A history and description of the modern dogs of Great Britain and Ireland. Sporting division .. online

THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA

PRESENTED BY

PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND
MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID



MODERN DOGS.
SPORTING DIVISION



A

HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION



OF THE



MODEEN DOGS

(SPORTING DIVISION)



OF



GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND,



BY



RAWDON B. LEE,

n

KENNEL EDITOR OF "THE FIELD," AUTHOR OF THE HISTORIES OF

"THE FOX TERRIER," "THE COLLIE," ETC.



THE ILLUSTRATIONS BY ARTHUR WARDLE.



LONDON :

HORACE COX,

FIELD " OFFICE, WINDSOR HOUSE, BREAM'S BUILDINGS,
CHANCERY LANE, E.G.

1893.



LONDON :
PRINTED BY HORACE COX, WINDSOR HOUSE, BREAM'S BUILDINGS, E.C.



PREFACE.

IN the following pages an endeavour has been
made to summarise the progress, and describe the
varieties, of the dog as they are at present known,
and, I believe, appreciated, in the British Isles.
Without losing any of the early history, my wish has
been to introduce matter bringing the subject up to
date ; not only so far as the work of dogs in the
field is concerned, but as they are found as com-
panions, and when winning, or attempting to win,
prizes in the show ring.

One or two new features have been introduced,
or rather revived, the most important change
being in connection with Mr. Wardle's illustrations.
With two exceptions these are not portraits, although
originally drawn from living examples. They are
to be taken as typical specimens of the various



vi Preface.



breeds they represent. The reasons for this de-
parture from modern custom will be obvious ; and
no doubt, for future reference, such pictures must be
more useful than any portraits of individual dogs
could be dogs whose prominence before the public
is more or less ephemeral.

The exceptions are the drawings of the Grey-
hounds and of the Kerry Beagles. For the former,
the extraordinary work of the two great grey-
hounds, " Master M'Grath " and " Fullerton," could
not be passed over; besides, they form an admirable
example of how two hounds, totally different in
make and shape, can be equally good in the field.
This is the first occasion upon which an illustration
of the Kerry Beagle has been published in a work
of this kind. The drawing that faces page 97 is
taken from a photograph kindly lent me by Mr.
Clement Ryan, of Emly House, Tipperary, and is,
I believe, quite successful in conveying an idea of
what a Kerry Beagle is like.

Following the precedent of other writers, a point
scale is included in the description of each breed of



Preface. vii



dog. This is done, not with an idea that such
figures are of the slightest use in proving the excel-
lence, or otherwise, of any animal, but because
some readers, accustomed to such tables, might
think the book somewhat incomplete without them.

I thank all who assisted in providing subjects for
illustration, and in giving valuable information that
could not have been obtained, except from owners
who have made individual varieties of the dog a
special study. To them I dedicate this work, as a
slight return for their kindness and the interest
they have taken in its publication.

RAWDON B. LEE.

Brixton, London, March, 1893.



CONTENTS.



CHAPTER I.
THE BLOODHOUND



CHAPTER II.
THE FOXHOUND



4I
CHAPTER III.



THE STAGHOUND

CHAPTER IV.



THE HARRIER 81

CHAPTER V.
THE BEAGLE 9I

CHAPTER VI.
THE OTTER HOUND 107

CHAPTER VII.
THE DEERHOUND I2I

CHAPTER VIII.

THE GREYHOUND ....

b



Contents.



CHAPTER IX.
THE WHIPPET . l6 7

CHAPTER X.
THE GREAT DANE ... l ll

CHAPTER XI.
THE IRISH WOLFHOUND iQ5

CHAPTER XII.
THE BORZOI OR RUSSIAN WOLFHOUND .... 207

CHAPTER XIII.
THE POINTER 2 33

CHAPTER XIV.
THE SETTER 2 75

CHAPTER XV.
THE ENGLISH SETTER 2 95

CHAPTER XVI.
THE BLACK AND TAN OR GORDON SETTER ... 327

CHAPTER XVII.
THE IRISH SETTER 343

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE RETRIEVER 369

CHAPTER XIX.
THE SPANIEL V . , 399



Contents. xi



CHAPTER XX.
THE IRISH WATER SPANIEL 409

CHAPTER XXI.
THE ENGLISH WATER SPANIEL 427

CHAPTER XXII.
THE CLUMBER SPANIEL 433

CHAPTER XXIII.
THE SUSSEX SPANIEL 453

CHAPTER XXIV.
THE BLACK FIELD SPANIEL 467

CHAPTER XXV.
THE NORFOLK SPANIEL 477

CHAPTER XXVI.
SPANIELS OTHER THAN BLACK 481

CHAPTER XXVII.
THE COCKER 487

CHAPTER XXVIII.
THE BASSET HOUND 497

CHAPTER XXIX:
THE DACHSHUND 525



ILLUSTRATIONS.



POINTERS AND SETTER Frontispiece.

BLOODHOUND Facing page \

FOXHOUNDS ,, 41

HARRIERS 81

BEAGLES 91

KERRY BEAGLES ,, 97

OTTER HOUNDS 107

DEERHOUNDS . . 121

GREYHOUNDS 143

WHIPPETS ,, 167

GREAT DANE ,, 177

IRISH WOLFHOUND 195

BORZOI 207

POINTER 233

SETTERS (English) . ,, 295

,, (Black and Tan) ,, 327

(Irish) ........ 343



xiv Illustrations.



RETRIEVERS (Curly-Coated) ... . Facing page 373

,, (Flat or Wavy-Coated) . ,, 381

SPANIELS (Irish Water) 409

(Clumbers) 433

(Sussex) 453

(Black) 467

(Cocker) 487

BASSET HOUNDS 497

DACHSHUNDS 525



fpokrtt 035 of drnit



CHAPTER I.
THE BLOODHOUND.

THE origin of the bloodhound cannot be traced
with any degree of satisfaction, but we believe that
no modern breed of dog is so like that progenitor
of his that may have lived three or four hundred
years ago, as is this well-favoured variety. Although
repeatedly used as a cross to improve the olfactory
organs, and the size and strength of other hounds,
especially of the otterhound, he has always had
admirers, who kept him for his own sake because of
his handsome and noble appearance, because he was
a good watch and guard, and because he bore a
vulgar character for ferocity not attained by any
other dog.

The name " bloodhound," or sleuth hound, had
something to do with this, and he always bore
the reputation of being able to find a man, be he

[VOL. I.] B



Modern Dogs.



thief or otherwise, by scent, and either run him to
ground, as it were, or bring him to bay in such a
manner as to make his capture speedy. He does
this without biting or worrying his " human chase "
in the manner writers have often told us he was in
the habit of doing.

The natural instinct of this hound is rather to
hunt man than beast. As a puppy he may put his
nose to the ground and fumble out the line of any
pedestrian who has just passed along the road.
Other dogs will, as a rule, commence by hunting
their master, the bloodhound finds his nose by
hunting a stranger. There are old records of his
being repeatedly used for the latter purpose, whether
the quarry to be found were a murderer or poacher,
or maybe only some poor gentleman or nobleman
whose politics or religion was not quite in conformity
with that of those bigots who happened to be placed
over him.

Early in the seventeenth century, when the Moss-
troopers (but a polite name for Scottish robbers)
invested the border counties of Cumberland, North-
umberland, and Westmoreland, it was found that the
ordinary means of arrest and punishment were
insufficient to stop the raids of the thieves, so special
provision was made that should, if possible, put an
end to their depredations. The Scots were fleet of



The Bloodhound.



foot and active, and it was believed that the
employment of bloodhounds would strike terror
into the hearts of the marauders. The latter
.were to be pursued " with hot trod fragrant
delect, with red hand (as the Scots termed it),
with hound, and horn, and voice." Surely such
a hunt as this would be exciting enough, and
the hard-visaged borderers would have little com-
punction in allowing their hounds to give full vent
to their savagery.

The following is a copy of a warrant issued in
September, 1616, to the garrison at Carlisle, giving
orders as to the keeping of " slough dogs : "

Whereas upon due consideration of the increase of stealths, daily
growing both in deed and report among you on the borders, we
formally concluded and agreed, that for reformations therefor,
watches should be set, and slough dogs provided and kept according
to the contents of His Majesty's directions to us in that behalf
prescribed ; and for that, according to our agreement, Sir William
Hutton, at his last being in the country, and appoint how the
watches should be kept, when and where they should begin, and
how they might best and most fitly continue. And for the
bettering of His Majesty's service, and preventing further danger
that might ensue by the outlaws in resorting to the houses of
Thomas Routledge, alias Balihead, being nearest and next
adjoining to the Marshes (he himself having also joined them
as is reported), order and direction were likewise given, that some
of the garrison should keep and reside in his the said Thomas
Routledge's house ; and there to remain until further directions
be given them, unless he the said Thomas Routledge shall come

B 2



Modern Dogs.



in and enter himself answerable to His Majesty's law, as is most
convenient .... and that you see that slough dogs be pro-
vided according to our former directions, as this note to this
warrant annexed particularly sets down.

The slough dogs to be provided and kept at the
charge of the inhabitants, were as follows :

Beyond Eske, there is to be kept at the foot of the Sarke one
dog; by the inhabitants the inside of the Sarke to Richmond
Clugh, to be kept at the Moate one dog ; by the inhabitants of
the parish of Arthured, above Richmond's Clugh with the Bayliffe
and Blackquarter, to be kept at Baliehead one dog.

Without quoting the whole of the warrant, it
may be stated that six other " slough dogs " were
ordered to be provided and kept at the expense of
the following parishes, one dog in each : Newcastle,
Stapleton, Irdington ; Lanercost and Walton ; Kirk-
lington, Scaleby, Houghton, and Rickarby ; and
Westlinton ; Roucliff, Etterby, Staunton, Stanix and
Cargo, to be kept at Roucliff.

No doubt there was considerable difficulty in
obtaining the levy or tax from the inhabitants to
keep these hounds in condition fit to run down a
man, and not hungry enough to eat him when they
had caught him. In case of refusal to pay their
dues to the sheriff or bailiffs appointed to collect the
same, the defaulters were to be put into gaol till the
amount due was forthcoming. It would be quite



The Bloodhound.



interesting to note whether such imprisonment was
ever enforced. Whether this was so or not, I have
not found any record to show, but it was said that
the hounds proved very useful for the purpose for
which they were provided.

The utilisation of bloodhounds in the above
manner did not escape the notice of Sir Walter
Scott. A King of Scotland, Robert Bruce, threw
hounds off his track by wading down stream, and
thus without touching the river bank contriving
to ensconce himself, squirrel-like, in a tree. The
great Wallace, too, was so sorely pressed by sleuth
hounds that to save himself he slew a companion
whom he suspected, so when the creatures came
up, they remained with the dead man whilst the
living one escaped. Later the ill-fated Duke of
Monmouth, who sought concealment in a ditch, after
his defeat by the Royal troops at Sedgemoor, was
discovered in his ignoble position by bloodhounds.
Happily this was the last battle fought on English
ground, and it seems strange that its cause, " King "
Monmouth, should be so captured by means of a
British hound. In 1795, two hundred bloodhounds
were, under British auspices, landed in Jamaica for
the purpose of subduing a rising of the Maroons.
Fortunately this canine importation struck such
terror in the hearts of the rebels that they at



Modern Dogs.



once laid down their arms and the war came to
an end.

However, long before Sedgemoor and the time of
the border forays the bloodhound was used in this
country. Gratius Faliscus, and Strabo, about the
Christian era, mentioned the importation of dogs of
this kind from Britain to Gaul, and Oppian im-
mortalises in verse the Agassaeos for their exquisite
power of scent and great courage. These big dogs
were obtained from Britain for the ignoble purposes
of war. Afterwards they came to be used for
hunting the stag and other large game, and from
them are no doubt descended many of the fine
hounds, still to be found in the possession of our
Gallic cousins.

Dame Juliana Berners, writing in her " Book of St.
Albans," published in 1486, does not appear to
mention the bloodhound, or sleuth hound, but the
Lemor or Lymer is no doubt the same dog, and so
called because it ran the line of scent, and not, as it
has been asserted, because it was the custom to run
it in a leash. Dr. Keyes (1570), mentions them as
having lips of large size, and ears of no small length.
The learned doctor tells us how these hounds ought
to be chained up in the daytime in dark places, so
that they become bolder and more courageous in
following the felon in the " solitary hours of dark-



f

The Bloodhound.



ness." He likewise describes them as being run
in a leash which is held in the hand of the man
in charge of the dogs. This was to enable the
huntsman, shall I call him, to be up with the hounds
when his services would be required. It seems from
the same writer, that, in addition to hunting the foot-
steps of the felon, these dogs were also trained to
hunt the cattle that might have been stolen, a
purpose for which he says they were much used on
the borders. This may have been so or not, most
likely the latter, for a drove of stolen cattle would be
easy enough to track without the aid of a keen
scenting " slough dog," though he might be able to
be of assistance, should the thief be ambitious to try
the strength and powers of his would-be captor.

From that period down to the present time, the
bloodhound was mostly kept as a companion, and
only occasionally has he been trained to " man-
hunting," to the terror of the poacher and the evil-
doer. For the latter purpose, he has repeatedly
proved of great service, and many stones are told of
the extraordinary power a skilful hound may possess,
in its faculty for sticking to the old scent, however
it may have been crossed and re-crossed by either
man or beast. Colonel Huldman mentions the
capture of some poachers through the instru-
mentality of bloodhounds, who hunted the men fully



8 Modern Dogs.



for five miles from the plantation, in which they were
committing their depredations. Another case is
mentioned, where a sheep-stealer was discovered by
similar means, though the hound was not laid on the
man's track until his scent was at least six hours
old. Another hound is said to have hunted for
twenty miles a fellow who was suspected of having
cut off the ears of one of his former master's horses,
and the scoundrel was captured and treated accord-
ing to his deserts.

The Field had the following not long ago :

In 1854 Tom Finkle, an old superintendent of police,
was stationed at Bedale, in Yorkshire, before the rural force was
established. He was the owner of a bloodhound named Voltigeur.
Old Tom was fond of company, and at that time sat for many a
night in the public-houses along with the farmers and tradesmen.
When he was wanted for anything particular at the police station,
Mrs. Finkle would let Voltigeur loose with, " Go and fetch master,"
and, no matter where " master " was, either in Bedale or the
neighbourhood, the hound was sure to find him ; and the moment
Finkle saw Voltigeur, the old superintendent knew he was
required at the station.

In the winter of 1854, or early in 1855, certain burglars broke
into a house at Askew, and stole a quantity of silver plate and
linen. The burglars, heard by the inmates of the house, had
to decamp rather hurriedly, and a messenger was immediately
sent to the police station to report the outrage. Old Tom was, as
usual, with his companions at the Royal Oak, whilst his wife was
in bed. The latter immediately got up and turned Voltigeur loose,
with the order, " Go and fetch master." The hound was not long
in doing his duty, and Tom, jumping off his seat, said to his



The Bloodhound.



friends, " I am wanted at home," and hurried there as quickly as
possible. His wife reported the circumstances of the robbery to
her husband, who at once called his constable, and saddled
his horse.

The two then started off to the scene of the robbery, and after
visiting the house and learning all particulars, they went outside.
When in the grounds, Finkle said to Voltigeur, " Where are they ?
Seek ' em," and Voltigeur, putting his nose to the ground, took
up the scent and went away at a nice pace, every now and then
giving tongue. The night being calm, Voltigeur's voice was heard
by many. The hound made out the line of the robbers on to the
High-street leading from Boroughbridge to Catterick, and after
going about three miles on the High-street he stopped suddenly
at a small watercourse that ran under the road. The superin-
tendent dismounted and looked under the bridge, where he found
a bundle containing a quantity of linen and silver plate, part of
the proceeds of the robbery. He waited there for a time until his
man came up, then, remounting, ordered his hound on again".
Voltigeur put his nose to the ground, and went back along the
same road he had come for about a mile. Then through a gate
he made his way to an outbarn and buildings.

Here the bloodhound became more excited, and was baying
and giving tongue freely as his owner and his man got up. The
superintendent went to one door, and the constable to the other.
The former demanded admittance, but all was still as death, and
the doors fast. Tom looked about the buildings and found a
crowbar, and was then soon into the barn, where he discovered
two men concealed in the straw. They appealed for mercy, and
prayed him to keep the dog off, and they would yield themselves
up quietly. The prisoners were then secured and searched, and
upon them was found the remainder of the stolen property.
They were taken to Bedale, locked up for the night, next day
brought before the magistrates and committed to the assizes,
where they were sentenced to five years' penal servitude each,
there being previous convictions against them. Voltigeur was of



io Modern Dogs.

the Duke of Leed's strain of bloodhounds, some of which were at
that time kept at Hornby Castle, Yorkshire.

But dog stories, like the yarns of fishermen and
shooters, are apt to become rather monotonous
than otherwise, to say nothing of the exaggerations
that creep into them occasionally. However, the
authenticity of the above interesting account is
beyond reproach, hence it. was deemed worthy of
reproduction here.

Captain Powell, wnriting in 1892 on the convicts
of Florida (London : Gay and Bird), gives some
interesting information as to the dogs used there in
tracking such criminals as may attempt to escape.
He says that, although bloodhounds were first used,
they were found quite useless, and at the present
time foxhounds were used for man-hunting in all
the southern convict camps. These hounds are
trained when young to follow the track of a man
who is sent to run a few miles through the woods ;
and there is no difficulty whatever in so training
them. Indeed, the author tells us that he has had
hounds that were " natural man-hunters/' He gives
an instance where some puppies he was carrying at
the time a convict tried to escape were put on his
trail, and followed it until he was captured. Captain
Powell corroborates what I have already written,
that it is a popular error to suppose that hounds



The Bloodhound. u



attack a prisoner when they run up upon him.
When once the man is brought to bay, they are
a great deal too wary to venture close enough to
their chase to run the risk of a blow ; in fact, they
merely act as guides to the men who follow closely
on horseback.

Some six years or so ago, at Warwick, in 1886, an
attempt was made to hold trials of bloodhounds in
connection with the dog show held there. These
were, however, a failure, excepting so far as they
afforded an inducement to owners of the variety to
give a little time and trouble to working their
favourites, which hitherto had only been kept for
fancy purposes. A little later, similar meetings were
held at Dublin, in the grounds of the Alexandra
Palace, London, and elsewhere, but in no case could
they be called very successful.

I had the good fortune to be present at two
particularly interesting gatherings, that took place
during the wintry weather of January, 1889, and,
maybe, the following particulars, written at the time,
give a better idea of the modern capabilities of blood-
hounds than could be written now. It must be
noted that the hounds mentioned were of the so-
called prize strains, were " show dogs " in the
modern acceptation of the term, and, excepting
perhaps in ferocity, they would no doubt compare



12 Modern Dogs.



favourably with any hounds of the kind that lived
fifty, a hundred, or more years ago.

Readers will no doubt be aware that, about 1889
and a little earlier, considerable commotion had
been caused in the metropolis by the perpetra-
tion of some terrible crimes. The police arrange-
ments were quite futile, and the murderers still
remain at large. The attention of the authorities
was drawn to the fact, that bloodhounds might be
of use to them in such a case. Mr. Hood Wright
offered the loan of his hound Hector, but, owing to
the fact that he required some indemnity in case his
dog was killed or injured, Hector remained at home.

Mr. E. Brough was then communicated with, and
he brought from Scarborough to London a couple of
his hounds, when they had several " rehearsals " in
St. James's Park, where they acquitted themselves
to the satisfaction of the Chief Commissioner of
Police ; but it may be said, that, though repeatedly
the line of scent was crossed by a strange foot,
without throwing off the hound, when the same was
done in the streets and on the pavement hounds
were quite at fault. Indeed, to be useful in tracking
criminals in a town very special training would be
needed, and, personally, I believe that bloodhounds,
even with that training, would be useless in our
large centres for police purposes.



The Bloodhound. 13



Under fair conditions any bloodhound will, in a few
lessons, run the trail of a man a mile or two, or more,
whose start may vary from ten minutes or a quarter
of an hour, or longer. Some of the more practised
hounds can hunt the scent even though it be an hour
old, and we know that a couple of Mr. Brough's
bloodhounds, early one summer's morning, hunted
for a considerable distance the footsteps of a man
who had gone along the road eight hours before.

This is, of course, exceptional, but, with a proper
course of training during three or four generations,
there is no reason to doubt that bloodhounds would
.be able to reliably make out the trail of a man who
had gone three or four hours previously so long, of
course, as his footsteps have not been crossed and
recrossed by others, or foiled in any other way.

That hounds will ever be got to track a criminal,
or anyone else, on the cold, damp flags continually
passed over by pedestrians, as in the streets of
London and other large towns, no one who under-
stands them will believe. Such work they never have
done, and never will do ; nor do the owners them-
selves aspire to such excellence for their favourites
In country districts they may be of aid, but in towns,
so far as appearances are at present, the apprehension
of criminals must be left to the mental sagacity of
the official biped.



14 Modern Dogs.



Bloodhounds might be of use in smelling out any
secreted article or a man in hiding ; but an equally
well-trained retriever, or even terrier or poodle,
would do this description of work equally well.

The bloodhound stands alone amongst all the
canine race in his fondness for hunting the footsteps
of a stranger ; any dog will hunt those of his master
or of someone he knows, and of a stranger, probably,
whose shoes are soaked in some stinking preparation
to leave a scent behind. The bloodhound requires
nothing but the so-called " clean shoe," and, once lay
him on the track, he hunts it as a foxhound would the
fox, or the harrier or beagle the hare.

To proceed with the following description of man-
hunting with bloodhounds:

The storm of Sunday had passed, and how deep
the snow lay in the streets and in the country places
on the Monday, are now a matter of history. The air
was keen and sharp, made so by a brisk north wind
which blew on the Monday morning, when we left
Euston station for Boxmoor, where we were to see
two couples of Mr. Brough's bloodhounds run in the
open country without assistance of any kind, and