St. Landry democrat., 1880-09-11

and boast OF 1T, are often not aware
that they are doing their pets inius-
tice, because it may be and often is
the case that their dogs are as well
bred as anybody's, the only trouble
being that their own negligence in
preserving the record Of their breed
ing is the reason why they are not
ranked as blue bloods. Dog-breed-
ing is a very pleasant and inexpen-
sive amusement, and ond of the
easiest things that | know of, to ac-
complish successfully. a man who
pretends to be a sportsman and
SCOTS at it ought to be ranked with
those who prefer muzzlc-loaders to
breech- leaders, or thanksgiving to
sewing-machines.
In England it has been carried to
that point of care and judgment as
to entitle it to be called a science.
Certain breeders have reached that
point at which they breed just what
they want in form, color or any 9th
er popularity, and it often proves as
profitable as it is scientific. The
celebrated dog known as Brewis'
Dash II, was sold some time since
for G4SO, or S240O, and | believe an
American gentleman lately offered
ESQ for Count Wind'em, another
English crack, which sum was re
fused. Throughout the North and
West great sums have been spent
in rearing thoroughbred settlers and
pointers. For example the st. Louis
Kennel Club paid $500, or there
abouts for their pointer dog Faust,
and charge S75 for his services.
Their imported Bow, very fine ami
nal, stands at $50. Mr.. wv. Jack
son, of Opelousas, La, owns two
pointers, dog and bitch, puppies of
Faust and Bow. Mr.. Holabird, OF
Indiana, owns the great Irish setter
Plunllet, and charges $50 for his
services. Mr.. Moore, of Phi!adel-
phia, no doubt reaps good income
from Berkeley, and the Westminster
Kennel Club of New York has goth
cred in bushels of money from their
pointer Sensation. CarloWitz, a dog
in himself worthless, as | atm in
formed, but a pure Laverack, has
brought in a rich harvest to his
owner, and old champion Rupert
and Grouse, celebrated Gordons, III
Ohio, have been big bonanzas to
their owners. | could mention many
other animals bought at high figures
who have repaid their cost III this
way several times over, if space per
mitted.
The whelps Of these animals sell,
when procured from well-bred bitch
es. at prices ranging from SO to
S10O-at two to six months old
and gentlemen Of the best standing
and greatest wealth in the North
never think of giving them away. |
have several times bought pups from
such gentlemen for myself and for
others. ! never pretended to ask
them for them. They were not only
able but more than willing to give
them, for you always find such gen
tlemen more than liberal. 1t was
not from a mercenary motive that
they held them for sale. Such men
have money and they spend it in
this country and in England procur-
ing the finest strains; they import
them, build kennels, employ keepers
and breed dogs that are their pride
and boast. They justly consider
that giving dogs away will run down
the stock of any man who practices
it habitually, and | doubt not the
price paid gives the purchaser a
much higher opinion Of the animal
than he would have had if it had
been given to him or sold for song.
1t is unfortunate that many peo-
pie, especially gentlemen in the ru-
raj districts who take in new ideas
slowly and have been accustomed
to look on dogs as not articles to be
bought and sold, are SO ofish, and
seem to have sort of false pride
about selling dogs. For myself, al
though I never sold one in my life,
/ do not see the difference between
a horse and a dog as a merchantable
commodity, and if l felt perfectly at
ease about selling the pups when
they came, and did not know that
numbers of friends would demand a
pup each as a present, [ should ven
ture upon the breeding Of fine dogs
much more boldly and extensively.
But to breed dogs properly, espe-
cially in town, q considerable ex-
penditure is necessary-an expendi-
ture which gentleman Of limited
means cannot afford to make when
he sees no hope Of returns. And
another very discou-aging thing is,
that a great majority of men who
have gift dogs are ardent enough
for week or a month, and then let
the dogs 60 to the bad, and run down
the reputation of your stock. Not
SO with man who pays for his dog.
He feels constrained to get his mo-
ney back by developing his purchase,
and adds to the reputation of the
man who sold to him by producing
a well-broken dog.
| We have q great many good ma
| tive dogs. / am not all apostle Of
4 ksI,1,rn ,iocIcf r. TT G,,,;th &c I4,,o