14 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Jan. I, 1898. 
nessed vip to a cart with an oldei- and well-broken one, 
and being^ by nature tractable and obedient quickly takes 
to his work. No distinction is made as to sex, except 
that a slut is exempt by law during the gestative period 
and may not be worked. 
Harness. — The harness is simple and of one prevail- 
ing type — a broad strap or breast collar of leather, pass- 
ing round the breast and tapering backward about 3ft. 
on each side, thence lengthened by cords, as traces, 
which are attached to the whiffletree. The collar is held 
in place by a simple backhand and girth; the latter being 
unbuckled permits the harness to be slipped over the 
dog's head and removed. The leather muzzle which 
all dogs, in or out of harness, are required to wear at 
all seasons when outside their owners' premises, serves 
as bridle and completes the working gear. 
Wagons. — Wagons are of two general classes — four- 
wheeled, which are usually drawn by two dogs and are 
used almost exclusively in the country or remote vil- 
lages, and two-wheeled carts, with long shafts or han- 
dles, which are held by the driver, who guides and bal- 
ances the vehicle while the dog, hitched to an iron brack- 
et projecting downward from the floor of the cart, 
trots beneath. A board about 2 by 3ft. in size i.s required 
by law to be carried along, and when a stop is made is 
laid on the ground for the dog to He upon. In winter 
the same code requires a blanket to be provided to cover 
the animal when at rest in harness. 
Strength. — The load that can be transported by a 
cart of this kind, guided by a skillful driver and drawn 
by one healthy, well-trained dog, is somewhat surpris- 
ing. The license of each animal states the maximum 
burden that he may draw at from 200 to 30olbs.. but this 
restriction, especially in the country, where the police 
are less watchful, is often disregarded, and a load of 500 
and even 6oolbs. is not unusual, and on the smooth, hard 
level roads that are c^.mmon in this country a dog will 
usually go as far and work as many hours per day as his 
master who guides the cart. 
The Dog Likes His Work. — From all that can be 
observed or learned from inquiry, the dogs, at least 
those used as draft animals in this region, take to their 
work with entire willingness. Nothing is so irksome to 
the canine spirit as to be confined in the kennel or left 
at home when the master goes abroad. Any sign of 
preparing the cart or wagon for a sortie affects the 
working dog much as the sight of a gun or shooting 
costume agitates a setter or foxhound. If left at home 
W'hile the cart is taken to town by hand, he is apt to 
howl disconsolately until it returns. Once harnessed, 
he trots to his place under the wagon, and when used 
on a milk route or other uniform service he learns the 
way and the place and average duration of each stop as 
well as his master, in whose absence he guards the 
wagon and its load with a fierce fidelity, which no 
wheedling can corrupt or fatigue impair. Rarely under 
ordinary circumstances does a dog have to be urged to 
greater exertion; if spoken to at all. it is usually to re- 
strain him from drawing the cart faster than the driver 
cares to walk. 
Tax. — The annual tax on -working and other dogs in 
Germany is $3.57, besides which the owner pays 47 
cents for the inspection an4 certificate which are made 
and issued by the chief veterinary ofiicial of the city or 
district. 
Life of a Draft Dog. — A dog reaches his full 
strength at about three years of age, and thenceforward 
until his ninth year he should be at his best; but with 
good care most of them are capable of good service 
until fourteen or fifteen years of age, and instances are 
not rare of dogs twenty or even twenty-five years old 
doing their daily task with cheerful alacrity. 
.Maintenance. — Their best food is meat, but besides 
this they eat bread, specially prepared biscuits, in which 
a small proportion of coarse meat is included, and the 
general refuse of the family table, which in the case of 
most peasants is neither profuse nor specially nourish- 
ing. A good trained dog three to four years old is 
worth in this neighborhood from $12 to $15; especially 
large and well-bred ones may bring $20 or even more, 
particularly when they combine good working qualities 
with those of a diligent and courageous watchdog, and 
of such a one the peasants have a saying that, day or 
night, his work is never finished. It does not appear 
that working usually affects the temper of a dog or 
makes him cross or vicious, except in defense of his own 
wagon, which he is usually ready to protect from inter- 
ference at all hazards. 
Conclusion. — Putting aside the sentiment which dig- 
nifies the dog as a noble animal, worthy of no baser ser- 
vice than hunting or guarding the person and property 
of his master, it is difficult to see in the working system, 
as practiced under careful!}^ enforced regulations, as in 
Germany, any ground for reasonable objection, either 
by reason of direct ill treatment or the theoretic abuse 
that is perpetrated w^hen a dumb animal is converted to 
a use for which it was not intended by nature. That an 
animal so tractable, faithful and easily trained as the 
dog, which at his best costs but a comparative trifle, 
eats the refuse of the peasant's table, and hauls a load of 
eight or ten times his own weight twenty or thirty miles 
per day and guards his burden by night, is not well and 
properly employed in such service, would probably be 
hard to prove on any but the extreme hypothesis that 
all work is degrading. 
Hambtifg. 
W. H. Robertson, Consul at Hamburg, reports: 
Breed. — In Hamburg and its etivirons dogs are very 
extensively used as draft animals, and as the authorities 
have prescribed no restrictive measures against the use 
of any particular breed or size of dog for this purpose, 
almost every kind of fair-sized dog is employed. In 
most cases, however, it will be found that cross-breeds 
of Ulmer dogs and Danish hounds are selected for all 
sorts of small wagons and hand-carts. The animals 
are not subjected to any special course of training, but 
are broken in for their work by their individual owners, 
according to the latter's own ideas. 
Harness. — The harness almost universally used is 
light and of the simplest kind, consisting either of 
leather or closely woven jute. A strap or band, which 
is held in position by a cross strap over the back, passes 
from the dog's breast to an ordinary pair of traces, 
which are fastened to a light singletree. This latter is 
attached by means of a chain to the bottom of the cart 
or wagon. 
Wagons. — The wagons which these dogs are required 
to haul are of almost as great a variety as are the breeds 
of dogs; and it is quite wonderful what heavy loads the 
dogs are able to pull without apparent difficulty. 
Objections to Draft Dogs. — There is very little 
doubt about the fact that these draft dogs are of great 
assistance and a source of considerable saving to the 
small tradespeople, peddlers, costers, etc., whose loaded 
carts are too heavy for one person to pull or shove alone, 
and who cannot afford to buy and feed a horse. On the 
other hand, however, the general opinion prevails, and 
I confess that, after much personal observation, I fully 
share the same, that the use of dogs as draft animals is 
a cruelty. 
I have noticed that the people become especially at- 
tached to their draft dogs, who are their constant com- 
panions in business, and that they treat them well as a 
rule. The dogs themselves are the very hardest work- 
ers, and enter into their work with far more spirit and 
vim than most horses. It is a frequent sight to see their 
piasters obliged to constantly restrain them from pull- 
ing. It is sometimes very pitiable, however, to see them 
pulled out of shape by overwork and overloading. 
Their crooked legs, nervous temperaments, blurred eyes, 
and tender feet tell their tale of fidelity and suffering. 
They ferociously protect the cart and its contents dur- 
ing the absence of their masters, and seem to feel a per- 
sonal interest in the business. 
I took occasion to interview the Hamburg Society for 
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on this subject, 
and learned that dogs which are used as draft animals 
are seldom able to stand the work more than five years 
without their spines becoming affected, and that such 
draft dogs as are from time to time brought to the dog 
hospital of the society for treatment are generally be- 
yond recovery. I was also told that the society had re- 
peatedly requested the Hamburg government to forbid 
the use of dogs as draft animals, and that, although its 
eft'orts in this direction had thus far proved absolutely 
unsuccessful, it intended to continue to use its best ef- 
forts to have the practice abolished. Members of the 
society must bind themselves not to purchase anything 
from tradespeople who deliver their wares in carts 
hauled by dogs. 
The International Field Trials* 
Chatham, Ont. — Editor Forest and Stream: Seeing a 
letter in your last issue from Mr. W. W. McCain re the 
late International Trials, it strikes me that it would ease 
my mind if I also had a few words» 
I have nothing to say as to the Derby, as I did not 
see it run. Nor did I see the first heat in the all-age. 
I hojje Mr. McCain has not me in his eye when he 
speaks of the favored few. I beg to tell him that the 
favors that I have received in the field trial line have 
been like shot from a blunderbuss — very scattering. 
I think Mr. McCain has just cause for complaint in 
not having his bitch called again, after being told to 
bring her along, as the rules say the judges shall, after 
the first series, announce which dogs they wish to see 
run again, and the order of running them. I think, 
however, he is wrong in thinking we go in for too wide 
range. With one exception I don't consider that any 
of our dogs ranged too wide. Some of them may have 
ranged too wide in cover, and I will concede that it is 
just as bad a fault for a dog to range too wide in cover 
as it is for him to have too contracted range in the 
open. Wide in the open and close in cover is what we 
want in our country. Mr. Hough is rather hard on 
Cleopatra, although I acquit him of any intention to be 
other than fair. 
In the heat between her and Dash, he says: "Later 
Clo made her worst blunder in a heat otherwise brilliant; 
on bare cornfield she made game, roaded, cast about 
and came to a point, but the bevy was walked up thirty 
feet back of her, and she must have passed fairly 
through it to have got where she was. This bad locating 
of birds seemed hard to explain, and Mr. Wells admitted 
he did not see how she could have done it." My idea of 
the piece of work was this: Clo was seen on point sev- 
enty or eighty yards ahead in a cornfield, near the fence, 
on the other side of wdiich was a bush, on a bevy which 
had evidently just run into the field to feed and were 
scattered about feeding when she came onto them. I 
ordered her on to flush, going with her, and together 
we fairly walked through them, she crawling with her 
nose touching the ground and moving her head from 
side to side. When we had got through some one behind 
flushed them, and Mr. Hough will remember they got 
up very scattering. The birds lay like stones, as they 
will frequently on bare ground. They had run all about 
the place, saturating the ground with scent, which, 
coming from all quarters, prevented her locating any one 
bird. Had it been a single bird she would have probably 
followed it accurately to a flush. Had I adopted the 
American plan of leaving the dog on point, tramped 
ahead and flushed the birds, instead of taking the dog 
up with me, in the way introduced by Mr. Brailsford, 
and since followed by so many American professionals — ■ 
although they objected to his doing it when he ran in 
the Eastern — she would have had credit for a good point 
instead of a bad flush, as the birds were not more than 
twenty or twenty-five feet from her first point. 
Again, in the latter part of his account of the Lock- 
Clo heat, he gives Lock credit over the bitch, saying: 
"Lock jumped the fence, made a straight run for the 
woods, and at once jumped into a second bevy point at 
a log and brush pile, doubtless on Clo's bevy, though 
she was now working off to the right away from the 
bevy." I claim my little favorite to be a good bird finder, 
but she cannot find birds in two different places at the 
same time. This is practically what Mr. Hough is penal- 
izing her for not doing. The bush was full of scattered 
birds from the night previous, and both dogs were doing 
all that could be asked of them in different places. Mr. 
Hough was with Lock. I cannot agree with Mr. Hough 
that Lock required no handling, as at one time it re- 
quired the united efforts of one of the judges and the 
handler to stop him from flushing a bird Clo was point- 
ing. Wlien they finally got him dropped he was within 
a few feet of the bird. 
I am glad Mr. Hough gives Clo some credit as a 
meat dog, as on one occasion he flushed a quail and a 
horse over her point. It was no fault of hers that he 
had a reputation to redeem, and would not rest satisfied 
until he had an opporttinity. He did not mention, how- 
ever, on which kind of bird he wished to begin. If on 
the former, T shall be glad to give him an opportunity 
when next he visits lis; but if on the latter, I must ask 
him to defer the test until some time when we meet out 
West, where bronchos are cheap. That is, if I, as on the 
last occasion, am to furnish dogs and game. 
I have no objection to Mr. Hough or any one else 
having whatever kind of dog suits them best. I like a 
good dog, let him be big or little, long or short hair. (I 
came near buying a pointer lately, but, fortunately, got 
over the weak spell.) But if Mr. Hough or any one 
6lse having a kennel of dogs intended entering them, he 
would likely pick out the best, irrespective of size. 
I have had some good big dogs, but a great 
many more from medium to small. I think you will 
find fifty good small animals to one good big one, 
whether in man, dog or horse. Of course there is Jio 
denying the old saying that a good big one will beat a 
good little one, and as to the meat dog I am willing to 
admit that bird finding is the most important part of a 
bird dog's work. I am considerable of a meat man 
myself when I start in — just returned from three days at 
the quail — bag, 100 — and will not have a dog that is not 
a good bird finder; but combined with bird finding I 
want as much beauty as I can get, also as much speed 
and style on point. In fact, I want a high-class dog, one 
whose action is perfect, and who points with spirit and 
animation, stopping in whatever position he catches the 
scent. I would rather see .such a dog make one point 
than one of Mr. Hough's ordinary meat dogs make a 
dozen. 
I go into the fields for pleasure, and the dog that gives 
me the most of that article is the dog I want, whether 
he wins at field trials or not. Some men measure the 
day's sport by the size of the bag. I think more of the 
dog work than I do of the birds. Still I am not averse 
to a well-filled bag when birds are in good order. 
The writer of the editorial on "Professionalism in 
Field Trial Clubs," in your last issue, mentions the 
Eastern and Northwestern as the only clubs that have 
not allowed the professional element to have a say in 
their management. I beg to inform him that the Inter- 
national has never had a professional as member, and our 
trials are the only ones in which the amateur handler 
has much of a chance. Of course, even with us the 
amateur is handicapped, as he has to compete with dogs 
trained at such odd times as his business wnll permit, 
against dogs that have the regular day-by-day training 
that a professional alone can give them. But he can 
nevertheless indulge his fancy without much outlay. Our 
■prizes are small, but so- are our entry fees. 
W. B. Wells. 
Monroe, Mich. — Editor Forest jnd Stream: In your 
issue of Dec. 11 appears an article entitled "The Inter- 
national Field Trials," signed W. W. McCain. As he 
has failed to introduce himself and cannot agree with 
the decision of the judges nor with the inferences of the 
reporter, and so freely gives his own views as an author- 
ity, a slight introduction on my part may not be out of 
place, as he believes in the spirit of fairness in every- 
thing connected with field sport. 
At Windsor, on our way to the trials, we were intro- 
duced to Mr. McCain and rode to Chatham on the 
same train with him. In his conversation he stated that 
he was entirely ignorant of how field trials were con- 
ducted, never having seen or attended any. As to his 
remarks as to the age and experience of the judges, I 
know positively that one of the judges, at least, would 
be yoimger if he could. As to the experience, neither 
the reporter nor the judges were novices in attending 
field trials, and if people can become perfected in any- 
thing without experience, why do they study profes- 
sions or learn trades, even if they do possess very old 
heads on very young shoulders? 
As I followed up each heat in those trials, observing 
and discriminating carefully, and after reading Mr. 
Hough's report and Mr. McCain's statement, I am 
forced by personal observation to agree with the former, 
and consider his report as being very fair and impartial, 
while the statements of the latter are as misleading as 
the imaginative points made by his dog in the field; and 
I am not surprised, after seeing such an exhibition of 
false pointing and chasing, that Mr. McCain should 
entertain the idea of crossing the greyhound and barzoi 
for a suitable dog, and think he can safely risk the 
experiment without injury, as an almost failure to point 
birds and an entire failure to catch them leaves any 
sportsman in an unpleasant position in the field. 
In reference to his question, before commencing the 
all-age stake, whether point work or bird work was to 
be considered, the answer was, "All was to be consid- 
ered." This did not imply that every time his dog came 
to a halt and he lustily called it "point" and nothing 
found should be considered bird work. We fully agree 
with him that in this heat there was much point work, 
quite as much as in any heat we recollect to have seen, in 
finding and truly pointed birds once only by his dog. The 
lusty manner in which Mr. McCain called "point" at 
every halt of his dog, and the fertile excuses made for 
her errors, gave evidence of an aptitude for becoming, 
with age, an expert field trial handler. After the con- 
clusion of this heat the thought of what a' young Irish- 
man once said to me came forcibly into my mind. In 
speaking of an aunt, noted for her excellence as a 
housekeeper, he said: "She could get up a decent meal 
of victuals out of nothing at all." For, aside from her 
very limited range, she had the faculty of doing the inost 
pointing on nothing at all visible, in rapid succession, 
that I ever recollect to have witnessed, making an ex- 
cellent display barren of results. How Mr. McCain 
could state which was the best heat in a competition 
which he left before being finished, can only be credited 
to his great power of imagination, with which his dogs 
and their owner seem to be most bountifully supplied. 
John Davidson. 
[We desire to call Mr. Davidson's attention to the 
