Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-01-27
WORLDS BIG DOGS
TALLEsT ON RECORD WAS THIR-
TY-FIvE INCHES HIGH, AND
HEAVIEST 234 POUNDS.

TALLEST ON RECORD WAS THIR-
TY-FIvE INCHES HIGH, AND
HEAVIEST 234 POUNDS.
The weights and dimensions of big
dogs are. from some cause or other,
subject to great exaggeration, almost
as much so as is the case with the cap
lures of certain anglers who desire to
obtain the credit of exceeding what
has been accomplished by some fellow
disciple of the gentle craft. 1t is not
easy to understand why the dog should
be made the victim of such methods,
for, not being such a perishable COM
modify as the fishers prize, the oppor-
tunity is always there to arrive at the
truth of the statement. "A dog as big
as a donkey" is quite a usual term to
use when an owner or admirer of some
st. Bernard or Great Dane is expatiat-
ing upon the merits of his favorites,
and travellers have repeatedly told us
in similar words of gigantic dogs they
have been seen during their peregrina-
lions in foreign countries. We need
scarcely point out here that no dog has
yet been produced which is as big as
an ordinary-sized ass, whose measure
ments at the shoulders would be from
10 to ~ hands. which means from 40
inches TO as inches
SO far as is known. the dog has not
yet been born which stands even SO
inches at the shoulders, and many ami
mails whose owners have claimed for
them a height of yard have, when
put through careful measurement, been
proved to be nearly half foot below
the standard which had been made for
thnun his ncnarfal1T~ r11ofslrad OF
the first show held by the Great Dane
Club in 1885 In the grounds of the
Ranelagh Club near London. Sundry
great dogs exhibited here, which bore
the reputation Of being a yard or more
in height, under fair measurement
dwindled away terribly, even TO less
than 30 inches, while the biggest
hounds in the lot were Reginald Her
bert's Leal and NJ. Riego's Cid Campo
ador, which were 1914 inches and 3316
inches in height at the shoulders re-
specively. Since that time we have
seen a bigger Great Dane than either
and possibly the heaviest, too Of his
race which as appeared in this coun-
try. This was a.dog belonging to Wood
ruffe Hill, called Moro, his height
carefully measured, being "a inches
and he weighed 100 pounds.
The rGeat Dane must not. however
be taken as the tallest and heaviesf
variety of the canine race, an honor
which undoubtedly rests with the dos
of st. Bernard. Some writers in the
olden days, about the Irish wolfhount
have claimed for him extraordinar,
height, but hitherto they have failed
to produce proof Of their statements
and it is extremely probable that III,
Irish wolfhound of today is bigger ant
even more powerful dog than the his
torical creature usually coupled will
Ireland when she had king of her owl
to rule her. There are, we believe. a
the present time three or four Irisl
wolfhounds which in height exceed b.
trifle the measurements given in con
nection with Great Danes. Angelo
Goth III, stood "a inches at the shoul
ders; Mr.. Trainers Thuggum Thu wa
Of equal height, and we fancy that Mrs
Williams handsome couple of hounds
Dermit ashore and Wargrave, With
trihe approach that figure, while G..
Crisp's O'Leary, benched at the lates
Kennel Clubs show, went close up {
S4A inches at the shoulders. Perhar
the finest, If not actually the TALES
Irish wolfhOund seen during the pre-
ent generation appeared as Islington ]
1888. Colonel Carriers Merlin, whicl
though not fully furnished. weighed Il
pounds and stood "a inches at Il
shoulders. The chances are he woul
have grown had he lived, but. like
many other good young dogs, he fell
victim to disease developed at the e.
hibition in question. Owing to h
somewhat graceful and slim build. q
Irish hound is not a heavy dog, seldo
exceeding the weight OF Merlin.
The bloodhound and the Newfouul
land are sometimes placed under II
category of big dogs but both fall sho
in height and weight when plac,
alongside other equally popular vari
ties. Then we have repeatedly been to
stories of the great size of the mastil
of Thibet the height and weight
which were, It was said. only exceed,
by their ferocity. Specimens have be,
occasionally imported to this count
and did not reach even 4 hundu
pounds in weight, and travellers WI
have seen them in ticir native cou
try have told us that the biggest spet
mems are inferior in size to our Ne,
foundlands. The borzois or Russi,
wolfhounds are. as a rule. pretty tn
the largest OF them coming 10 to abo
80 inches at the shoulder, but
weight they are far behind many 9th
varieties, about seven stones Of fou