The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-03
HUNTING WITH DOGS.
How the Greyhound Displays Its STRAIT 9,
and Intelligence.

HOW the greyhound displays Its Strategy
and Intelligence.
The greyhound is becoming popular
dog in America, and coursing clubs are
being formed throughout the country,
dogs being imported at great expense.
In certain regions of California the hare
exists in myriads, and the ranchers keep
the greyhounds to run them off, so it is
natural that Californians should believe
that they have some of the fastest dogs
in the country. How fast can they run?
A good greyhound has been known to
run four miles in twelve minutes. "Sillx"
has caught hare within one hundred
and fifty feet of the start, and as for
''Mouse," now fat and heavy, have run
the fastest horse could find against her,
and she was always just ahead, looking
back as if to say: ''Why don't you come"
The pace of the dogs is illustrated by
| the fact that two of them when running
in vineyard came into collision; light
| and slender as the animals were, one
dogs neck was broken and the other
hound was seriously injured. Sass
Coursing is by no means new sport.
ANU JILL 10 IL OH O1o EhS 11oh- OuSVOut,
but even in the ancient carvings of
Thebes we find the greyhound. Among
the ancients, chasing the hare with
| these dogs was considered noble sport,
for the greyhound has an aristocratic
mien, and is the type of refinement and
culture among dogs. True coursing
differs materially from the methods of
the hunt described, and often degener-
ates into sport carried on simply for
gain. 1t was first organized as a sport
by Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, in the
time of Elizabeth, and the old rules are
to some extent followed in England to-
day. In these the various efforts of the
dogs in turning the hare count, and num-
bers of dogs contest, one with another,
to finish. In America coursing clubs
rarely, if ever, run the dogs in narrow
Enclosures, as it is thought unsportsman-
like not to give the hare every advan-
tage. Certainly such is the spirit of the
| sport in Southern California.
| The hare runs as fast as the dogs, but
rs he lacks their endurance he takes
them up slopes and over rough country,
displaying great cunning. One hare,
which have chased number of times,
invariably ran in wide circle, finally
| leading the dogs among the rocks and
escaping in thick grove. This little
| animal is indebted to me for much exer-
| else, and have no doubt he enjoyed the
| running. The hare being smaller and
| lighter can turn more quickly, and the
| best dog is the one that can most adrOit-
| ly meet these quick changes of direc-
| ton. The pack is rushing along when
| the hare suddenly turns at a right angle;
poor dogs overrun and take wide turn
and, before they can recover, the hare is
far away. Still, good dog will lose but
little. Once my dog had almost caught
hare, when the cunning little animal
darted to tree and began to run around
| it in a circle, while I stopped and
| looked on. Mouse could not make the
turns so quickly, and apparently soon
became dizzy, for, as the hare ran off,
| she came to me very much embarrassed
at my laughter. Another time I saw a
Jack turn suddenly, dodge Mouse's snap
at him, and dart between her legs and
away.
The greyhound running by sight alone,
shows remarkable sagacity in following
the game, leaping into the air, as we
have seen, looking sharply about, and
using it's intelligence in a marvellous
way. When hare is caught, he is
killed instantly and tossed into the air,
the other dogs recognizing the winners
rights and rarely making an attempt to
touch the game after the death.
Besides being shapely and beautiful,
the greyhound has both courage and af-
lection. 1t will run down a deer or
wolf as quickly as hare, and is fero-
cious in its anger with large foe.
My dogs are remarkably affectionate
and intelligent, extremely sensitive to
kindness or rebuke. The moment the
house is opened in the morning, Mouse,
If not forbidden, rushes upstairs, pushes
open my door, and greets me as if we
had been separated for months. Then
she will dart into my dressihgroom and
reappear with shoe, or a leggin, if she
can find it, and present it to me, wag-
ging her tail and saying plainly: "Come,
it's time to be up; a fine day for MANI
AHO uod1H VI CHo udro Is HOG COHSlu-
cred an important feature, the pleasure
being derived from watching the move
ments of the dogs, their magnificent
bursts of speed, the turns and stops,
their strategy in hundred ways, and
especially from the enjoyment of riding
over the finest winter country in the
world.-C. F. Holder, in st. Nicholas.
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