New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-11
SHEPHERD DOGS
FEATURED in
RYAN KENNELS
Financier Has Established
Number of Champions
on Virginia Farm.
SURROUNDINGS IDEAL
FOR THE PURPOSE
New Quarters Planned Which
VIII Include Hospital and
a Training Section.

Thomas Fortune Ryan's high place in
the world Of finance has long been
recognized. He also has been promi-
nent as a horse show exhibitor and
breeder OF thoroughbre5s The fact
that Mr.. Ryan has in recen, years TAX
en- a keen interest in dogs and only a
short time ago established magnifcen.
kennels at Oak Ridge. Va, however,
has not been 50 widely advertised
The story OF how Nh Ryan came %
found his kennels y cntertainingly
told IN THE Bulletin" issued By the
German Shepherd Dog Club Of America.
l. appears that the fnancicrs venture
into this new field was due 70 the az
lection he formed for a fine German
shepherd bitch given him b. Pierre
TroubetskOy. the sculptor, and named
Rosa Won Meexendorf.
Rosa accompanied Nr Ryan every
where ana proved a most yaluable
watchdog. 50 zealous.y did she guard
his person about the streets and IN his
cars that it soon became a question
Of a chauffeur or dog. fl-lar o.. log'
and Mr.. Ryan sent Rosa 70 his place in
Virginia 10 be cared tor .A lae aen-
nels, where Mrs. c. Ha.sted Yates
housed her Da.matians.
Later pair OF German hepherd dogs
was imported through Otto Gross. and
these three were the foundation Of the
present Oak Ridge Kennel. The build.
ing was originally put up hurret.y FOR
the dogs which Nr. and Mrs. Yates took
to Virginia when the laser rc.- no. take
charge Of Mr.. Ryans estate Of 1900
acres in the foothills of the Blue AIass
Mountains.
The surroundings are IDEAL for the
breeding of dogs. No effort Wa, made
for display or architectural effect IN
the construction OF tire kennels. there
being merely a comfortable white clap
board building with green roof,
ample porches for lalry days a-t full
equipment Of modern san tery devices.
A clever arrangement is a trle door
that permits OF water being sen. into
the stalls without obiiglng any one 70
enter. The stalls are large enough for
two dogs and contain benches for
sleeping, which are hinged 90 the wall
so they may be let doau az night and
put up in the morning for cleaning
purposes. The runs ere large. some
leading into the woods, where ,heTe IS
brook.
Not content with the present ar
raneements, M Ryan is planning 10
erect entirely new quarters which VIII
include a hospital puppies stalls,
kitchen and feeding room and a loft for
breeding in the winter There also
will be a section devoted 90 training
purposes. Although il is not the idea
TO train the animals for criminal work,
they will be taught obedience and will
be drilled in certain phases Of detee-
tive work, so as to fit them for guards
and companions.
George Benz, formerly OF Hesse-
Darmstadt, is in charge Of this lepart.
ment. He was connected for a time
with the German military bureau and
afterward trained dogs for the police
and ambulance service abroad
The best known dogs n the kennels
ere Oak Ridge Alarch Won Alpenldft
and Oak Ridge Frigga yon Madgeburg,
the sire and the dam of the puppies
winning all the American-bred classes
at the New York show.