206 
AMEEIOAS" AGEICULTURIST. 
[May, 
Dogs and Dog-Shows. 
We believe in Dofj-Shows, because they encourage 
the purer breeding and development of a class of 
most fitting trio in field sports. The depart¬ 
ments for the Spaniels, Beagles, Retrievers, etc., 
have their admirers, while those whose tastes in¬ 
cline them to “ride to hounds,” find numerous 
animals suited to their fancy. Ladies, and others, 
who mainly regard dogs as pets and companions, 
gather in the departments assigned to what are 
called “ Toy dogs.” Here blanketed and shivering 
Italian Greyhounds with their pipe-stem legs,stupid 
St. Bernard, though the true breed is rare and 
costly, is about his equal, and a most useful dog; 
animals which God intended should be most ser¬ 
viceable to the human race, especially to farmers. 
So far from being classed as curs, worthy of general 
extermination, dogs should be regarded and treated 
as farm helpers, capa¬ 
ble of valuable service 
as watchers, destroyers 
of vermin, tenders of 
flocks, etc., etc. That 
they are not generally 
more useful, is the fault 
of the owners. If steps 
can be reckoned as 
money, the dog may be 
made to save these by 
all who have to do with 
cattle and sheep, which 
in any considerable 
numbers are very dif¬ 
ficult to move and care 
for without his help. A 
moderately large-sized 
dog may be made to do 
the churning of a dairy 
of several cows, and 
serve as a motive pow¬ 
er for small machines. 
It is now eight years 
since the dog shows 
were inaugurated in this 
country by the exhibi¬ 
tion here in New York. 
The annual displays 
here have been uni¬ 
formly successful, and 
the number of animals 
competing for prizes 
during this year’s (1884) 
show evinces no abate¬ 
ment in interest. Our 
artist reproduces some of the types of dogs seen at 
the various displays. The tastes and preferences of 
the surging throng of visitors are plainly indicated 
by the departments and sections best patronized. 
Poodles, Pugs, of beautiful ugliness, and, various 
Toy Spaniels and Terriers make up the kennels. 
The breeds of use on the farm attract no little at¬ 
tention in these shows. As a dog of general utU- 
Engravedfor the American Agriculturist, 
ity, excellent enough to watch, and Intelligent 
enough to learn whatever tasks he may be required 
for, and sufficiently heavy to do mechanical work, 
the Mastiff has no superior. The closely related 
for every purpose save for breeding, may be found, 
in a high grade in either of these breeds. As useful 
farm animals, the various breeds of shepherd dogs 
take a high rank, and none are superior to the 
Scotch Colley. Vastly 
more intelligent than 
some two-legged ani¬ 
mals, he can be very 
serviceable at whatever 
work may be required 
of him, and is withal 
devoted to his master. 
Bull dogs and Spitz 
dogs are treacherous, 
especially when old, 
and sometimes need¬ 
lessly savage to stran¬ 
gers. They have many 
useful traits, but these 
are more thau offset 
by their uncertainty of 
temper. In selecting a 
farm dog, weight and 
strength are important 
points. If these are 
united to fair intel¬ 
ligence, and a gentle 
disposition, it makes 
little difference which 
breed is chosen. But 
there are dogs and curs, 
and pure-bred dogs that 
have to bear the sins 
of all these mongrel 
whelps. A dog may be 
valuable if not pure¬ 
bred ; if it be a cross 
between two pure dogs, 
it may unite the good 
points of both. But 
the mongrels, with which the country is filled, 
and which cannot he traced to either parent, should 
have no place upon a farm—or elsewhere. The 
farin dog, to be helpful, should have duties to per- 
Pointers and Setters 
attract mainly young 
men, with a number of 
older persons known as 
sportsmen, who evi¬ 
dently count upon a 
day or two of shooting 
as the first of human 
pleasures, and “man, 
dog, and gun ” as a 
form and possess those 
qualities which will en¬ 
able him to do his work 
well. He should be 
kind to children and 
live stock, and above 
all be strictly obedient 
to his master. Much 
depends upon the man¬ 
ner a dog is trained. 
