§26 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 14, 1894, 



POINTS AND FLUSHES. 



[By a Staff Correspondent.} 



The Migration of the Handlers. 



I QUOTE one paragraph from a letter by Mr. J. M. Free- 

 man of Bicknell, Ind., which contains cheerful information 

 concerning game prospects at Bicknell, and therefore favor- 

 able for field trial interests, that place having been fixed 

 upon for the next trials of the IT. S. F. T. C. It also contains 

 mention of the homeward flight of several handlers. He 

 says: 



fes"There is not much dog news here at present. Birds have 

 wintered well and there will be an abundance left over for 

 seed. Mr. John T. Mayfield is expected home here this week 

 from Mississippi. Mr. Geo. B. Gray will also stop off here a 

 few weeks on his way home from Mississippi. 



"Mr. Andy Gleason expects to locate here permanently, so 

 that in the future we will be decidedly doggy around Bick- 

 nell." 



A Chance for a Trainer. 



From that delightful Morris, Mon. city which is yet fortu- 

 nate in being both in civilization and a great game country, 

 comes information of the need there of a field trial trainer. 

 There is a good business opening in that country for a good 

 man. It is useless for any other kind to go there. An un- 

 skillful or negligent trainer would not succeed. Mr. R. J. 

 Gallaugher, secretary of the Manitoba Field Trials Club, 

 writes me as follows: 



"Canine matters are not making the rapid moves antici- 

 pated a short time ago, but they are not at a standstill by 

 any means. Every now and then a new youngster is brought 

 on for the express purpose of sweeping everything in the 

 Derby. I trust that some of our people will succeed in reach- 

 ing the money this year. 



"The latest addition which I have had the pleasure of tak- 

 ing out of bond was a nice bitch puppy from our friend Mr. 

 L. W. Smith, which I sold to Mr. Borrodaile, of this place. 

 It is by Orlando— Atalanta, and looks like a mover. An- 

 other is the young dog Gladiator, by Gladstone's Boy— Queen 

 Novice, purchased from the Manchester Kennels by Mr. F. 

 W. Scott. Mr. Young speaks highly of this young dog and I 

 have hopes that we will hear from him later on. 



"In reference to the obtaining of a good trainer for this 

 locality, we are still in the same position as when I wrote 

 you last— nothing decided upon. * * * I have not much 

 hesitation in saying that if a good, honest trainer came here 

 there would not be the slightest difficulty in his getting at 

 least fifteen dogs in a short time. The prices which have 

 been paid here in the past are about $50 each dog. 



"By the way, I might say to you that I had a letter from 

 Mr. White, of Florence, Col., asking if I could get a good 

 trainer here for his dogs, and that if we could do so, he would 

 enter them in our trials. I do not know how many he has, 

 but wrote him that we were endeavoring to get a good man 

 specially for field trial work. I asked him what number he 

 wished to send, everything being satisfactory. 



"Don't you think that if you writers were to point out the 

 advantages to the Eastern trainers of training out here on 

 the prairies, that some of the owners would send their dogs 

 West to run in our trials and work their way East to the other 

 trials later on?" 



Many of the field trial trainers and others know the ad- 

 vantages of the chicken country, but few of them know the 

 magnitude and value of the canine interests in Manitoba and 

 adjacent provinces. These interests are destined to be much 

 greater in a few years. It is a great and growing country 

 with business interests of great value. 



Dog Training. 



Mr. J. B. Stoddard, of Thomasville, N. C, writes: "There 

 are not so many birds about here as there should be to insure 

 a good crop." A scarcity of birds entails much greater work 

 on trainers and dogs. Mr. Stoddard further states that he 

 has concluded to continue dog training, and to that end is 

 prepared to negotiate with parties who desire to engage the 

 services of a trainer. 



In the Alligator District. 



From a letter received from Mr, W. S. Bell, of Pittsburgh, 

 who is well known to sportsmen, I infer that he had a 

 pleasant trip while sojourning recently in Florida. It will 

 be remembered that Mr. Bell, while judging the Irish setter 

 trials, was suddenly called home from Thomasville, N. C., 

 on account of the severe illness of Mrs. Bell, who was in a 

 critical condition from pneumonia for many days. In his 

 pleasant way, Mr. Bell in a private letter to me writes: 



"I have taken Mrs. Bell to Florida, stopping at all princi- 

 pal places and points of interest down the east coast to Palm 

 Beach, on Lake Worth, which is truly the garden spot of 

 the earth. We took iu the climate— although expensive, we 

 enjoyed it very much, having indeed a most delightful trip, 

 and best of all, Mrs. Bell has returned in full health, looking 

 ruddy and healthy. 



"While I was at Palm Beach I met Mr. Wallace, a judge 

 many times at the Central field trials, and we had a long 

 chat on field trials, etc., which was to the effect that a sports- 

 men's field trial club should be formed with a purpose to 

 cater more to the sportsma.u or the 'one-dog-man' entry 

 than to the professional handler. They have to come in to 

 advertise and dispose of their produce, and need not be 

 fondled. A club of this kind would prosper and have more 

 support from more people than is engendered by the present 

 mode, of conducting trials." 



The cumulative appetites, described by Mr. Hough in his 

 charming articles on Dixie Land, which he and Dick Merrill 

 took from the North into the inoffensive State of Texas, 

 supplemented by the appetite which permeated the entire 

 hollow gloom of a dog six feet long, into which they threw 

 vanishing sandwiches, a bag full at a time, to check his 

 appetite, was all right in a way. Still, it was not treat- 

 ing the dog with that consideration which is due man's best 

 friend. It was too much after the manner in which news- 

 paper men eat their lunches in Chicago. This dog, being 

 six feet in length, could stand longer on a point than any 

 other dog in the business, therefore he was, by virtue of his 

 longing, entitled to have his food handed to him with 

 deliberation and attention, instead of throwing it down his 

 neck into the recesses of his inner consciousness. The sand- 

 wiches of railroad commerce are made primarily for dur- 

 ability and to resist torsion strains or sudden flexure. They 

 might do to throw at a strange dog, or as a test of the dog's 

 stamina; but with such a scrap-iron diet for a dog of which 

 yeoman service is required, how can he be expected to do 

 good work with a barrel full of disks? I know that Mr. 

 Hough has a novel and, with dogmen in a degree, obsolete 

 theory about setters and pointers. For instance, he un- 

 waveringly maintains that a dog with a long pedigree and 

 fine figure should be able to work, as well as to look pretty; 

 and to be properly up to his standard the dog must not 

 show any annoyance or self -con ciousness when run over by 

 a loaded wagon. He must eat like an Indian, jump any 

 fence, or crawl under it if he has to lift the fense to do so, 

 etc. But this is by the way, it is the appetite which caused 

 me to think. At first I thought it might have been a case, 

 not of a new appetite, but an old one under a new environ- 

 ment, a case as it were of unconscious gastric opportunity; 

 but I was in error— I believe it was the climate. Of that 

 trip Mr. Bell writes: 



"Tell Mr. Hough that I have waded through 'Dixie Land,' 

 Nos. 1, 2 and 3, and have laughed, cried and been thrilled by 

 his experiences. By way of sympathy, let me state that Mrs. 

 Bell's appetite was something alarming while down in Dixie. 



It was beneficial, however. I assure Mr. Hough, if he lives 

 in Chicago with his increased appetite, it will be more ex- 

 pensive than in Dixie's Land, as I found in Chicago it took 

 more cash to the square inch to supply the demand than any 

 other place I've been." 



There is no one whose opinion I esteem more than I do Mr. 

 Bell's, but in the case of Chicago he seems to have formed 

 an erroneous but popular opinion. That Chicago is peculiar 

 I will admit. Only that and nothing more. If a visitor 

 comes here with an intention to be a citizen, or a,n alderman, 

 or a newspaper man, etc., he is welcome. Chicago will give 

 such a dimpled smile of welcome. But if he comes here with 

 an appetite— well, he is a transgressor, and the way of the 

 transgressor is not easy. B. Wateks. 



909 Security Building, Chicago. 



Specialty Club Dog Show. 



From numerous letters which have been received by Mr. 

 Mortimer, the superintendent, it seems there is an impression 

 prevailing that the coming show of St. Bernards, collies, 

 spaniels, fox-terriers and bulldogs given under the auspices 

 of the specialty clubs devoted to these breeds, is open only to 

 dogs owned by members of these clubs. This is entirely 

 wrong. The show is open to all exhibitors and owners of 

 dogs of the above breeds irrespective of membership. At 

 this show the prizes given by the different clubs are more 

 than ordinarily valuable, and are sure to bring together some 

 of the best dogs in the country. While, as stated above, the 

 competition in the regular classes will be open to all, there 

 is, or should be, an esprit de corps that will result in the dif- 

 ferent specialty club members showing their best and vieing 

 with each other for the prizes and specials so generously 

 offered. 



In St. Bernards the winning kennel will capture $25 from 

 the W. K. C, and the best St. Bernard will also win $25. 

 Silver cups for best dog and best bitch are also given. Then 

 there are the St. Bernard Club medals, and such works of 

 art are well worth winning. Spratts Patent's 501bs. can of 



MR. J. H. W1NSLOW. 



President Philadelphia Kennel Club, 1894. 



pepsinated meal is a particularly happy and useful contribu- 

 tion. A glance through the collie special list makes one's 

 eyes fairly bulge at the array of cash specials, and we are 

 pleased to see that a good deal of the money will go for 

 American bred stock. The W. K. C. again gives $25 for best 

 kennel, and the best collie gets another $25; these are open to 

 any one. Open to members of the Collie Club are the Collie 

 Club trophy, value $300, for best American bred, and the 

 president's cup, value $500, for best in show. The best stud 

 dog with two of his get will win $20 and a silver medal; the 

 best brood bitch will take $20 and a medal under the same 

 conditions. Another interesting competition, for which $20 

 is given, will be the exhibit of the best four American bred 

 collies. Then $20 each are given for best American bred dog, 

 best bitch and also best pair in open classes, of the same 

 breeding, owned by one exhibitor. The best dog and best 

 bitch in novice classes get $20 each and bronze medals. The 

 bobtails are not forgotten; the best will win $10, so will the 

 best smooth. Such specials help to pay expenses. 



The owner of a good fox-terrier kennel can start a new 

 banking account. If he has the best four and the best brace 

 he will win $25 in each competition. The American Fox- 

 Terrier Club has come to the front in a very open-handed 

 way. There is the Grand Challenge cup, value $300, for the 

 best in the show. The Apollo Challenge and stakes for 1894 

 will be worth winning, too. Then there is a $5 sweepstake 

 for the best stud dog shown with four of his get; and the 

 same conditions apply to the Matron Stake. The old "boys" 

 are not forgotten, for those over seven years old can "chip 

 in" for a $5 sweep, or rather their sponsors can for them. 

 Specials of $25 each are given for best dog and best bitch, 

 both wire and smooth, in the show. The best in open classes 

 and the best under two years of age in either sex can also 

 win $25. The four best American -bred will also get $25; so 

 will the best dog and bitch puppy and the best brace under 

 fourteen months. This is probably the most valuable list of 

 cash specials yet offered and should provoke keen competi- 

 tion. 



Spaniels are also very well looked after and an encouraging 

 fact in this connection, showing the broad principles of this 

 club, is that with three exceptions, these being the club 

 trophies— the Cocker Cup, Dr. Smith's silver trophy and the 

 oil paintings presented by Mr. Bell, the competitions are open 

 to all, irrespective of membership. The best kennel of parti- 

 colored cockers gets $25. Then $5 is given for best brace of 

 each breed the club fosters. The best five red cockers will 

 win $25 and the W. K. C. also gives $25 for the best five over 

 281bs. weight. Dr. Smith, to equalize matters, offers $25 for 

 the most even kennel of four cockers. The best brace of 

 puppies, any breed, gets $10 from Mr. H. Brooks, and Mr. 

 Oldham provokes an interesting competition by offering $10 

 for best stud dog, any sporting spaniel, with three of his get; 

 $5 each for best black cocker dog and bitch in open classes 



owned in N. Y. State, and $5 for best any other color, same 

 conditions, comes from Mr. Fiske. 



The owner of the best brace of field spaniels has a chance 

 at a case of champagne, and Spratts Co. wishes to encourage 

 the breed by putting up another 501bs. case of Pepsinated 

 Food for best puppy any breed. Cameras are also given for 

 field spaniels and Clumbers. 



There is little doubt that the Bulldog Club will not allow 

 their breed to fall behind either in enthusiasm or the value 

 of specials donated, but particulars of the latter we have not 

 yet received. It is reported that the Rev. W. H. Wallbridge, 

 owner of the Contoocock Kennels, will, in the event of Mr. 

 Sidney W. Smith's not officiating, take the difficult task of St. 

 Bernard judge. This will be this well-known breeder's dehut 

 in this r61e and he should be well supported. Entries close 

 April 20, with Mr. James Mortimer, 44 Broadway, New 

 York, and the fee is $5. 



Cocker Truths. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



A big little dog is a good dog to look at, but a larger one 

 or one in proportion for the work he is required to do, is bet- 

 ter. Big bone in a little dog is rot, and a big head on a little 

 dog is worse. A cocker never had a big head or big bone out 

 of proportion to size until he was crossed with the field 

 spaniel, that crosH gave him a long body, crooked legs and a 

 big head. They have bred out the long body, have raised 

 him up a trifle, but the bad legs and big head remain. Every 

 one who knows a cocker admits that they are a general pur- 

 pose dog or the dog for all kinds of work; an all day and 

 every day in the season dog. In a day's work he may be 

 called upon to retrieve a duck, flush grouse and woodcock, 

 run a rabbit, tree a squirrel, scatter a covey of quail, sample 

 a tramp's trousers, etc., etc. Can a 201b. dog with a big head 

 and crooked legs do all the above? I have fourteen dollars 

 all saved up in copper that I'll bet he can't do one-quarter 

 of it, and that he will have to be carried after working five 

 hours in this county, even if he lasts so long. 



Men and women who get their ideas about a cocker from 

 seeing him on the bench; those that never bred one or even 

 saw one at work; men that know as much about a gun as a 

 cow does about a telescope, are those who do the most harm 

 to the breed. They think because they have seen pictures of 

 big-headed, crooked-legged dogs that were champions > in 

 England, that they are the kind of dogs that the sportsmen 

 of America want, but surely men who shoot only over cock- 

 ers should know the kind of dog best suited for their work. 

 Of course I know the old cry "if we can't beat you on the 

 bench we can in the field," but it does not apply to me, for I 

 always bred for work and guarantee every dog I sell to be a 

 natural hunter and retriever. When the craze for the "long 

 and low" set in, I just quit exhibiting. I fought that worst 

 of all fads alone and killed it as dead as Caesar's grandmother. 

 A 201b. dog may do for England if he has a small head, good 

 legs and feet, but nothing under 241bs. will do for the Alle- 

 ghany hills of Steuben Co., because the work, the game and 

 the men are different. I was very sorry to see the attacks on 

 Mr. Wilmerding because no man has done as much as he has 

 for the Spaniel Club. At New York he only aimed at cor- 

 recting great abuses that have crept into cockers in the last 

 few years, the toddling infants with legs going like a boy's 

 drumsticks were rank libels on any sporting dog, and the 

 man who undertakes with determination to stamp out this 

 evil, will certainly raise a storm of adverse criticism. Such 

 a reformer cannot possibly "stick to type," as "type" sticks 

 to monstrosities closer than mutton gravy to the roof of your 

 mouth. Emphatic condemnation, turning down type for 

 decent physical ability, and making it stand out in the most 

 glaring light that ability to do his work is the main thing in 

 a sporting dog, with type a secondary consideration, is the 

 only way the effect can be produced. J. Otis Fellows. 



Hornellsville, N. Y., March 31. 



Antidote to Strychnine. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



"Dog Berry's" allusion to the strychnine poisoning in Feb. 

 10 issue of Forest and Stream, recalls my experience with 

 a pointer of mine. "Dog Berry" calls dog poisoners the 

 meanest of men. We who love dogs think he has told "the 

 truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth." And 

 there are the meanest of women, for one threatened, in my 

 hearing, to poison my dog, and he was poisoned. It was 

 with strychnine, for I had before observed its effect upou 

 dogs. 



Noticing one day that my dog Mack acted strangely, I ob- 

 served to my son that I feared he was poisoned. I tapped 

 him on the back to ascertain the fact, but there was no nerv- 

 ous excitement as the result. My son then went down- 

 stairs, Mack standing at the top, looking down. I thought 

 I would watch him, for if it was strychnine poisoning an. 

 attempt to go downstairs would induce a fit. I guessed 

 rightly, for on taking the first step he straightened out in an. 

 instant and plunged to the bottom of the stairs with vio- 

 lence enough, it seemed, to break every bone in his body. I 

 told my son to stay with him while I went to the doctor's 

 office. "Give laudanum and tannin." I didn't stop to pay 

 him, neither did I pay the druggist (at that time), for my 

 dog's life precluded all thoughts of promptness in anything 

 else. When I returned Mack was on bis feet. I poured a 

 teaspoonful of laudanum and about as much tannin down 

 him, followed by a little water to take the bad taste out of 

 his mouth. He had two fits after this — it may be more, but 

 I went to bed hardly expecting to see him alive in the morn- 

 ing; but he survived, although he was a rather sorry-looking 

 dog that day. He got along well, but some months after 

 that as he lay in his box I saw that he had a fit. I knew, 

 however, that it was not like that caused by strychnine. 

 These fits he would have two or three times a year. On this 

 account I sold him, informing the purchaser, however, that 

 he was subject to the malady. The dog slept in my house a 

 good deal, and I suggested that if he was kept more in the open 

 air he might not have any more attacks.' He was then four 

 years old. The man has had him six years, and I think the 

 dog is in good health. I have never heard him say the dog 

 had a return of the fits. N. D. Elting. 



The Amateur Trainer. 



A NEW work on dog training has recently been presented 

 to the public by Mr. Ed. F. Haberlein, of MePherson, Kan. 

 The special claims of the author for the system is that it 

 teaches the "force system without the whip," and defining it 

 more fully in the text as "Force system, omitting suasion 

 and the whip, applying the force collar to effect attention 

 and obedience, words of praise and caresses to encourage and 

 reward." The author claims that the treatise is a plain, con- 

 cise, yet thorough guidance in the art of training, handling, 

 and in correcting the faults of the bird dog in his work to 

 the gun. While much of the matter in it is not new, there 

 are all the training subjects treated in a brief yet pertinent 

 manner, the whole giving the beginner a succinct course of 

 instruction in his art of training. There is some doubt as to 

 the wisdom of basing a system on the use of the spike collar, 

 since that useful article should be used as little as possible, 

 and not at all as a corrective instrument. For instance, it is 

 useful in forcing a dog to retrieve, an act he dislikes to per- 

 form; but, if he commits a fault, it is not a proper instru- 

 ment to use for the sole purpose of punishment. At the best, 

 the less it can be used consistently with perfecting a few ac- 

 complishments, the better for all concerned. Many good 

 ideas can be gotten from the work, however. It is bound in 

 paper and contains 73 pages of reading matter. Price $1, 

 For sale by Forest and Stream Publishing Co. 



