CHAPTER IX

=The Bloodhound=

For several centuries at least, the Bloodhound has existed as a distinct variety of the canine race. According to Jesse, the earliest mention of Bloodhounds was during the reign of Henry III., and that the breed originated from the Talbot, brought over by William the Conqueror, and very similar to a breed from St Hubert's Abbey and Ardennes, which, according to the old legends, was imported by St Hubert, from the south of Gaul, about the sixth century.

The Talbot was the popular Hound from the twelfth to the sixteenth century, becoming extinct about the end of the last century.

"The Southern Hound, another very old breed, showing many characteristics of the Bloodhound, is difficult to find now in his pure state, although many old packs of Harriers have descended chiefly from Southern Hounds. The best authorities agree that the St Hubert, Talbot, and Bloodhound are all closely allied."

The foregoing is an extract from the _Century_, by E. Brough.

These Hounds were used by Henry VIII. in the wars in France; by the Spaniards in Mexico, and by Queen Elizabeth against the Irish.

One of the most remarkable features of the Bloodhound is found in his abilities to track the footsteps of strangers, but in towns and cities he is quite useless for this purpose.

Within recent years, these Hounds have frequently been employed with the object of tracking a criminal, and in some instances, we believe, with very satisfactory results.

In appearance the Bloodhound has a very stately bearing, and usually of a kindly disposition.

On the hunt their music is deep and bell-like.

Although generally of good constitution, Bloodhound puppies are very troublesome to rear, distemper being the scourge to which most of them succumb.

For the photograph of the beautiful quartet, the author is indebted to Mrs Chapman of Thrapston, and to this lady, and Mr Fall for the lovely picture of the head of Champion Sultan.

The points of the Bloodhound are as follows:--

1. _Head._--This is characteristic.

The skin covering the forehead and cheeks is heavily wrinkled, the more so the better. Reference to the picture showing the head of Sultan shows the remarkable expression in this region.

The occipital dome is high but not wide, and very round. At the top it forms a peak.

The nasal surface, _i.e._, from eyes to nose, is very long, so that from peak to nose it may measure as much as a foot. The brows are prominent; the flews very long--sometimes a couple of inches--and the nostrils large and well dilated.

_Eyes._--Small, hazel in colour, deeply sunk, and should show a great deal of "haw," _i.e._, the _membrana nictitans_, or third eyelid. These features are very characteristic of the Bloodhound.

Long ears, thin, soft to the feel, set on low down, hanging close to cheeks, and meeting, when pulled together, over the nose.

The facial expression ought to appear quick and penetrating.

2. _Legs and Feet._--There must be plenty of bone and muscle here; strong knees; straight and round well-formed, cat-like feet.

3. _Chest and Shoulders._--Width and fair depth are desirable, the shoulder being very strong, the arm also strong.

4. _Neck._--A long neck is essential, and the dewlap should be well developed.

5. _Ribs, Back and Loin._--Well-sprung ribs, with a wide back, of moderate length, and strong loins.

6. _Hind-quarters and Limbs._--There should not be much more than skin, bone, and muscle in these regions. The hocks are strong and coarse. Must not be cow-hocked.

7. _Tail._--Gay carriage as in other Hounds. At rest tail is down.

8. _Coat and Colour._--Black-and-tan. The black hair is generally blended with the tan, and this ought to be of a deep red. Some Hounds are tan-coloured only. Lion colour uncommon, but coveted. The body coat short and hard, but on the ears, and head, fine and soft.

_Height._--For dogs, about 2 ft. 3 in.; bitches, 2 ft. (measured at shoulder).

_Club._--Bloodhound Breeders' Association, particulars of this being given.

THE ASSOCIATION OF BLOODHOUND BREEDERS

(_Founded 1897_)

OBJECTS OF THE ASSOCIATION

1. To foster the interests of the breed generally.

2. To establish a Fund by means of a subscription of 10 per cent. of all money prizes that each member may have won and received, as provided by the Rules.

3. To approach Show Committees with the view of obtaining extended Classification in the Bloodhound Classes.

4. To promote Stakes in connection with the progeny of Stud Dogs.

5. To promote Stakes in connection with the progeny of Brood Bitches.

6. To offer prizes for competition at Shows in addition to those offered by Show Committees.

7. To do everything possible to promote, by trials or otherwise, the training of Bloodhounds to hunt man.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

_Members_

1. The Association shall consist of an unlimited number of Honorary Members and Members, who shall be persons interested in the promotion of the breeding and training of Bloodhounds, whose names and addresses shall be entered in a register to be kept by the Secretary.

_Honorary Members_

2. The Committee shall have power to elect as Honorary Members any persons whose election may be considered beneficial to the interest of the Association. Honorary Members to be exempt from paying the Annual Subscription, and shall not participate in any benefits to be derived from the Association, nor take any part in its management.

_Mode of Election_

3. Each Candidate for Membership shall be proposed by one Member and seconded by another, and the election shall be vested absolutely in the Committee.

_Subscription_

4. The Annual Subscription shall be One Guinea, payable on the 1st of January.

_Members' Prize Fund_

5. Each member shall, during the continuance of his membership, contribute to a fund, to be known as The Members' Prize Fund, 10 per cent. of all money prizes received by him (except out of the Fund) during each year, and won for Bloodhounds at Shows and Trials held under Kennel Club Rules.

6. The Fund shall be closed on the 31st December in each year, and the amount received shall be offered for competition amongst the Members during the year following in such manner as the Committee may deem fit.

7. No Member shall be entitled to compete for prizes offered out of a Fund subscribed for whilst he shall not have been a Member, except as provided by Rule 8.

8. No Member shall be entitled to compete for prizes offered out of the Fund subscribed during the year during which he shall have been elected a Member, unless he shall have, within one month of his election, paid to the Association 10 per cent. of all money prizes previously received by him during that year for Bloodhounds at Shows and Trials held under Kennel Club Rules.

_Members in Arrear_

9. No Member shall be allowed to vote or compete for Association Prizes, or in any way whatsoever enjoy any of the privileges of Membership, whilst his current subscription and any other debts due by him to the Association are outstanding, and for which application has been made.

10. The Committee shall have power to erase the name from the list of Members of any Member whose subscription remains unpaid on 31st day of March.

_Executive_

11. The affairs of the Association shall be conducted by a Chairman, a Committee of five, a Treasurer and a Secretary. All officers of the Association shall be Honorary, and no Member shall be allowed to make the Association a means of private speculation or trade, or to derive money profit through it. The Chairman, Treasurer, and Hon. Secretary shall be _ex-officio_ Members of the Committee.

12. The Executive shall be elected annually, as provided by Rule 22:--_Chairman_, Mr EDWIN BROUGH; _Committee_, Mr WALTER EVANS, Mr H. C. HODSON, Mr ARTHUR O. MUDIE, Mr W. K. TAUNTON, Mr J. SIDNEY TURNER; _Hon. Secretary_, Mr EDGAR FARMAN.

_Annual General Meeting_

13. An Annual General Meeting shall be held in January, for the purpose of electing the officers of the Association for the ensuing year.

_Powers of the Committee_

14. The management of the Association shall be wholly vested in the Committee, which shall have the power to call meetings of the Association, to make necessary bye-laws and rescind the same, arbitrate in disputed matters, the absolute power of the election of Members, and the right to refuse the admission of or remove from the Association any person deemed objectionable. The Committee shall also have the sole power to deal with the funds and property of the Association in its absolute discretion, also to deal with any question or matter not provided for by these Rules, and also elect persons to fill up any vacancy occurring in its numbers. Such elections to be confirmed at the next Committee Meeting, and such persons shall continue in office until the next Annual General Meeting. The Committee shall decide upon the value and nature of the prizes to be offered at the various Shows and Trials.

_Meetings_

15. There shall be a meeting of the Committee as often as deemed necessary--three shall form a quorum. There shall be Meetings of the Members of the Association--five actually present shall form a quorum--in London or elsewhere, as often as the Committee may deem necessary.

_Minutes and Votes_

16. The minutes of the proceedings of all Meetings shall be kept, and the minutes of the last preceding Meeting shall be read at the commencement of the next subsequent Meeting, and be approved and confirmed by vote. Each Member shall have one vote, and the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

_Shows and Trials_

17. The Association shall, if possible, promote and hold such Shows and Trials as the Committee may deem expedient, and either in or without connection with any other Exhibition, as the Committee may direct.

_Disbursements_

18. All expenses incurred by the Secretary, Treasurer, or other Member of the Committee, or by any Member for or on behalf of the Association, on the authority of the Committee, shall be defrayed out of the funds of the Association.

_Report and Audit_

19. An Annual Report, with a statement of the financial position of the Association, shall be drafted by the Retiring Committee, and presented at the Annual General Meeting.

_Withdrawal from Membership_

20. It shall be competent for any Honorary Member or Member to withdraw from the Association on giving notice of his intention in writing to the Secretary, but any Member leaving the Association shall remain liable for all subscriptions not already paid, including that due for the current year, and shall not be entitled to receive back any money he may have paid to or on account of the Association during his Membership, or have any claim against the Association, except under Rule 18.

_Expulsion_

21. Any Member violating the Rules and Regulations of the Association for the time being in force, shall be liable to be expelled by the Committee; and any Member of the Association who shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Committee to have in any way misconducted himself in connection with Dogs, Dog Shows, or Trials, or to have in any way acted in opposition to the fundamental rules and principles upon which the Association has been established, or in any other manner which would make it undesirable, in the opinion of the Committee, that he should continue to be a Member, shall be requested to retire from the Association, and if a resolution to that effect shall be carried by a majority of the Committee, the Member so requested to retire shall thenceforth cease to be a Member of the Association, as if he had resigned in the usual course, and shall not be entitled to have any part of his Annual Subscription for the current year returned to him, and shall remain liable for all arrears of subscriptions unpaid and any dues owing, but before any such expulsion or request to retire, the Member shall have an opportunity of being heard in his defence.

_Election of Committee and Officers_

22. The Chairman, Treasurer, Hon. Secretary, and Committee shall be elected annually. Their election shall take place at the Annual General Meeting, and be by ballot. Only Members of the Association shall be eligible to hold office. Nominations shall be sent in to the Secretary, seven days prior to the Meeting, of gentlemen whom it may be deemed desirable to elect; and Members of the retiring Committee shall be eligible for re-election without nomination.

A Member shall not give more than one vote for any one candidate, and must vote for the full number of vacancies.

_Notices_

23. Notices of the convening of any Meetings may be inserted in the _Kennel Gazette_, _Field_, _Stock-Keeper_, _Our Dogs_, _Kennel News_, or such other similar publication of which due notice is given to the Members, and that shall thenceforth be deemed full and sufficient without notice in writing.

_Service of Notices_

24. A notice may be served by the Association upon any Member, either personally or by sending it through the post in a prepaid letter addressed to such Member at his registered place of address.

25. Any notices, if served by post, shall be deemed to have been served at the latest within twelve hours after the same shall have been posted, and in proving such service it shall be sufficient to prove that the letter containing the notice was properly addressed and put into a post-office letter box.

26. As regards those Members of the Association who have no registered address in the United Kingdom, a notice posted up in the office or residence of the Secretary for the time being shall be deemed to be well served on them at the expiration of twelve hours after it is so posted up.

=Irish Wolfhounds=

The present breed of Irish Wolfhounds appears to be the outcome of crossing the Deerhound with the Boarhound, though several centuries ago this variety of dog was said to be in existence, and employed, as its name indicates, for hunting the wolves in this and his own country.

The extermination of wolves in these countries would naturally account for the decadence of the Hounds hunting them.

Be this as it may, the present type of Hound is a fast and powerful dog, and, we should judge, would prove to be quite equal to his earlier representatives.

In colour these Hounds are red, brindle, fawn, grey, black, white, etc., and have a rough, hard coat on body, head and limbs, the hair under the jaw and over the eyes, being long, and wiry in texture.

_Weight_, _height_ (proportionate), and powerful build are essentials, and should be one of the principal aims of the breeder.

Dogs ought not to be less than 31 inches, and bitches 28 inches. In weight, the former ought to scale 120 lbs. and bitches about 100 lbs.

_Head._--Must be long, of medium width above the eyes, and the muzzle long and pointed.

_Ears._--Small.

_Neck._--Ought to be well curved, long, and deep.

A deep chest, wide brisket, and long, strong back and loins, together with a long curved tail, having an abundance of hair upon it, are qualifications for a typical specimen.

_Fore-limbs._--Strong, big-boned forearms, straight and carried straight, ending in large round feet and strong claws, are essentials of beauty in these regions.

_Hind-quarters._--To be clothed with well-developed muscles--weakness in this respect being a fault--having a long second thigh, and hocks low placed.

In many respects the Irish Wolfhound resembles the Russian Wolfhound, our own Deerhound and Greyhound, though it is a more massive animal than any of these, but like these Hounds, built upon racing lines, though of the heavy-weight class.

The Irish Wolfhound Club watches over the interests of the breed.

=The Greyhound=

From representations upon Egyptian monuments, etc., the Greyhound has been shown to have been in existence for three thousand years at least, and, according to Holinshead, was introduced into Britain some time during the third century. The first record of any coursing club in this country is said to be that founded by Lord Orford in Norfolk, during 1776.

The modern Greyhound is vastly superior to those of the ancients, if the old prints are faithful representations of these fleet-coursing thoroughbreds.

Although the Greyhound hunts by "sight," he is by no means "devoid" of hunting by "scent," as the Foxhound, Otterhound, etc. Misterton, winner of the Waterloo Cup in 1879 (63 lbs. weight); Coomassie, winner of the Waterloo Cup twice (weight 42 lbs.); Master M'Grath, winner of the Waterloo Cup three times (54 lbs.), and Fullerton (65 lbs.), winner of the Waterloo Cup three times and a division of it the fourth time with his kennel companion, may be said to have been the grandest quartet of Greyhounds ever gracing the course.

To enter into a detailed account of the Greyhound would be quite outside the title and scope of this work, therefore the author will only give a brief outline of some of the more important points of these fleet-footed Hounds, which are as follows:--

_Head._--This should be long and narrow, wide between the ears and low between the eyes. The head of a bitch is of finer mould. Lean jaws.

_Eyes._--Penetrating and full of animation.

_Ears._--Elegantly carried and small.

_Neck._--Very important. Must be long, strong, very supple, and, above all, graceful. A high degree of flexibility is indispensable.

_Fore-quarters._--Shoulders must not be over-loaded with muscle, but a great degree of obliquity is a _sine qua non_.

Arm, long, ending below in a strong elbow joint.

_Fore-arm._--Very long, strong, and should consist of little beyond bone, muscles and tendons. It is in this region, particularly, that the Greyhound excels in beauty. Must be as straight as a line from elbow to knee, and, above all, well placed in relation to the parts above and below.

The forward position of the fore-limbs are a striking feature of the Greyhound, giving a minimum of weight to carry in front.

_Long oblique pasterns_, and compact hard feet are points of great importance.

_Hind-quarters._--Strength, width, and a great degree of flexibility are necessary in this region. Weak, or soft muscles destroys a Greyhound's speed, turning and staying power.

First and second thighs must be long, and well muscled.

The oblique position of the second thighs constitutes the main beauty in this region. Their backward curve joins the hocks in such a manner as to give the greatest possible leverage on the long, strong, pasterns and feet below.

The angles of the hocks are very acute, and, in relation to the body, placed very far back.

If a Greyhound has not typically formed and well-placed hind-quarters, he will never make his mark as a runner.

_Chest._--Most certainly should be deep, but not wide.

If a greyhound is not well-hearted he is no good for speed, or endurance.

Flatness of ribs, especially towards the keel, is advantageous.

_Tail._--Long and tapering.

_Coat._--Of medium texture, neither too coarse, nor too fine.

_Colour._--Unimportant. A good Greyhound may be any colour.

Our illustrations are from photographs kindly lent by Mrs Dewè of Ringmer, and Mr Eyers of Blandford.

The Whippet

The Whippet may be described as a miniature Greyhound, and is judged much upon the same lines. The chief use of these little dogs is that of racing on a course, and for rabbiting, also as a snap-dog. It is rather singular, but miners, etc., are remarkably fond of Whippets, and the Lancashire and Staffordshire towns contain a lot of this breed.

This variety of canine flesh resulted through crossing a Greyhound and Terrier.

The best time of the year to breed Whippets is the spring, so that the youngsters will have the whole of the summer to develop in.

For general purposes, from 15 to 18 or 20 lbs. is the most useful weight, and of either whole, or mixed colours. Fawn, bramble, blue, red and white are very common ones.

_Coat._--Should be fine and close.

_Constitution._--Must be sound (otherwise a Whippet is not the slightest use), and the chest of good capacity, _i.e._, the dog ought to be well-hearted. A long, lean, finely-chiselled head (wide between the eyes), and flat on the top, with bright, expressive eyes, and small rose ears, are essentials.

Shoulders should have a good slope; the neck long, clean, and inclined to be straight, not arched, as stated by some authorities.

_Fore-limbs._--These must be as straight as a line; have good bone, be long, have well-developed muscles, and well placed in relation to the body.

The shoulders long, the arms long, forearms very long, and pasterns long, but proportionate.

The loins are very important features in a good Whippet. This region should show strongly-developed muscles, be slightly arched, passing in front on to a broad and square back.

Front ribs to be well rounded and long; the back ones short.

_Hind-quarters, Tail, and Feet._--If a racing dog is poorly developed in these regions, he is no use for the purpose. The outlines of the individual muscles ought to be plainly seen.

Long first and second thighs are a _sine qua non_ in the Whippet. Both width and strength are necessary. Well-bent stifles and strong hocks equally essential. Feet round, and well split up.

_Tail._--Long, tapered, and nicely curved.

_General Appearance of the Whippet._--A smart, racily-built, active-looking dog, of various colours, having a deep chest, narrow waist, and long, beautifully modelled, muscular extremities.

SECTION D

=Mixed Hounds=