The purpose of a field trial competi- 

 tion is to determine which are the best dogs in it, and if 

 handling were practiced for the same purpose the competi- 

 tion would at once be f-implified and relieved of many com- 

 plications, annoyances and abuses, and thereby it and sports- 

 manship would be the gainers. From the handler's stand- 

 point, however, winning the prizes is of more immediate 

 interest and profit to him than seeking out the best dog in 

 the stake. The winning of his own dog is therefore his chief 

 interest. When handled within the proper limits of fair 

 play there is no exception to he taken to that duty. As a 

 handler is in a competition with the special mission for the 

 time being of displaying his dog's capabilities, it is but na- 

 tural that he should take advantage of every circumstance 

 which by rule or usage is recognized as allowable and legiti- 

 mate. The judges are to determiue the rest. In short, the 

 held trial is theoretically to determine the best dogs in the 

 competition, while the handler is intent on winning the 

 place and money with such dog as he has, be the same good, 

 bad or worse. 



Imperfect Training. 



But there never has been auy strict exaction, by clubs or 

 judges, in respect to good training, and wild, halt-broken 

 dogs have often won. Here is where the bars were leftdovvn 

 for endless complications, evils and errors to enter. This cir- 

 cumstance of field trial competition made the half-trained 

 dog a feature of the trials, and developed a new one, uamelv, 

 that of the handler assisting his dog to an unlimited extent, 

 if no restrictions are placed upon him. Thus it is often the 

 dog and handler combined which are doing the work which 

 should be done by the dog alone. Such is decidedly wrong 

 in principle and unfair, and the unfairness of it is glaringly 

 conspicuous when an experienced handler is opposed to an 

 amateur. 



Field trials can never be satisfactory to the public nor ac- 

 curate in results till clubs and judges make the most rigid 

 exactions in respect to dogs being perfectly trained. 



With the half broken dog.au iutiniiy of endless maneu- 

 vers, scrambles and pretenses are introduced in handling, all 

 foreign to the work but useful to win money. The amateur 

 in his first experience against a half-broken dog in competi- 

 tion is bewildered. There are details to learn and meet 

 which he never knew or considered. Knowledge and sharp 

 decisiveness of action are apparent at every move of t he ex- 

 pert handler, and by tmesse and rushing, if he doesn't suc- 

 ceed in making his own dog win, he may make the well- 

 broken dog, if such he be, make a bad showing. 



The expert, too, inmostinstanc.es has a physical superior- 

 ity in so far as it concerns the competition, since from con- 

 stant practice he can outwalk and outlast his friend the 

 amateur. 



Studying Outside Matters. 



Then there are many other incidentalmatters, outsideof the 

 competition of their own dogs, which many professional 

 handlers look closely after. They walk as close to the judges 

 as the management will permit, when other handlers are 

 competing, observing the haunts of the bevies, the best way 

 to approach them to advantage in respect to cover and 

 ground, thus after the first day or two such handlers know 

 <the whereabouts of every bevy on the grounds and the best 

 way of approaching them. At the same time, they are closely 

 observing all the weak and strong points of their competitors' 

 dogs. 



1 have often, too, heard the failings of competing dogs 

 •exposed in strident voice, under an ostensible show of jocu- 

 larity, but really so that all within hearing might observe 

 what he observed and bear it in mind in making their con- 

 clusions. Such is a most reprehensible act, unsportsmanlike 

 and justly offensive to all right thinking sportsmen, and 

 particularly obnoxious to interested owners and handlers. 

 Whether public remarks accomplish the purpose of the 

 utterer or not, such remarks, which are intended to prejudge 



or prejudice the competition, should not be tolerated by any 

 management for a moment. It is the judges' prerogative to 

 decide the competition, and crjingthe excellence of one's 

 own wares and mercilessly exposing the failings of others' 

 dogs, under a cloak of jocular good fellowship for the judges' 

 and reporters' benefit, and, incidentally, for the benefit of 

 prospective purchasers or spectators, is not the way to raise 

 field trials in the esteem of gentlemen nor make a fair and 

 honorable competition. 



Some Fallacies. 



But to return to the half broken or wild dog. It has been 

 afavorite argument with field trial supporters that the half- 

 broken or wild dog, a winner at a field trial, can be made 

 just as steady and good in actual field work as any dog reg- 

 ularly used for that purpose. That is but partially true. It 

 is just as it happens. If it is true, why have the same dogs 

 been brought to the trials but half-broken iu their aged form? 

 Some dogs will work with great' dash and vigor if not re- 

 quired iow T ork to the gun. As self-hunters they show in- 

 creasing industry. But if forced to work to the require- 

 ments of the gun they develop into irregular workers and 

 loafers. They will work for their own pleasure or profit but 

 their desire for work extends no further. With a handler 

 who can "hustle," as scrambling and rushing to gain every 

 advantage is called at field trials, the many failings of such 

 a dog are supplemented or concealed by the expert "hustler," 

 and the dog goes rattling down through the records as a 

 wonderful performer, though not properly finished in training 

 by h : s handler. 



Then there is the dashy, flashy dog, rattle-headed, with 

 little sense, but great at. going across fields at high speed. It 

 may be that he picks out the open, easy places to run in, and 

 notwithstanding the apparent air of industry in his work he 

 might not find a bevy in a day save by accident. But again 

 the expert handler comes in as a competitive factor. He can 

 furnish the brains for a rattle-headed dog. If the handler 

 has located every bevy he can direct him accurately. He 

 turns him at the end of his casts by a whistle, he directs him 

 by a signal of the hand as to the next course, and he nurses 

 and coaches him in locating and pointing birds.' It is true 

 that he may make a great deal of noise and intimidate or 

 balk his opponent's dog if he is well broken, but then again, 

 it seems a pity that so good a dog as the rattle-headed dog is 

 not well broken— so it seems to the average amateur or 

 sportsman. As a matter of fact, the rattle-headed d"g has 

 about all the training that he is capable of receiving. His 

 mental grasp can assimilate no more. 



More instances could be mentioned, but enough has been 

 shown to point out the evils of rushing and the impossibility 

 of reaching accurate decisions with half-broken dogs as re- 

 cognized factors in a competition. 



A Remedy. 



But how can the evil be remedied? Easily. If a dog is 

 not properly broken, particularly in the All-Age Stake- 

 retire him after the first heat. No matter how excellent he 

 may seem, if he is not broken, no accurate opinion can be 

 formed of him from a competitive standpoint. Kunning him 

 is an injustice to every well-broken dog in the stake, for no 

 well-broken dog is ever in actual work subjected to such a 

 storm of whistling and loud orders as is bestowed on the 

 rattle-headed or half- broken dog. Moreover, there is no 

 excuse for an expert handler bringing a half-broken dog 

 into a competition. Some handlers habitually bring in a 

 larger stock of excuses into a competition than they bring 

 iu the way of applied training, but it always seemed to me 

 that a handler who got 100 per cent, for training ought to 

 produce something better than 75 per cent, of excuses and 

 25 per cent, of training at the trials. 



The thoroughly trained dog is handicapped at a field trial, 

 less so than formerly, but still enough to be serious. Often 

 he will turn to the opposing handler's whistle and often he 

 is turned by such whistle with unfair purposes. The con- 

 stant whistling and calling confuses him, and, sometimes, 

 in trials, good, well-broken dogs have quit working entirely 

 out of pure indecision, or inability to get out without at 

 once being turned back again by the whistle. There has 

 been more attention paid to better breaking iu the last year 

 or two, but there is a vast deal of room for more improve- 

 ment. 



That Resolution. 



I read Avith much amusement in Forest and Stream of 

 Dec. 30, the mention of the resolution, drawn up at Lexing- 

 ton, N. C, in 1892, in a style which would have made Lord 

 Chesterfield turn green It seemed a bit timorous to put that 

 pretty resolution in a dark pocket for a v> hole year. It is, too, 

 too bad that it didn't seem to make mi-ch of a jolt when it 

 was sprung. I waut to see the resolution iu print again, so 

 that the present and future may take warning: 



Whereas, Published reports of work done by bird dogs running 

 in tbe public trials have so often been untrue as to various dogs, 

 misleading to the pub ic, damaging to the reputations of handlers and 

 owners, therefore be it 



Resolved, That we demand of the sportsmen's papers that such re- 

 ports contain the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. 



That, is not a request, but a husky, hustling "demand," 

 sirl My heart sinks when I think how the careless, or igno- 

 rant, or mendacious reporter has been slamming his lead 

 pencil about in a manner "damaging to the reputations" of 

 that chaste band of martyrs, the field trial handlers. I am 

 disposed to think the resolution is a joke, but I would be 

 pleased to see the names of those in print who signed that 

 resolution, before saying more. 



The Mascoutah Club's Show. 



Jan. 10. — The premium list of the Mascoutah Kennel Club's 

 show is now being prepared and will probably be ready for 

 distribution next week. The prize list is said to be quite lib- 

 eral, and every breed of dog has a class provided for it. 

 Many of the prominent specialty clubs haveplaced theirclub 

 medals for competition at this show. It is probable that the 

 entries will close about the last of February. The manage- 

 ment is workiug iu earnest, and the indications are that the 

 dub will hold a most successful show. Entries will close on 

 Feb. 24.' 



The Northwestern Field Trials. 



At a meeting of the Northwestern Field Trials Club held 

 recently it was decided to hold their annual field trials in 

 Manitoba. Mr. Hunter, the vice-president of the club, in- 

 formed the club that good grounds could be secured at 

 Jamestown, Dak. Mr. Johnson aanounced to the club that 

 he had decided to retire from field trials as a competitor, 

 though he will still give them his support otherwise. He 

 intends hereafter to take recreation in his vacation by prac- 

 tical field work with his dogs. 



On the 15th inst., Mr. Johnson will be one of a party of 

 forty, who go to St, Paul. Minn., to attend a curling bonspiel, 

 aud on returning they have another week at the big bon- 

 spiel at Winnipeg. It is described as being great sport, with 

 the. best of hearty good fellowshship amoug the gentlemen 

 who participate. 



I think that the club did wisely in deciding to hold the 

 trials in Manitoba. A greater number of the members live 

 iu Canada; it is really a Canadian club, it has good enough 

 grounds and accommodations in its own country, and a 

 gentleman too, whose skill and industry in arranging for 

 and managing the trials are a matter of satisfactory proof, 

 It is not a mere diversion to do the work of a field trial club. 

 It is sometimes wise to leave well enough alone. 



Mr. J. T. Mayfield, who has settled at Pontotoc, Miss., for 

 the .winter, writes me under date of Jan. 3 as follows: "I 



have been here since Dec. 22, and I am well satisfied with 

 my location for training. Quail are not what one would call 

 abundant, but I found plenty. The farmers have posted 

 against market-shooters. The day is not very far away when 

 every farmer in this State will protect his birds. 1 read my 

 Forest and Stream every week with much pleasure." 



Mr, P. T. Madison, the popular sportsman aud secretary of 

 the U. S. F. T. Club, in a letter under date of Jan. 7 in his 

 earnest manner writes: "I desire to congratulate the Forest 

 And Stream. The paper last week was a corker." 



Mr. Harry L. Goodman has returned to Chicago to live, 

 after a residence of a year or more near Nashville, Tenn., 

 where he was occupied as manager of the Cumberland Ken- 

 nel Co. B. Waters. 



900 Security Building, Chicago. 



Heavy Mastiffs. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



There is no question but that several St. Bernard dogs 

 and at least one bitch have weighed over 2001bs., also that 

 there has been one mastiff that has weighed that and more. 

 Far oftener when you come to the dogs that are claimed to 

 weigh so much there is generally this: If they were in con- 

 dition they would weigh so much. It is something like the 

 notice lately in a Boston daily paper that Mr. So and So lost 

 his champion mastiff dog (a champion never before heard of) 

 that stood 5ft. 9in. high and weighed lTolbs. 



My aim has always been to breed mastiffs of great sizeaud 

 correct type. To getgreat size, not fat, butboneand muscular 

 activity and strength, combined with the perfect disposition 

 the true mastiff is noted for. That I am succeeding I offer 

 three such dogs as Beaufort's Black Prince, The Lady Hot- 

 spur and Boss's Princess, which I claim to be three of the 

 largest living, the first two the best type and the best headed 

 ones as well. And in Boss's Princess the largest and heav- 

 iest with perfect body, legs and feet, but with a slightly old 

 type of head wheu compared with Black Prince. A bitch 

 perfect 4 in color with blackest markings, which she probably 

 took from her dam, which was of the brindled Ilford Crom- 

 well breed, which goes to prove, as Mr. Taunton asserts, that 

 unless we breed to the briudles occasionally we are in danger 

 of losing the clear distinct marking of the mastiff. Boss's 

 Princess has been shown only once at Brooklyn, where she 

 should have had the easiest sort of a walk over; there she 

 won the special prize offered for the best moving mastiff in 

 the show, and after five days confinement she weighed in 

 thin flesh 1831bs. To-day, with a litter of pups (not for sale) 

 she weighed 2051bs., not estimated, but weighed by the 

 weighmaster of the town. I could easily estimate she would 

 weigh 30 or 401bs. more if in condition. She is over 80in. 

 in length from nose to end of tail, she stands full 32in. 

 under stick measure aud girths 44in. (tight). On her 

 sire's side the blood of champion Colonel predominates. 

 She always had the greatest liberty — the run of a thousand 

 acres. A house dog constantly at play with the children, 

 affectionate, intelligent, companionable and always to be 

 trusted. 



With such results accomplished as can be shown in Beau- 

 fort's Black Prince and in Boss's Princess, can we not hope 

 for something better than we have yet seen? Greater size, 

 more activity and strength, and at the same time with the 

 true mastiff disposition. The American public ar« as ever 

 ready to buy the best. Breeders never need be afraid of 

 being overstocked with first-class mastiffs. We do not hear 

 of them being sold at ruinous prices, given away to any 

 offer, as often advertised; they are a different class of dog. 

 Twenty-dollar gold pieces are not obliged to be sold at half 

 t heir value. Aim to breed the best, study each mating, and 

 if the results are not as good, or better, than either sire or 

 dam, or you did not get what you expected, try something 

 else. Another important point for a breeder is to know a 

 correct one when he sees it; if he does not, how can he 

 expect to breed correct ones? J. L. WlKCHELL. 



Fair Haven, Vt., Jan. 6. 



Mercer vs. Mills Thrown Out of Court. 



Some time since Forest axd Stream published a letter 

 from Dr. Wesley Mills iu which he characterized as fraudu- 

 lent F. H. F. Mercer's action iu entering another man's dog 

 in a bench show without that man's knowledge and consent 

 and for the benefit of the said Mercer. Having a proper 

 kuow ledge of the facts in this case we refrained from allow- 

 ing these columns to become the medium for Mercer's 

 friends to heap vituperation upon Dr. Mills for his action in 

 the matter, especially assuoh vituperation contained no proof 

 of the fallacy of Dr. Mills's assertion. For this we have been 

 subjected from time to time to much adverse criticism of the 

 "no let np ' order. We were quite content to rest the case 

 on the evidence; and that our position was correct is proved 

 by the following dispatch to the Montreal Gazette of Jan. 10. 

 As will be remembered, Mercer brought suit against Dr. 

 Mills for libel damages, on account of this charge of fraud, 

 and it was this case which came up last week. The Gazette 

 says: 



Ottawa, Jan. 9.— The action brought by F. H, F. Mercer, of this 

 city, against Prof. T. Wesley Mills, of Montreal, c'aiming $10,000 

 damages, was yesterday afternoon non-suited by Justice Armour. A 

 j iry had been empanelled aud Mr. J. B. Aylesworth, of Toronto, for 

 the plaiuiiff, addressed the court briefly. After reading extracts from 

 the evidence given by frof. Mills iu Montreal, His Lordship declined 

 to allow the case to go to the jury, and the view he took appeared to 

 be a surprise to Mr. Mercer and his friends. The entering of the dog 

 owned by a gentleman in Massachusetts by the plaintiff was an un- 

 warrantable action, was a fraud, and being such, statements of fact 

 concerning the affair could not be a libel and there were no grounds 

 upon which to base an action. 



From a gentleman who was present at the trial we learn 

 that — "the Toronto lawyer bad finished part of his opening 

 address to the jury and was quoting Dr. Mills where he 

 said it was a fraud, when the judge suddenly and emphati- 

 cally exclaimed, addressing the plaintiff's attorney, T think 

 it is a fraud— don't you?' He then non-suited Mercer on 

 the spot, saying that he would not listen to such a case." 

 Mr. JLittle was not present at the trial, as he was 111 at the 

 time. Before Dr. Mills left the court house he was served 

 with another writ at the instance of Mercer claiming a simi- 

 lar amount on other statements in the alleged libelous 

 article. 



Columbus, O,, Dog Show. 



Premium lists for the Columbus Fanciers' Club dog show, 

 to be held Feb. 28 aud March 1, 2 and 3, are now ready to 

 mail. With a liberal premium list and the judges they have 

 selected, the club expects a good entry. The judges' names, 

 as sent to us by Mr. T. A. Sherwood, are: B Bardoe Elliott 

 for great Danes; Major J. M. Taylor, all setters and pointers, 

 aud A. F Pitts for ma-tiffs and pugs. The balance, we be- 

 lieve, will come under Mr. G. Bell's judicial eye. The club 

 will give two handlers' prizes, S50 to the handler with the 

 largest string of dogs aud $40 to the second. Another valu- 

 able special ha.s been added to the list by the Cambridge 

 Fox-Terrier Kennels, of I oronto. Can. It is a model of a fox- 

 terrier iu silver, on a handsome stand, aud is a very fiue piece 

 of work, modeled after the style of those donated at Toronto 

 last tall; and as it is to be awarded to the best fox-terrier, 

 smooth or wire, dog or bitch, it should bring some of the 

 cracks into competition. All inquiries for premium lists, 

 etc., should be addressed to Mr. Geo. F. Mooney, 276 North 

 High street, Columbus, O. 



