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Dogs Of The British Islands. The Spaniels
Dogs Of The British Islands. The Spaniels
Dogs Of The British Islands. The Spaniels
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Dogs Of The British Islands. The Spaniels

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A fascinating illustrated discourse on the Spaniel breeds as known in 1870. Contents include historical information on: The Field Spaniel - Sussex Spaniel - The Clumber - Norfolk and mixed breeds - Cockers - English Water Spaniel - Irish Water Spaniel - King Charles Spaniel - Blenheim Spaniel.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 13, 2016
ISBN9781473358140
Dogs Of The British Islands. The Spaniels

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    Dogs Of The British Islands. The Spaniels - Stonehenge

    –FIELD AND WATER SPANIELS.

    THE FIELD SPANIEL.

    THE Spaniel has been recognised as a distinct variety for many years; and in all probability he was well known in England long before the Wars of the Roses. About the year 1555, a Duke of Northumberland trained one to set birds for the net; and soon afterwards the setter was produced, either by selection, or by crossing the talbot hound and spaniel. In Berjeau’s Book of Dogs, published by Mr. Hotten of Piccadilly, we have facsimiles of engravings by Israel van Mecken (1482), and of Urs Graf, better known by the name of Gamberlein (1507), and after him of Martin de Vos (1579). From these we learn that the spaniel was well known and bred in their day; and Londerzeel (1586) furnishes us a proof that setting or pointing was known in his time, and that the larger spaniel or setter was used for the purpose. Indeed, before his day, dogs were trained to set, and were of the spaniel breed; for one (rigid and cataleptic as the modern setter) is depicted in an engraving by Hans Shaneflein (1520).

    Field spaniels are classed in two primary divisions, from their size, the larger being called Springers and the smaller Cockers. Springers again are subdivided into the Sussex, Clumber, and Norfolk, besides a great variety of strains unnamed and more or less resembling some one or other of these. The chief varieties of cockers are the Welsh and Devonshire, resembling each other in colour, but there are a host of others of all sorts of colours in various parts of the country, and notably the black breed of the late Mr. F. Burdett, which now is in the possession of Mr. Bullock.

    In former days beating coverts with men was the exception, not the rule, and both springers and cockers were in great request, carefully bred, and easily obtained. But the modern system so reduced the demand, that they have been almost forgotten. The dog shows, however, have of late years brought out a few good specimens; and besides this, it has been found that the spaniel, if well broken and temperate, is a very killing dog, even for partridges, in cases where, owing to the modern system of cultivation, pointers and setters cannot act.

    THE DOGS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS.

    The following, among other letters on the Improvement of the Breed of Spaniels, have lately (1871–2) appeared in THE FIELD.

    IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED OF SPANIELS.

    SIR,—It has often occurred to me that, though the breeding of pointers and setters has of late years undoubtedly received an impetus—mainly owing, I believe, to dog shows, by which these breeds of dogs have wonderfully developed and improved—the breed of spaniels has remained in statu quo. Why is it? It cannot be from the inutility of the spaniel, as it is one of the most useful dogs we have, and certainly the most affectionate and companionable; and yet, when you look at the mongrel exhibited year after year, I ask again, why is it?

    Pointers and setters can only be used for a short time in the season, not much after August and September, whereas you can get sport with spaniels during the whole season; and really there is no shooting so charming to a sportsman as that over a well-broken team of busy, hard-working spaniels. But where are they to be got? As a friend remarked to me lately, a good spaniel is nearly as scarce as the dodo. You hardly ever see a good pure-bred spaniel exhibited; they are nearly all crossed with the Irish water spaniel, to get length of ear, to which point the breeding of all spaniels has been sacrificed; and in consequence we get a leggy, curly brute, with his stern stuck up in the

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