The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-12-16
High Class Dogs Are in Training
on Grounds Near Bakersfield


With the approach Of the annual
meet OF the Pacific Coast Field Trials
Club there Is much activity among the
setter and pointer men In preparation
for this big event among the sportsmen
OF the state. Strings of high-class
sporting dogs are already on the train
, Ing grounds near Bakersfield and are
being conditioned by competent hand
lers.
The trials will be held this season
during the last week of January. in
stead OF. the first week. as in other
years. The members think that scent
ing and other conditions will be more
favorable FOR the dogs late in January
than they would be earlier in the same
month. They also count on some rain
I falling during the month. which would
greatly improve the conditions under
which the trials are held. Last year
the ground was dry. and the alkali dust
upset all the calculations of the train
ers, az their dogs seemed unable to do
themselves justice. This was great
drawback. as promising performers did
not work up to their ability.
DERBY WINNER DIES
W. Is. Coutts, who trains one of the
largest public kennels. has been unfor-
tunate in having distemper break out
S'bsiO@AE5 Ills fdAuS UlS Sildi 3 rS, S-tiNiiS
those owned by J. E. Terry of Sacra-
mento. He lost some puppies by death
and also the clever performer Bessie
M ortimer. which won the Pacific Coast
Derby last January. The dogs and pup
pies are getting the best possible at
tention. and 1t is expected there will be
no more fatalities. The other handlers
are taking. unusual precautions to pre-
vent the spread of the disease, and SO
q hoy cd in
Coutts has J. f. Terrys champion
Kilgarff in his string, and the famous
performer is wintering well. He won
the big stake at Bakersfield in the last
trials ard performed brilliantly in the
Pacific Northwest trials this past sum-
mer.
President III. w. Keller of the Pacific
Coat Field Trials Club has placed a
high-class English setter in the hands
of F. NJ. Dodge to be prepared for the
trials. Dodge has devoted all his ex-
pert knowledge of preparing field trial
dogs for competitions to the pointers
and his first essay in years with an
English setter will be watched by the
sportsmen with much interest. Dodge
has performed wonders with the point
ers of the Stockdale Kennels. turning
out Cuba Jr.. Cuba Yep and other noted
performers. He is also handling an
English setter for W. c. Kerclthoff
also of Southern California and a close
personal friend of Keller.
TRAINING CONDITIONS GOOD
Reports from Bakersfield are to the
effect that training conditions were
never better. Quail are numerous and
the weather has been ideal for working
the dogs. Among the owners vino will
be strongly represented. as for many
years past are w. w. Van Arsdale. w
S. Tevis. John Considine. the Seattle
sportsman, and many others. The en-
tries are up to the standard of former
! years and arc especially high in class
For time after the fire in April ii
was thought there was a possibility OF
the trials lapsing, but this impression
was quickly dispelled, and the sports
men who are interested In the develop
ment OF great field dogs are now look
! ing forward with much eagerness &c
| their annual outing on the broad acres
of w. S. Tevis' Stoekdale ranch. The
! week spent In watching the work OF
! the dogs afield in the crisp air is al
ways looked forward to with eagerness
and is accounted one of the happiest
experiences of the entire year by the
! sportsren so fortunate as to be able
| to attend the meeting.