The Otterhound - A Dog Anthology (A Vintage Dog Books Breed Classic)

By Read Books Ltd.

This anthology includes chapters taken from each of the following books, all of them written by renowned breed experts of their day. All of the original photos and illustrations are also reproduced. Contains Chapters From: THE ILLUSTRATED BOOK OF THE DOG By Vero Shaw - This rare and desirable work was first published in parts over the years 1879 - 1881 and thoroughly described every aspect of over sixty breeds of dogs. Vero Shaw was a leading authority and editor of dog books and periodicals in the late nineteenth century, but this particular comprehensive work stands as a final testimony to his immense knowledge of the subject. Each breed was discussed in detail. Their physical points, temperaments, and special abilities are given; celebrated dogs are discussed and pictured; and the history of the breed and pedigrees of famous champions are also provided. This classic work strongly influenced the direction of dog breeding in its time and for decades after. Also, THE DOG BOOK By James Watson - First published in London, 1906, in two volumes and limited numbers. Now a rare and much sought after work. Its full title is "A Popular History of the Dog, with Practical Information as to Care and Management of House, Kennel, and Exhibition Dogs; and Descriptions of All the Important Breeds. In Ten Parts." The contents were well illustrated with numerous photographs of leading and famous dogs of that era. James Watson was a renowned authority on all dog breeds and his knowledge is imparted in great detail throughout this famous book. Also, BRITISH DOGS - THE VARIOUS BREEDS. THE POINTS, SELECTION, SPECIAL TRAINING & MANAGEMENT, AND SHOW PREPARATION By W. D. Drury with contributions from numerous authorities. Originally published in two volumes in 1888, but a new edition of 1903 encompassed both volumes. It discusses in great detail over sixty dog breeds with many photographs and other illustrations. The chapters are penned by experts on the particular breeds and this book is now considered one of the finest reference works in the English language. Also, A HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE MODERN DOGS (SPORTING DIVISION) OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND -The author of these three titles was Rawdon B. Lee. He was well known as the editor of "The Field," and also author of the histories of "The Fox Terrier," "The Collie," and other important dog books. The three volumes were devoted to every breed of dog found in Great Britain and Ireland. Every aspect of their history, breeding and management is discussed in great detail. A particular feature of these books were the numerous detailed full page drawings by the famous dog artist Arthur Wardle, which are reproduced here in fine detail.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Read Books Ltd.
• Release date: Sep 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473350830

Book preview

THE OTTER HOUND.

THERE is no finer type of the canine race in this country than the otter hound. His hardy, characteristic expression, shaggy coat, and rough wear and tear appearance, have always reminded me of that ancient British warrior so often depicted in our boyish story books, but who, perhaps, with his coat of skins, his shield, and hirsute face, was the invention of the artist rather than the actual inhabitant of our island.

It has been said that the otter hound is a cross between the Welsh harrier, the southern hound, and the terrier. Perhaps he may be so, but more likely not, for a good well-grown specimen has more coat than any ordinary terrier or the rough Welsh hound, and he is bigger than either, and of the southern hound likewise. My own opinion is that he has been crossed with the bloodhound at some not very remote date. The black and tan colour often appears in some strains, and his voice in many cases resembles the full luscious tones of the bloodhound more than the keener ring of the foxhound. Some twenty years or so ago, Mr. J. C. Carrick, of Carlisle, was desirous of getting a new cross into his hounds, and, with that intention, obtained a hound—a southern hound it was called—from the Western States of America. No pedigree could be obtained, but it was a particularly handsome animal, and more like the picture of the southern hound in Youatt’s book on the dog than anything I ever saw. Mr. Carrick was afraid of the fresh blood, so the Virginian importation did good duty on the show bench in the variety classes instead of demoralising the blood of hounds that was quite as pure as that of any other variety of the dog.

I forget who recommended a cross between a bulldog, an Irish water spaniel, and a mastiff, as the most likely way to produce otter hounds. Certainly an ingenious idea, and worthy of the writer, who thus easily got out of a difficulty which more learned men than he had failed to solve. We have the otter hound, let that suffice, and let his valued strain be perpetuated, and the popular masters of our packs long continue to give the best of all sport to those somewhat impecunious individuals who are not provided with the means to keep a hunter or two to gallop after foxhounds. Forty or fifty years ago otter hunting appeared to be on the wane. Perhaps the rising generation of sportsmen of that era became discontented with the nets and spears that were commonly used to facilitate the kill. Now these cruel appliances are all abolished, and the only resting-place fit to contain them is the lumber room or the museum of some country town. Hounds are so bred that they can, with a minimum amount of assistance, kill their otter unaided, and specially excel in their work during the early part of the hunt, if they are but let alone.

Throw off on the river’s brink, and hounds will soon hit the line of an otter, if one has been about any time within three or four hours before, or may be they will speak to scent even older than that. The olfactory organs possessed by the otter hound have to me always seemed something extraordinary. The cold, damp stones by the water’s edge, or a bunch or clump of grass adjoining, are not the places where scent would lie well. Still there is the fact; a hound will swim off to a rock in mid-stream, put his nose to the ground, sniff about a little, and if the otter has been at that spot, even for only half a minute, that hound will throw up his head and, in a solo so sweet to the ears of a hunter, let all know that he is on the line.

And it was Ragman who never told a lie—can I call him a canine George Washington without disparagement to America’s great president? I have seen foxhounds well entered to the otter, but the rough hounds were always first to own a stale drag. The latter are so much more staid and steady when past their puppyhood; know their work so well, appear to enjoy it too, and take to hunting their favoured game at quite an early age.

It is told of the Rev. John Russell, the great Devonshire sportsman, that, desirous of having a pack of hounds to hunt the otter, he endeavoured to make one. He said he followed the rivers for two seasons, during which he walked upwards of three thousand miles, and never found an otter, although he says he must have passed scores, and he might as well have searched for a moose deer. No doubt; but Russell had foxhounds that had been entered to fox. Now, with even a lot of otterhound puppies quite unentered, he would not have had such long and fruitless journeys; they would have soon hunted something, and if now and then they had run riot on a water rat, a moor hen, or a rabbit, they would have struck the scent of an otter before very long—i.e., if such game were plentiful in the district.

My early experience of otter hunting was much sooner consummated than that of the Devonshire sportsman. We had an otter hound puppy, quite unentered, an old bitch, dam to the puppy, and a few terriers. The second time out we struck a strong scent by the edge of a lovely stream in our north country. Old Rally, who, later on, very often failed to speak, even on a strong scent, now gave tongue freely; her young son put his nose to the ground, threw up his head, and yelled every now and then, and quite as often fell head over heels into the water; the terriers yelped and barked, and evidently thought they were in for a big battue at rats.

The young hound settled down and swam across the pool. Higher, Rally marked under a tree root. An angler hard by prodded his landing-net handle down into the ground; all of us jumped upon the surface, and quietly there dived out a huge otter! And he made his way down stream. Then we had him in a long pool, about twenty yards wide, nowhere more than five feet deep, no strong hovers on either side the bank; but below us was dangerous ground. So a shallow was guarded by two of us, with our breeches rolled up