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National Geographic : 1919 Mar
Contents
THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE by using the remnants of half a dozen other breeds that enough material was found of which to make him. When he comes up to you for the first time, you'll probably laugh at him; but don't laugh too long; there'll be tears in your eyes if you do. For this quaint creature who looks as if he had borrowed from friends everything he has on, including his tail, has such an honest face, such a charming expression, and such a dignity of manner that he'll win your sympa thy and your respect before the first smile of amusement has left your face. As a water dog, he is generally regarded as superior to any other member of his family, though most spaniels take kindly to the water. Formerly quite a popularly known dog for sniping and ducking, the old Irish water span iel seems to have been almost entirely aban doned, and few are now seen in this country. Perhaps the uses to which he was put are more satisfactorily met by the setters and retrievers, both of which are stronger and heavier and can equal him in work in the water. The type of this breed should weigh about 50 pounds and be of a uniform liver-color. The coat is quite long and tightly curled, but by no means woolly. It is long on the crown, but the face, front of hind legs, and most of the tail should be clothed in short, soft, rather dull hair, giving the appearance of having been clipped. It is very different in appearance from the land spaniel of the cocker type, being in shape and size not greatly unlike the poodle, but dif fering much from this breed in texture of coat and in the perfectly smooth face. In disposi tion it is like both the poodle and the spaniels generally-kind, affectionate, playful, and bright, but showing a strong tendency to be a little aloof with strangers. They have also a strong trend toward obesity in age, when they become heavy, untidy, and decrepit. CLUMBER, FIELD, AND COCKER SPANIELS (For illustration, see page 227) These rather closely related dogs may, like the setters, be considered each in relation to the others. The dumber is the largest, weighing up to 65 pounds, though the average is probably about 50. He is perhaps best described as a very low, heavily built English setter, all white except for lemon or orange ears and eye patches, with ticking of the same on forelegs and as little as possible elsewhere. He is a benign, affectionate creature and very sedate in manners. As a gun-dog, he is used in England on woodcock, snipe, and other lowland birds, but he has never been much used or bred in this country. The soft, deep eye shows consider able haw in mature dogs. The coat should be almost perfectly straight, and the tail, belly, and legs, down to the hocks, should be full feathered. The cocker is the smallest of the three and is an active, playful, intelligent little dog, which takes on the spaniel dignity rather later in life than the dumber and the business-like field spaniel. He gets his name, "cocker," from the use to which he was bred in hunting woodcock. They are easily trained to fowling, being already predisposed in scenting out and flushing grouse-like birds (including the do mestic hen). This tendency is taken advantage of and developed, to force grouse up into the trees, where they are easily shot. The cocker rushes his bird and then barks and keeps it busy and preoccupied. If the hunter himself flushed the game, it would go far and probably not again be seen. The cocker should weigh from 18 to 24 pounds. In color he may be black, red, liver, or lemon, with or without white. These colors should be clear and pronounced, not pale or washed out, and if predominant over white should be virtually solid, the white being re stricted to a mere dash on the chest. If white predominates, the color should be solid on ears and face, except for the fore-face and a blaze up the .nose. In this case, color should be dis tributed about as in the English setter. The ears, while long, silky, and set low, should not reach beyond the nose when drawn forward. The legs must be strong, straight, and of good bone and not too short, and the squarely built body hard and muscular. They are admirable house-dogs, but when kept as such should be rather sparingly fed and kept in good trim. A fat spaniel is not an attractive object. The field spaniel is much larger and stronger than the cocker, but not so restless. He is, however, more active and lively than the clum ber. While not so thoughtful-looking and se date as the latter, he is highly intelligent, good natured, and obedient. His body is long and low, but he carries his head with an air of courage and determination. His coat is straight and silky, and his color may be solid black, solid liver, liver and white, black and white, black and tan, orange, or orange and white. The black and the liver are the colors preferred. The proper weight is from 30 to 45 pounds. NEWFOUNDLAND (For illustration, see page 226) Two dogs which rival the Eskimo in their ability to endure deep snow and extreme cold are the St. Bernard and the Newfoundland, both of which have become famous as savers of life. Both are well-known subjects of the poet and the painter, who delight to record their heroic deeds or their simple fidelity. The Newfoundland has the further unique distinction among dogs of being figured on a postage stamp of his native land. He is a won derful swimmer and is credited with saving many people from drowning. It is a real pity that this noble, useful, and typically American dog should have lost popu larity to such an extent that now he is almost 221
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