Fanciers Journal And Poultry Exchange Vol 1

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ISBN 13 : 9781332260737
Total Pages : 602 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (67 download)

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Download or read book The Fanciers Journal and Poultry Exchange, Vol. 2 (Classic Reprint) written by and published by . This book was released on 2015-08-05 with total page 602 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from The Fanciers Journal and Poultry Exchange, Vol. 2 The Dachshund, Teckel, or German Badger Hound has of late been "working up" for a separate class at competitive shows, and we really think he should be accommodated, for it is very certain he is getting a great favorite in this country, and is fancied and bred almost exclusively by the upper ten. We believe the Prince of Wales was the first to go in for the breed in this island, and the Eoyal kennels now possess specimens as good, or probably better, than any in the Fatherland. Whether the Dachshund is an animal we are likely to derive any benefit from as a sporting dog it is difficult to say, but as an illustration of the extent to which man can twist nature it is a most interesting variety, and as deserving of perpetuation as the Bull-dog, the Toyterrier, or the Pug. Formerly, we believe, they were used almost entirely for hunting the badger, but are now employed in Germany and France in a similar manner to our own rabbit beagles. As an auxiliary to the gun, they are particularly suited to the dense forests of Germany and France, where a sure nose and a slow foot take a higher place in the sportman's consideration than a fleet foot and an indifferent power of scent. The Dachshund in external appearance is certainly one of the most extraordinary of all the known varieties of the canis familiaris, and if it is taken up and made anything like so fashionable a hobby as the Fox-terrier, the Mastiff or the Pug, there is no telling to what lengths of canine extravagance or distortion he may not arrive. In appearance this hound looks like a strange admixture of the Terrier, the Bloodhound, the Bull-dog, and the Beagle, but, strange to say, he does not show much likeness to either. Like most other breed of dogs, the head is the chief consideration. It must be long, straight, and narrow down to the muzzle, but should run rather broader at the end of the snout; fiews moderate, ears medium in size, thin, soft in texture, set on low, and falling close to the cheek, but set rather square in front, barrel round and cloddy; body long. and back slightly arched. The neck should be thick, and the eyes neither too large nor too small. After the head, the most important properties lie in the legs and feet, which are crooked as rams horns; indeed, it is no easy matter to describe the standard of excellence on this point, and we cannot do better than refer to our illustration in which theO Kthing is very cleverly portrayed. It will be noticed that they are exceedingly big in bone, out at elbows, in at knees, and the muscles well developed. We cannot say that we think these crooked legs a beauty in any breed. Au coniraire, we consider it an exaggerated deformity originating from rickets, that is now fixed in the breed, like the short face of the Pug or the pendulous ears of the hound; but so it is, and as we find him so must we speak of him. His color is generally an exceedingly brilliant black-and-tan, but some capital red specimens are shown at times. The coat is of much greater importance, however, than color, and cannot be to short, soft, or bright; we have seen Dachshunds exhibited this season that would, in this respect, compare favorably with the daintiest toy that ever adorned a lady's lap. The average weight of these curious little hounds is sixteen pounds, bitches rather less; and the height ten to eleven inches; while the chest is little more than the length of a "snipe's nose" from the ground. The following notes are from a gentleman who owns and exhibits some of the best Dachshunds in this country; and we have been favored with a promise of an article from Mr. Fisher, which will doubtless prove interesting to admirers of this variety: "The number of these dogs in England has probably trebled within the last few years, and is still increasing largely. This popularity is not to be wondered at, when we consider that from their great