Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-08-27
To Breed Better Dogs.

The recent organization of the Nir
ginla Field Trials Association is the
launching Of movement which is
receiving the heartiest commentator
among sportmen IN every section of
the State. Field trials have never
been held in Virginia under strict
rules. though there are owned in
the Old Dominion MANY of the most
famous dogs in all the country. The
sportmen membsrs of this orraniza
tion arr "i the truest type. being men
~ II" l",e the gun aud field. and are
authorities upon hunting dogs.
This association had it's origin in
Richmond aud now has established
headquarters in the city with view
tn making success of the nndrrtak
ing. BYLAWS governing the TRIALS
have been adopted, aud while a ,nm
mittee from the organization has i'm
charge the matter of decreasing ITS
membership another Is casting about
t"I suitable territory here the trials
may 5e held. The trials will br hrla
some time between November l5 and
December 10. Among the places
now under consideration are brakes
Branch, IN Charlotte county; Buffalo
Springs, and splendid tract of country
near Blackstone.
To decide between tn 81 and others
which NAV Toe offered committee
will visit the different sections. taking
Into consideration the abundance of
game. hotel and livery accommoda-
tions in forming this decision.
In the bylaws of the State Asso
clat.on a departure has been made
from the national rules in that all
dogs will Lr required to retrieve.
This Is not usual, but nt meeting
of the executive committee this re-
qulrenent WAS decided upon.
MIR. Charles 5. Cooke, of the Real
Estate Trust Company, of Richmond.
aud secretary of the State organiza
ton, Is u wnst enthusiastic Sportman
and dog owner.
To th' average Sportnan the name
iield trial has no meaning, because he
does not understand what field trial
L., aud the subject is given less atten-
tion because it pertains to dogs; a
name which carries with it all kinds
of -four footed beasts of the canine
family, but there are good dogs and
there are bad dogs; there are cheap
dogs and high priced dogs. This
article has to deal with the latter.
The field TRIALS of the present date
are ran under very strict rules, rules
that have been studied, aud in time
have become practical instead
of mere theory. First class field
trials should be conducted with Just
IA much business management as the
racing of horses or conducting IA
horse show, cattle show, poultry show
and other exhibitions of this charac-
ter. There is no sport more exhil.
iratlng or exciting than that of run
nlng u field trial with high class dogs.
La order that one may get some idea
of what IA field trial is. will give Won
little idea OF how they ale conduct.
ed.
In the first place. after All organ
lzatioh of sportSmen is formed the
first thing to do is TO appoint com
mi,tce to investigate different local.
ties and select grounds fitted for the
purpose. These grounds must
comprize from ten thousand to fifteen
Thousand acres, we'll water and open
and easily ridden over on no sebaok
They must contain p!enty of birds
so as to give the dogs plenty of
game. In selecting the grounds, it
is also necessary that they should be
located near to some good town where
hotel and livery accom modations
could be had, MS everybody rides on
horseback, or in buggies to and from
the trials. Then it is necessary to
select competent judges, usually
three in number, men that know
sowethiny about what is required of