The Russellville Democrat

A CHAPTER ON DOGS.

It does not follow that a dog which looks well on dress parade will act well in the field. It is desirable, however, to combine good looks with good nose and a disposition which will yield to the trainer's art. There are a great many dogs of fine pedigree in the country, which, for practical purposes, are not worth the powder and shot necessary to kill them. We recall the experience of one gentleman, which points a moral, if it does not adorn a tale.

Three years ago he had shipped to his shooting box in the northwest a red-and-white setter pup, a perfect beauty in form, boasting of a pedigree which comprised some of the most desirable strains in the world. The pup was reared with the greatest of care, and he had the benefit of the best of training. But, in a country full of game, he learned nothing. The poorest cur in the land could not have behaved worse in the field. He always overran his birds and put them to flight before the hunter got near him, and as for obeying the word of command, why, you might just as well have shouted at a post. He was untractable, and had no nose. He was an excellent bench show dog. His looks and his breeding would have recommended him to any one who pretends to be a judge of canine points. In November last the red-and-white setter was doomed. He exhausted the patience of his owner and was ordered to be shot. Two years ago the same gentleman carried to the northwest with him a brace of Gordons. They were the produce of a famous kennel, and their ancestry was praised as being without a flaw. Their sire as well as their dam had won prizes in bench shows. The dogs were in-bred, but that was pronounced the proper thing: they were all the better for it. In the field these Gordons gave rise to the keenest disappointment. They lacked nose and had no constitution. Miles Johnson tried his hand on them, and found he could do nothing with them. At the end of six weeks they were condemned as worthless. Last fall the gentleman in question made his third experiment. He expressed to his shooting box a brace of lemon-and-white setters. They were of famous stock, and as handsome in appearance as a dream. Well do we remember the parlor parade at his house on Fifth avenue, before the trainer took charge of them. They were in splendid feather, and their rich coats had been washed, combed and brushed until they looked like satin. A dainty blue ribbon heightened the tone of each silver collar, and cologne water had been sprinkled in the hair. The ladies went into raptures over them, and old sportsmen swore that their equal had never been seen. When tried in the field these handsome, well-bred dogs acted so poorly as to cover their owner with mortification. They were indifferent hunters, and so timid that you could never depend upon them. Drive them ten miles out upon the prairie, and then release them from the wagon and motion them forward, and seven times out of eight they would strike a bee-line for home. One of the best trainers in the country tried to break them of this shyness, but he did not succeed. The dogs are now held on probation. They will be given another trial the approaching summer and autumn. It would gratify us to be assured that the experience of this gentleman is exceptional. But we doubt it, for the reason that we could name a good many who have sought diligently and found not, who have purchased fashionable strains only to meet with the bitterest disappointment. The moral to be drawn is, when you have a good working dog, do not trade him off for an untried one, who has good pedigree and good looks to recommend. Those who breed for the market will have to put their dogs to more thorough tests. Mere bench show winners will not answer. Merit will have to be established by practical work, by trials in the field.—Turf, Field and Farm.