New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-25
RUSSIAN W0LFHOUND
COMING FAVORlTE
Breed Gaining in Popular
itv from Massachusetts
to Montana.
AT HOME IN HUNT
OR IN THE PARLOR
Equally Dependable in Chasing
Coyotes or as Adjunct
10 the Nursery.

Nowhere I'm the world IS there more
beautiful dog than the wolfhound and
nowhere I'm America IS this Russian prod
rct typifed quite as he is at Valley Farm.
Tho Valley Farm Kennels are the prop
ortv o. Joseph b. and Ralph Thomas, and
are situated at Simsbury. Conn. The Val
l,, Farm Kennels have been In existence
since 1902. but IL was not until a year
later that any dogs were exhibited in the
show ring
Then they appeared az the Brooklyn
show and tho now world famous cham
piors Bistri and sorva made their bow
10 n doubling American public. Joseph 4.
Thomas had Just returned from Russia,
where he was the guest Of the Gar and
he brought with him the team OF Russian
fyvolfhounds. Now Bistri and Sorva DIFF
l1Ared radically from the usual wolfhound
with which Americans had become ia
Ilniliar.
They had in an exaggerated form the
Roman nose which is now so sought
after. Champion Statesman was at that
time the accepted type and he was graced
with a straight nose and an indentation
which marked where his forehead began
Charles Hopton was judging Russian
wolfhounds in Brooklyn, and he placed
,Bistrl ahead OF all the dogs. Bistri was
white. with black and gray markings,
while sorva was pure white. Later In the
evening the pair were chosen as the best
team in the show all breeds competing.
and the ancient Roman" type Of wolf
hound was established In America.
Since that time the Russian wolfhound
has made rapid strides in America, for
he is q most picturesque dog, as well as
one Of the most intelligent The improve
ment IN the breed in America is in a
measure due 10 the systematic breeding
as practised as Valley Farm Kennels.
The kennels were established by Joseph
T. Thomas while at Yale. when he was
the cha npion handler and captain OF the
athletic team.
The dogs have been used out on the
plains OF Montana. and have demonstrated
speed and gsmeress on wolf. coyote and
iackrabbit In the competition between
the different breeds 10 determine the rela-
tive speed the Russian wolfhound has al
WAYS come through with flying colors.
Mrs Ralph Thomas IS much interested
IN the noble dogs. and likes nothing better
than to show them In the ring Out Of all
the legs az Valley Farm there is just one
which has bad disposition. He be-
haved so badly at one Of the recent shows
THAI now he is left at home when the
others go to parade before the judges.
Many persons have an idea that the
russian wolfhound is naturally bad tenn
uereG and treacherous, but this is quite
erroneous. on the contrary. he is most
amerable to kindness. and loves to grace
q drawing room quite as well as he likes
20 hunt wolves in his native land.
Mrs Thomass favorite is a young dog
named Rance O Valley Farm. He IS not
Yet two years old. but at the recent Phil
adelphia show he was chosen as reserve
champion 10 the wonderful cyclone
cyclone Of Perchina and Postrel OF
Woronzova are two recent inportatlons
They are wonderful dogs, and cost their
owner $4,000 before leaving their native
land.
Fred Cransle manager Of the farm and
kennels. exercises the dogs by leading
them by leashes beside a gslloping pony
Although the hardest kind Of broncos are
used for this exercise, II takes two anc
sometimes three of them TO make cyclone
and Postrel cry Enough. go