MERITS OF BIG DOGS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 234, 1 July 1939, Page 6 (Supplement)

MERITS OF BIG DOGS

The merits of big dogs, as compared with the toy breeds at present fashionable, are extolled by a writer in the London "Times.”

Dorothy Osborne, whose “Love Letters” give a delightful domestic picture of England under the Commonwealth, once begged Sir William Temple to get her an Irish greyhound, which we now call wolfhound. There being no show standards in her days, it was stature that excited her admiration. •

"Whomsoever it is that you employ he will need no other instructions but to get the biggest he can meet with; ’tig 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.” Her letters illustrate-the kinship of human nature throughout the ages. Small pets were as much in vogue then as they are now, but Dorothy did not like them. “You cannot imagine how I was surprised to see a man that I had known so handsome, so capable of being made a pretty gentleman . . . transformed into the direct shape of a great boy newly come from school. To see him wholly taken up with running on errands for his wife and teaching her little dog tricks.” Irish wolfhounds were esteemed in those days and for centuries earlier because of their great size combined with speed, by means of which they were enabled to tackle the wolves that infested Ireland and were a nuisance in England.

Their numbers had decreased to such an extent that Oliver Cromwell made a decree forbidding their export from Ireland. One assumes that a friend at Court could be the means of over-riding decrees* or possibly the prohibition came at a later date, for Henry Cromwell was able to gratify the lady’s desire to possess an Irish greyhound. No exact evidence remains to inform us just how big the wolfhounds were then, though the supposition is that those seen at our shows would compare well with them. We have had a few that have exceed-

Wolfhounds And Great Danes

ed 371 n. at the shoulder, and. the general run give the impression of size and strength. Before the war many were exported to the wilder parts of the; earth to chase wolves and even huntbears, besides serving as guards in lone- j ly places. They would be Incomparable j for this duty, because they are tractable ■ and friendly in domestic surroundings, though formidable and fearless to a degree in case of necessity. Our really titanic breeds are these dogs, St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, Great Danes, borzois, deerhounds and mastiffs. Bloodhounds, bullmastiffs, Old English sheepdogs and Alsatians, were also admitted to the show of the Big Breeds Canine Society recently, but they come rather in the intermediate grade. Great Danes have been favourites in England for well over a century. About 1800 Sydenham Edwards described them enthusiastically, specially the harlequin dog, of which he wrote: “Not noisy, but of approved dignity becoming his intrepid character, he keeps his statd in silence. That he is obliged to be muzzled to prevent his attacking his own species or other domestic animals adds much to the effect.” It is no longer necessary to muzzle Great Danes or any of the other giants, for it may be said of them that they seldom abuse their strength. For this reason they make satisfactory companions for those who have the accommodation. They are usually less restless, not given to barking unnecessarily, and their manners are dignified. ■ Unfortunately it is expensive to run a kennel of any of these big breeds, for there is less demand for unwanted puppies, and people are not always disposed to pay a price for them that is in proportion to the outlay. Perhaps it is not surprising that in later years exhibitors have shown a preference for smaller dogs that do not cost as much to take about to shows, do not eat as much, and require less kennel room. Yet the general public who attend shows always make for their benches, admiring if they cannot possess.