Dogs Used in Sport

staghounds—foxhounds—harriers—beagles

The Staghound.—This is not a hound that will require a long dissertation from me. There are but few packs in England which hunt the deer at all, and still less that hunt the wild deer; these are commonly supposed to be the same as were formerly called "Southern Hounds," and as the large tracts of land formerly waste and forest have been gradually brought under cultivation, the places most available for stag hunting have disappeared. They were celebrated for "tongue," and made plenty of music as they followed the windings of the deer, but they were not even moderately fast hounds, and it is a fact, that no very fleet hounds can be musical. Devon, which has always been a great country for sport, has, for many years, kept up a pack of Staghounds, besides others, as we find "Nimrod" states "although the going in that county is about the worst in the world, more hounds are kept in Devon than in any three counties in England. In 1849, Devon possessed eight established packs of Foxhounds, three of other hounds, the Staghounds, and many a 'Parish Pack' kept by subscription." The general run of Staghounds appear, both in shape, style and colour, like large Foxhounds, and are commonly supposed to be formed from drafts from the Foxhounds too large for those packs. The modern Staghound is about twenty-four inches high, or more; they are seldom so level in colour, shape, or kennel likeness, as you see in first-class packs of Foxhounds and Harriers. The Royal Buckhounds are an exception; they are kept in sound condition, and the best matching pack in the kingdom, of the prevailing hound colours, including every marking, except the blue mottle, thought to be indicative of the "Harrier cross." The various colours need not be set out here, nor is it necessary, in a breed so seldom shown, to give the points of excellence more fully than to say that great muscular strength, plenty of bone, courage, excellent scenting powers, and speed, are indispensable, as the quarry hunted is usually in as fine condition as a race-horse, and nearly as fast, often has been out before on a similar occasion, knows the country well, and means giving his pursuers what is vulgarly termed "a run for their money!" Still, it must be admitted, unlike the packs of all nations in the middle ages, the Staghounds of our times are well disciplined and steady, and the stag is more fairly hunted than he was, even in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, so often described, (although I am bound to say I am not included amongst her admirers) as "Good Queen Bess!"

The Foxhound.—I do not propose to go very deeply into the history of this well-known and highly popular breed, or enter into its supposed origin, about which there is so much difference of opinion. When one remembers the great number of packs of Foxhounds in the United Kingdom, supported either by private enterprise (like that of the late lamented Duke of Beaufort, K. G., who, for such a number of years, bore the burden of providing sport, over a large area, in the West of England, four and five days a week throughout the hunting seasons; in later years so ably seconded in his efforts by his son, the present Duke,) or by subscription, we cannot fail to recognise the fact, that this breed of dog has done much to keep sportsmen in touch with each other in our land, been the means of circulating a vast amount of money in a great many directions, and had a very important influence on the breeding of Hunters and Coverhacks, for which the United Kingdom holds such a high reputation. Beckford, who has been considered one of the highest authorities on hunting, says:—"Without taking upon me to describe what requisites may be necessary to form a good Prime Minister, I will describe some of those which are essentially necessary towards making a perfect Huntsman; qualities which, I will venture to say, would not disgrace more brilliant situations, such as clear head, nice observation, quick apprehension, undaunted courage, strength of constitution, activity of body, a good ear, and a melodious voice." In speaking of the Foxhound, he goes on to say, "If he is not of perfect symmetry, he will neither run fast, or bear much work," and describes him as follows:—"Let his legs be straight as arrows, his feet round, and not too large; his chest deep, and back broad; his head small, his neck thin; his tail thick and brushy; if he carries it well, so much the better. Such young hounds, as are out at the elbow, or weak from the knee to the foot, should never be taken into the pack. I find that I have mentioned a "small head" as one of the necessary points about a hound, you will please to understand it, as relative to beauty only, for as to goodness, I believe large headed hounds are in no way inferior. As to colour, there is much diversity of taste; very often the head and ears are of a brilliant red, or fallow, with a white mouth and lips, and a streak of white, technically known as a "blaze," down the head, a white collar and chest, more or less black markings in blotches, or a saddle on the body, and part of tail, white legs and belly. The rich colour on head has a pleasing effect, and if the cheeks are tan-marked, and there is the white "blaze" before mentioned, it gives a light character to the head, or, if orange is mixed with, and under, the black markings, such would form "almost a perfect combination of true hound colouring." I may, fitly, conclude my few remarks on this interesting breed with the following description of the desired points: The head should be light, airy, sensible, and, at the same time, full of dignity; it should have a certain amount of chops, and the forehead slightly wrinkled. The neck should be long and clean; the least looseness, or throatiness, is fatal to appearance. Where it joins the head, it should be fine, gradually widening to the shoulders. A long neck is most important, in the breed, as helping the scent, whereas, a short neck, not only would impede action, but pace, also. The ears should be close to the sides of the head and be set on low. The shoulders, long, and sloping gracefully. Chest deep, and not too narrow. The elbows well let down, in a line with the body. The forelegs well clothed with muscle, "straight as darts," strong in bone from elbows to feet. The ankles, or pasterns, must neither turn in, or out, nor stand back and should be strong and large. The least tendency in the feet "turning out," is most destructive to endurance and pace, if any deviation from the straight line, they should rather turn in. In shape, they should be round, not flat, or fleshy. The divisions, between the toes, should be apparent. The soles, firm, hard, and very enduring. The back must be straight, wide, and muscular. The loins strong, square and wide, with deep, not flat, back-ribs. The hindquarters, very strong and muscular, with wide appearance from behind, long as well as large. Straight hocks, rather out than in, with strong, short bone from hock to heel. The stern should be gaily carried, should end in a fine point, little feathered, but not actually smooth, strong at root, gradually tapering to tips. Black, white and hound-tan, is perhaps the best colour. When the black is very prominent, and the tanned markings slight, the hounds are said to be "black and white." When the colours are mixed, they are said to be "pied." Hare, badger, red, tan, and yellow-pies, are the best, in that order of merit. The coat should be dense, although smooth and glossy. The well-shaped foxhound seems, owing to his well-proportioned frame, much smaller than he really is. When thoroughly and closely examined, his beauty and fitness for the work he has to perform, and the immense amount of speed, strength, courage, and endurance, he so often requires, will be fully appreciated by the observant spectator, even if he cannot be strictly classed amongst "Sportsmen."

The Harrier.—While I am writing these lines, I have not the statistics before me, but I am certainly under the impression there are not so many packs of Harriers in the country as there formerly were. The name of "Heirers," or Harriers is known to have been given to hounds used for hare hunting in the time of King Henry V., but they were also, occasionally used for hunting deer! Before this, the same hound was known as the Brachetis, or Bercelettus, the diminutive from the word "Brache." The breed, in a more or less coarse form, has, undoubtedly existed for "ages," and it is thought by many, that it is more likely Foxhounds were derived from it, than that it was the other way about. The same colours are found amongst Harriers as with his larger and more numerous comrades, but usually, for some reason, not disclosed, more of the "pied," (particularly the hare-pied, yellow and white, shaded with black or grey on the back or saddle) and the sort of dapple, or freckle, generally termed "blue mottle," is thought to be peculiar to Harrier blood, and that, when it makes its appearance amongst any other of the hounds, it shows a cross of "Harrier blood," somewhere in the strain! This colour is often accompanied with hound-tan markings on head, and black patches on body, although the latter do not conduce to the beauty of the specimen. Some of the packs of Welsh Harriers, which for scenting and working qualities, are very hard to beat, are so versatile, that it is said they will "hunt anything with a hairy skin," unless they are broken from it when young, and I have heard of a pack, in the Principality, which regularly hunts hares, until Fox hunting begins, when the "Green Coats" are exchanged for "Pink," and they take up the pursuit of Reynard, as to the manner born! The height of the Harrier is a matter of taste. "Stonehenge" puts it at under twenty inches; probably the average is about eighteen inches. A well-known sportsman in Dorsetshire, in 1871, speaks of the pack belonging to the late Mr. T. B. Evans, of Chettle, near Blandford, which he considered the best he had ever seen, and consisted of bitches fifteen and a half inches, combining the blood of the packs of Messrs. Wicksted, Hurrell, Boughley, and Sir Vincent Corbet. He goes on to say, "The education of this pack is marvellous; rabbits are frequently left to feed in the kennel, and occasionally, I am told, coupled to any reprobates of the pack, to shame them from molesting them! I have hunted with these hounds, and have had the very great pleasure of seeing them handled by that supreme master of his art. I have seen these hounds pass by rabbits, as Pointers would go through a poultry yard. I have watched them as they spread, like a fan, when they were picking out a cold scent, the worthy master sitting quietly on his cob, and when they recovered it, seen them stream away, with voices "like a Peal of Bells," and as close together as a flock of pigeons! I have observed how they followed all the hare's doublings, and with the true Harrier instinct, cast back, when in perplexity, never "babbling," skirting, or puzzling over other stains, but, carrying on the line, until they pulled down their game, sometimes even, after a forty-five minutes burst. Many sportsmen complain in the present day that Harriers are becoming too fast to do their work properly, and that, this has arisen from crosses with Foxhounds, the original variety, being thought to date back to the old "Southern Hound," more remarkable for their great powers of scent, and hunting quality, than for pace.

Beagles.—This is another breed which is yearly gaining in popularity and is really a miniature hound, of which there are two varieties, rough and smooth, differing only in texture of coat, and these are subdivided again into different heights, ranging from under sixteen and over twelve inches to under twelve and over ten inches, which latter are often called "Pocket Beagles." The skull should be fairly long and wide, slightly domed, with well defined "stop;" short and tapering muzzle; open nostrils and largish nose; thin long ears hanging folded; soft large eyes. No dewlap, but muscular neck, rather long, deep chest, for size; muscular thighs; well boned and straight forelegs; round, cat-like feet; stern carried gaily. Regular colours of Foxhounds, whom they resemble in many ways, coat flat, dense, and close. These are quite picturesque little creatures, and I have known them kept as pets and companions, but, of course, they are supposed to be used for their work as Sporting Dogs only, great numbers of them being kept in different parts of the country, and hunted as packs, most of their followers being on foot, and often accompanied by some of the sportswomen of their districts, as their pace is not so impetuous as that of their larger brethren. Frequently they call forth a considerable following in the parts they travel over, and many cricketers and others ("Dr. W. G." amongst others), who desire to keep "in condition" during the "off season," habitually attend the nearest meets of Beagles as an agreeable form of "training."