The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-03-15
SOMERSET Pa WEDNESDAY MARCH 15 1893
l-he Naming of Dogs.

Dog nomenclature is quite an interest
ing subject, says 8 writer in the Defros
Free Pres. Take, for instance, that favo-
rite canine known as the terrier, name
given the breed from its habit of follow
ing game into burrows in the earth,
which latter In Latin is termed terra By
way Of quick grsdstiOns the word was
metamorphosed into terrier. A skye ter
rier is 50 called because the breed was
once chiefly raised on the island Of Skye,
one Of the Hebrides. The celebrated
Dandy Dinmont terrier obtained its dis
tinctive title from the fact ofits being de-
picted as the fsyorite Of character bear
ing that name in Sir Walter Scott's "Guy
Msnnering" The fox terrier was so
named because it was originally kept as
an addition TO every pack of foxh0unds.
Bloodhounds derive their name from the
possession Of a peculiar power Of scenting
the blood Of a wounded animal. In old
en- times stag hunting was fayorite
amusement of the nobility, and the dogs
used in such sport-part greyhounds and
part observation-disclosures given the name
of staghounds. Fox-hounds, in like man.
neF, we're trained to hunt the willy ami
NAL. VOrious explanations have been
given of the origin Of the term grey
hound, some authorities claiming that
the prefix grey is taken Frltus, meaning
Greek; Others that it signifies great,
while still others say that it has refer
ence to the color of the animal. In no
other breed of hounds is the blue or grey
color 50 prevalent, and consequently the
last mentioned seems the most plausible.
Harriers are chiefly used in hunting
hares in England, while the title beagle,
applied to breed which is an iDveterate
enemy Of rabbits, is probably derived
from the Celtic beag, or bite, or the
Welsh back, signifying little, they being
in reality small species Of hound.
A pointer is 50 called because of its
habit Of stopping and pointing at game
with its nose, while the setter gets its
name from like habit, excepting that
it crouehes instead of standing when
pointing under similar circumstances.
newfoundland dogs we're originally na-
tives Of that country and labrador, from
which circumstance they receive their Ii
tie. In the slme manner the noble So.
Bernards are so called from the famous
monastery Of that name in the Alps
That rather dangerous breed called Spitz
or Pomeranian dogs, a variety of the Es-
quimau, were first bred in Pomerania,
Russia, bat the popular name of spitz
was probably derived from the errone-
Gus notion that they originated in Spitz-
enbergen. Spaniels, of which there are
many breeds, are supposed to have first
come from Spain, from which circum-
stance is derived their distinctive names
Charles /. was an ardent admirer of a
small variety Of this animal, and from
that arose the designation of his pets
known the world over as the King
Charles.
Mastif is the term applied to a very
large and powerful species of the canine
family, and there Is considerable conflict
Of opinion regarding the origin Of the
word. Some claim that il is derived from
the Italian mAstino, or the French mas
tin, both Of which signify large-hmbed.
Others, again, say its true origin is the
old German masten, to fatten, because the
mastiff is large dog and 50 seems better
fed than any other. Poodle is derived
from the German pujel, puddle or
pool. They are without doubt the most
intelligent Of all CANNES. The Shepherd
dOg-called the collie in Scotland, from
the Gaelic cuilean, or puppy-gAins its
title from the fact of its being used to
watch sheep end protect them from ma
rauders of every description As to the
derivation Of the word bulldog it is only
necessary TO state that at one time this
species was exclusively used in bull bait
ing, and from that circumstance arose
the name by which it Is universally
known. A cross between this and the
terrier is appropriately termed the bull
terrier.