Running Dogs - Or, Dogs That Hunt By Sight - The Early History, Origins, Breeding & Management Of Greyhounds, Whippets, Irish Wolfhounds, Deerhounds, Borzoi and Other Allied Eastern Hounds

By Tony Read

A fascinating selection of early writings on the running dog or sight hound. Two hundred well illustrated pages deal with history, origins, breeding, management, sport, showing, etc. Most of this compilation dates from the early 1900s and is sourced from first editions of rare dog books of that period. Breeds discussed are The Greyhound and Allied Eastern Hounds - The Whippet - The Borzoi - Deerhounds - Irish Wolfhounds - Prairie Longdogs - etc. Many of the earliest dog books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing many of these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Mar 23, 2011
• ISBN: 9781446546291

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DOGS THAT HUNT BY SIGHT

GREYHOUNDS, IRISH WOLFHOUNDS, DEERHOUNDS, SALUKIS, AFGHAN HOUNDS, BORZOIS

THE GREYHOUND

Origin and History.—The running dogs, those that pursue their quarry by sight, probably have a more ancient form than the slower hounds that hunt by scent. The tradition that greyhounds were brought into these Islands by Celtic tribes in their progress from the East to the West is not to be dismissed lightly, as it seems to be as feasible an explanation as anything. We are told that the Celtic population reached us in two streams, one from the neighbouring Gaul and the other from some country east of Gaul by way of the North Sea, and by the end of the fifth century or beginning of the sixth, external invasions had ceased. That dogs of the greyhound shape existed in the days of the Pharaohs is apparent, and I should think it more than likely that the Near East was the original home of all members of this family. Be that as it may, there is indisputable evidence to show that the greyhound was here in the time of Canute, whose forest laws imposed heavy penalties upon any individual who kept one if he were possessed of less than £100 a year in land.

The price of one was assessed at six score pence in the year 948 A.D., and several centuries after, greyhounds were accepted in payment as money by the king for the renewal of grants and in the satisfaction of fines and forfeitures. One unfortunate was compelled to pay to King John a fine of 500 marks, ten horses and ten leashes of greyhounds. We have no evidence to say if these dogs were identical with the modern greyhound, but as we approach more nearly to our own times, there is no doubt about the matter. A hunting picture by Gerard Honthorst painted in 1631 contains three greyhounds which might have belonged to our own period.

Coursing.—Coursing is a much older British sport than fox hunting. The first rules for the conduct of public meetings were drawn up by the Duke of Norfolk in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It is usually stated that the first meeting of which a record remains was that which took place at Swaffham in Norfolk in 1776 on the initiative of Lord Orford. Turbervile’s Booke of Hunting makes it clear, however, that meetings were held in 1576. Turbervile gives a special chapter of his own on coursing, because the French author whose work he was translating had nothing to say about it. After describing the methods followed he added: And for the better deciding of all these questions, if it be a solemn assembly, they use to appoint judges which are expert in coursing and shall stand on the hillside whither they perceive the hare will bend, to mark which dog doeth best, and to give judgement thereof accordingly: some use when their greyhounds be both of a colour to bind a handkerchief about one of their necks for a difference. I like the old author’s peroration with which he ends this chapter: Whereas in hunting with hounds, although the pastime be great, yet many times the toil and pain is also exceeding great: and then it may well be called, either a painful pastime or a pleasant pain.

Coursing is now under the control of the National Coursing Club, which was established in 1858. I could gossip for hours about incidents in connection with the Waterloo Cup meeting, which is named after the Waterloo Hotel, the proprietor of which promoted an eight-dog stake in 1836. The numbers were increased until in 1857 it became a sixty-four-dog stake. The meeting, which usually takes place in February, has on rare occasions had to be postponed until a later date on account of the state of the ground. In 1929, for instance, a prolonged frost made it impossible to hold the meeting before March 13th.

Greyhound Racing.—Merely as a matter of history it is necessary to make some mention of greyhound racing, which has been so popular since it was introduced into this country from America in July of 1926. The first meeting took place at Manchester on July 24th of that year. In my passion to get at the root of things, I managed to discover that this form of sport really had its origin in England as far back as 1876. A contemporary account in The Times of September 11th, 1876, describes some races, having a mechanical hare as their incentive, which took place in a field near the Welsh Harp at Hendon. For a distance of 400 yards on the straight a grooved rail had been laid down in the grass, upon which an artificial hare was attached to a rope, I believe, and propelled by a windlass. Although the recent innovation was not liked by coursing men, there is no doubt that it had the effect of enabling them to sell their unwanted puppies at far more remunerative rates than had previously been possible.

Greyhound racing has now become so general throughout the Kingdom that the principles upon which it is conducted are well known. Within a short time of the first track being opened in Manchester by the Greyhound Racing Association, the sport spread to London, and the evening meetings at the White City were soon crowded to excess. At the end of 1927 the Greyhound Racing Association Trust, Ltd. put its shares upon the market with a capital of £1,000,000. By this time meetings were being promoted in other towns, and it was felt that a controlling body that would licence tracks, register dogs and deal with abuses, was necessary. So it was that the National Greyhound Racing Club was started in 1928. A few unauthorised meetings are still held, but it is to be hoped that in time all will come under the cognisance of the Club. The interests of clean sport demand this. I do not say that shady practices are common at the unauthorised meetings, but it is obviously desirable that all races should be under the control of a body that commands general respect. Greyhound racing, of course, merely encourages speed in dogs, the other faculties that enable greyhounds to succeed at coursing not being brought into play, but it evidently appeals to masses of the population who can spend their evenings in watching dogs chase the electric hare at an almost incredible pace.

It has often been urged that the popularity of coursing was attributable in a large extent to its cheapness, but the man who has ambitions for the higher honours does not find that it is by any means inexpensive. It is true that poor men have occasionally purchased a dog for a few pounds with which they have won the Waterloo Cup, but after all, that is a chance matter and bears no relation to the cost of keeping up a kennel. The saplings, as young greyhounds are called, that are whelped on or after the first of January of the year in which the season of running commences, have to be put out to walk, the charge for which may vary from 5s. to 7s. 6d. a week. By the time they are returned to their kennels in February of the year following their birth, they will have cost from £10 to £15. A big man will probably breed from twenty-five to forty saplings a season, each of which will certainly have cost him £15 altogether by the time they come in from walk. The inevitable outbreak of distemper will reduce their numbers considerably, and others have to be discarded as worthless. Before leaving the subject, let me explain that a young greyhound in its first season of coursing is a puppy.

Description.—The greyhound is essentially a symmetrical dog, perfectly adapted in shape for the sport in which he is used. The greatest criticism that can be offered against the modern dogs is that too many of them are deficient in stamina. They may have the pace and cleverness, a combination of which makes the perfect coursing dog, but in many cases they have not the physique that enables them to stand up creditably after one or two gruelling courses. In the hope of remedying this defect, Mr. Dunn of Alnmouth, Northumberland, then a prominent courser, in 1911 resorted to the drastic expedient of introducing an Afghan Hound cross, for which he had the sanction of the National Coursing Club. The reasons for his decision were set out in a letter that he sent to me in which he said:

I consider our present class of greyhounds deficient in determination and stamina, and by crossing with the Afghan I am in hopes I shall be able to improve the breed of our dogs, as he is noted for endurance. The feet of the Afghan are much stronger and better and protected by hair, which enables him to run on hard and stony ground without injury. . . . I prefer him to the Borzoi, as he has a good, strong, level back and grand loins. . . . By the cross you will perceive I expect to get better and stronger feet and greater endurance, which I think you will agree with me is needed, as they have sadly changed for the worse the last fortyorfiftyyears. In former days it was thought nothing to run a dog four courses a day, but now after running two you see owner and trainer quite anxious for a division.

My impression at the time, which has been strengthened by further experience, was that Saluki blood would have been better for the purpose, these dogs probably being faster than the Afghans and smoother in coat. They have shown us in recent years that, though they have not the speed of the Greyhound, they can stand up better to a stout hare that gives them a long course.

It does not matter whether a coursing dog is handsome or the reverse so long as he can do his work efficiently, but show Greyhounds, naturally, are selected entirely for their appearance, and it has come about, unfortunately, that the two are really distinct, although to all intents and purposes the show dog should be constructed on lines similar to those of the worker. That they are peculiarly graceful and handsome is beyond question. The outline is very pleasing, and the ideal dog should have sloping shoulders, a fairly long body in which the ribs are carried well back. The loins should be slightly arched and well tucked up underneath. The dog should have a deep brisket and well-sprung ribs. The front legs should be perfectly straight, having shortish pasterns, the feet being well formed and with thick pads. In the hind-legs there is great length between the hip and the stifle joint, which should be well bent, the hocks being powerful and well let down. Although in a working dog preference would probably be given to one of medium weight, in a show dog a little more size makes many more attractive.

I think I should be perfectly right in saying that the majority of our best show dogs have sprung from Cornwall, where there are many keen breeders. It may be that the milder climate enables them to attain fuller development, or, on the other hand, possibly the explanation is that the Cornishmen are cleverer at the game.

THE IRISH WOLFHOUND

Origin and History.—This is the biggest dog of the greyhound form we have; indeed, he is beyond dispute the tallest of the canine race. In recent years there have been authenticated instances of several dogs exceeding thirty-seven inches in shoulder measurement. Several of them have gained this extraordinary height by the possession of straight hocks and stifles, but I have seen some that have been beyond reproach.

All are agreed that the breed is of ancient descent, but unfortunately no evidence exists to tell us what was the appearance of these old dogs. There is no doubt that they had great size, but we do not know with so much certainty whether their coats were rough or smooth. The author of Quo Vadis considered it no anachronism to introduce Irish wolfhounds into the Roman arena, where they vied with mastiffs in tackling lions, but as we come down the ages, it is difficult to disentangle historical facts from romance. The hound Gelert, famous in poetry, was presented by our King John to Llewellyn, a Welsh prince, somewhere about the year 1210, and Irish Wolfhounds appear as supporters on the arms of ancient Irish kings, with the motto, Gentle when stroked, fierce when provoked. Edward III brought some from Ireland to help in exterminating English wolves, and such was their fame that they were occasionally sent as presents to foreign monarchs.

We shall be safe in assuming that by Cromwell’s time they were growing scarcer in Ireland, for he made an order prohibiting their export. Presumably this, in common with most similar decrees, was capable of evasion, for in reading the Love Letters of Dorothy Osborne, I find her begging her lover that:

when your father goes into Ireland, lay your commands upon some of his servants to get you an Irish greyhound. I have one that was the General’s, but ’tis a bitch, and those are always much less than the dogs. I got it in the time of my favour there, and it was all they had. H(enry) C(romwell) undertook to write to his brother Fleetwood for another for me; but I lost my hopes there. Whomsoever it is that you employ, he will need no other instructions but to get the biggest he can meet with; ’tis all the beauty of those dogs, or of any, indeed, I think. A masty is handsomer to me than the most exact little dog that ever lady played withal.

Apparently Sir William Temple was unable to comply with her wishes quickly, for at a later date she writes again:

I must tell you what a present I had made me to-day. Two of the finest young Irish greyhounds that e’er I saw; a gentleman that serves the General sent them me. They are newly come over, and sent for by H. O.

You will observe that Dorothy laid stress upon size.

The complete extinction of wolves in Ireland somewhere at the beginning of the eighteenth century had the effect of diminishing the wolfhound population, which gradually grew less and less until it had almost disappeared. That a few remained by the middle of last century seems to be tolerably well established, and a turning point in their history came in 1862 when Captain George A. Graham addressed himself to the task of reviving the breed. Getting together such specimens that he believed to be pure as he was able, he crossed them with the deerhound and from this beginning sprang the noble dogs that are familiar to us to-day.

When I first became acquainted with the breed towards the end of last century, Mr. I. W. Everett of Felixstowe had then one of the leading kennels, and though his other contemporaries of that period have fallen out, he is still going strong. Until after the War there was no great demand for these dogs, the principal market being in the Dominions or foreign countries, where they were prized on account of their immense strength and their ability for tackling wolves, coyotes and other marauding animals. Since the War there has been a considerable accession to the ranks of breeders, among the most prominent of whom have been Mr. J. V. Rank, Mrs. Nagle, Captain Hartland-Rowe and Mrs. D. le B. Bennett in partnership, Captain Hudson, Dr. H. R. Fisher and others.

Standard Description.—The description of the dog formulated by the Irish Wolfhound Club, of which Captain Graham was the first president, states that: the Irish Wolfhound should not be quite so heavy or massive as the Great Dane, but more so than the deerhound, which in general type he should otherwise resemble. Of great size and commanding appearance, very muscular, strongly though gracefully built, movements easy and active; head and neck carried high; the tail carried with an upward sweep with a slight curve towards the extremity. It lays down that the minimum height and weight of dogs should be 31 inches and 120 lbs.; of bitches, 28 inches and 90 lbs. To-day, however, these limits are considerably exceeded. I should think that more show dogs stand 36 inches at the shoulder than below that height.

Head.—The head is long, the skull not too broad with a very little indentation between the eyes, muzzle long and moderately pointed, ears small and greyhound-like in carriage. Body.—The neck is rather long, well arched, very strong and muscular without dewlap; chest very deep and breast wide; back rather long than short with arched loins; shoulders muscular and sloping, elbows set closely to the body. Legs.—Forelegs straight and strong with plenty of bone; thighs muscular, second thighs long and strong as in the greyhound, and hocks well let down. Feet.—Feet moderately large and round. Tail.—Tail long and slightly curved, of moderate thickness. Coat.—Hair rough and hard on body, legs and head. Colour.—Recognised colours are grey, brindle, red, black, fawn, pure white, or any other colour that appears in the deerhound. Soundness both in front and behind is a matter of the greatest importance, and it is worth mentioning because the reverse is one of the most prevalent faults, although the improvement that has taken place is very noticeable.

Size and soundness are dependent upon rearing as well as breeding, which is a subject that may be dealt with more suitably in the appropriate chapters.

THE DEERHOUND

Origin