The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-01-17
THE NAMES OF DOGS
FROM WHENCE THE VARIOUS BREEDS
DERIVE THEIR TITLES.

Difference of Opinion as to the
True Origin of the Term Grey
hound-The Popular Name of Spitz
Is Founded on nm Error.
Few people would imagine that the
popular black and tan, every terrier in
fact, owes its name to its habit of fol-
lowing game into burrows in the earth,
which has terra for its Latin equiva-
les+-Fhe word in the course of time
gradually became metamorphosed into
terrier.
The island Of Skye is responsible for
the designation of the "Skye" breed of
terriers, inasmuch as at one time 1t
was almost exclusively raised there. 1t
is not difficult to trace the origin of
Dandy Dinmont" as a title for GER
tain celebrated breed Of terriers, the
original of the type having been de-
picted by Sir Walter Scott as the IA
vorite of a character bearing that
name in his Guy Mannering."
The fox terrier was SO called owing
to its having been at one time an ap-
pendage to every pack Of foxhounds
In many cases 1t Is still considered
necessary adjunct. The little fellows
are always up within a minute or two
of running to ground and assist In no
small way In the capture Of the fox.
The derivation Of the term blood
hound" Is fairly obvious. In ancient
and indeed in comparatively recent
times these dogs were employed in the
exercise of their peculiar power of
scenting blood both Of men and anil
! mails. Once put upon the trail they
will hunt the quarry to the death, sell
| dom II ever deviating from their
course.
Not long ago there was a great trial
Of man hunting by b!oodhounds in the
criminal catching interest, but the idea
is repellant and, 1t may safely be said,
will never become popular.
When In olden times stag hunting
prevailed as a favorite amusement of
the nobility and gentry. the dogs used
in the sport-part greyhounds, part
oodhounds-were given the name of
staghounds. In like manner fox
hounds trained to hunt the "knave of
| pellation from that fact.
There Is a learned dispute as to the
| true origin of the term greyhound.
| some authorities insisting that the pre-
tx grey" is derived from 'graicus."
meaning aGreek." while others claim
that 1t signifies great" still others
| saying that it has reference to the col
| or Of the animal. In no other breed Of
| hounds does the blue or gray color so
predominate; consequently the last
| mentioned derivation appears to be the
most plausible.
That barriers are principally used In
hunting hares accounts easily for their
| given name.
The title beagle" applied to rabbit
hating breed. Is probably derived from
the Celtic ''beag" or 'bige" or the
Welsh back" signifying ''little," they
really being a small species of hound.
| A pointer gets it's name from its hah-
1t of pointing at game with its nose.
The setter is so called from a similar
habit, excepting that it crouches Id
place of standing under similar cir
| cumstances.
/ Dalmatian or carriage dogs, popu-
larly known as "plum pudding dogs,
were. 1t Is said, first bred in Dalmatia,
but 1t Is as carriage or coach dogs that
they are best known. This arises from
the fact that they are, as a rule, kept
In stables and nearly always seen run
ming after carriages.
Spitz or Pomeranian dogs, variety
Of the Eskimo, were first bred in Prus-
sian PomeraEia. The popular name of
Spitz is an error founded ON the un-
warranted notion that their original
breeding place was Spitzbergen.
Spaniels, the breed of which are le-
gion. evidently first came from Spain;
hence their distinctive name. A small
variety of this animal was ardently
admired by our Charles H., from which
circumstance arose the designation of
his pets, known the world over as the
King Charles.
Greatly resembling the latter In form
and general appearance are the Blen.
helm or Marlborough spaniels. These
get their English name from Blenheim
palace, Oxfordshire, the seat of the
Marlboroughs, where since the great
dukes" time the breed has been reli.
giously preserved.
The term applied to a very large and
powerful species of the canine family
Is open to much controversy, the wore
emastiff" originating considerable
conflict of opinion with regard to ths
origin of the word.
The Italian "mastino" aud the
French "mastin" have both claims a.
good derivatives, both slgpifying ''larg'
limbed." These words, or either o.
them, were, 1t is contended, gradual.
corrupted into NASTY" a Lincolnshir,
expression meaning very large, mus
, eular or big, until it In course of tim,
and by degrees assumed its presen
form. There is yet another derivativ,
in the German "massen," to fatten
because the mastiff is large dog ant
|, therefore needs more and better feed
ing than any other.
Poodle, though of French associa
ton, is really derived from the German
"pudel," puddle or pool. Originall
German, this dog got its name proba
, bly, because of its being closely allie
In species to what Is know as the wa
ter dog. More amenable' to training
than any other, it is without doubt til
most intelligent of the whole eanin
race.
!, Collie Is from the Gaelic word "cul
lean," or puppy. 1t Is also, and NOR
frequently in Scotland, called the sheI
herd dog, gaining its name from tn
. fact of it's being set to watch sheep