The Portland daily press., 1897-10-05
DOG TRAINING IN MlssissLPPl.
coo and $40, 900 Are schooled for Hunt
ing,
IRON the Mobile Register. J

(From the Mobile Register.)
HThe Del Monte kennel in Waverly,
Miss, - said Mr.. Waddell, sis the most
extensive in the world. The reason for it
is that Mississippi is the natural training
centre of the world. There are more
quail to be found in the marsh lands of
Mississippi than in any other section,
and as game is necessary to dog ira ming,
that fact fixes it in this state. The ken
mel is owned by Mr.. George Croker. the
celebrated multi millionaire of California,
who takes gre at interest in dogs. The
man who is not rich cannot afford to
keep up such a business, but as Crocker
has the money to burn, he can keep the
enterprise up in great shape. I am his
agent for its management, a place
would not hold if it was not kept up III
great style. We have control of over
4,C00 acres Of marsh lands, fairly filled
with quail. From this you can see why
dogs bred there can be trained to such
perfection.
"Dogs have now standard value, as
well fixed as that placed upon horses or
cattle. In Del Monte kennel we have
some ofEthe finest dogs in the world For
Minnie l., an English setter, we paid
81 $50. and 81 900 each for the Bette b.
and the Sam T. For Dick Bay, point
er, we paid 81 600, and $4,000 for Dicks
Kid. The Kid is now even a more valua-
BILE dog than his sire, as we have won
many prizes at the field trials with him.
We have in our kennel today $10,0 200
worth of dogs-that Is, they will bring
that much money in the worst kind of
kennel, which explains why it is that
only rich men can afford such luxury"
From this disquisition on the dog Mr..
Waddell turned to the feature of field
trials.
'They are got up,' said he, con the
same idea as horse-racing circuits. The
purpose is to prove the superiority of the
field dog. While there are strict printed
rules by which decisions are to be made,
not much is left to the discretion Of the
judges, since dogs develop unexpected
points, which bring them upon their
game, and which have to be taken into
consideration. From a study of pre-
scribed rules we have to take into ac-
count the action of the dog. / see two
horses exactly alike, for instance, one of
which pick out as the better. Why?
cannot tell you further than that there is
something in his action which denotes
quality, and quality is what tells. 1t is
the same with dogs-some Of which pur-
sue beaten paths in flushing game, while
some are SO specially gifted that they go
to it without tcircumlocution. Why, we
cannot tell, but we must take note of the
fact There is in existence the National
Field Trial Club of America, which is
recognized as authority. Then there are
local and state clubs, composed of the
sportsmen of a certain area, who get to-
gether under certain prescribed rules,
each Independently, but keeping in touch
with each other by meeting and commu-
nication. Under their patronage field
trials have been organized, and the points
therein ascertained are accepted as cor
rect. These field trials have purses for
derbies, or dogs under two years of age,
and for all ages. Entries must be made
six months preceding the trial, with de-
tails, as l have said before, similar to
those which govern horse races.
"These field trials begin in Manitoba,
where prairie chickens are the game, and
where l start off my pups for what you
might call a three months schooling,
which gives them that much advantage
over those which have been kept at home
A second field trial comes off somewhere
in Minnesota in adjacent territory, at the
close of which, the weather getting cooler,
the Trial OF Newton, N. u, DeglnS, Wnen
the location is shifted first to New AL
bany Miss. and then to Tupelo. the
same state, though the last one was held
near West Point This winds up the
circuit, and the judges arc ready to make
up the reports of the competing dogs. In
entering upon the circuit there stands
possible winning to one dog OF 81, 600 in
prizes, but this is never realized. II q
dog should win majority of the prizes,
however, he stands worth 5000"
From dogs worth $4,000 and $1,000
there are thousands that are worth any
where from $3.50 to $500 apiece. In fact.
the trainers fee is 500, SO any trained
dog has to be started off in advance of
that figure. The hunter would hardly be
satisfied with one which had not won the
value of $3.50. There are millions of dol
lars invested in this kind of property
throughout the United States now, all as
a result Of that single dog kennel of 1874.