The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-05
Dalmatian or Coach

From the dog show records of the past few years it would seem the fashion in dogs is as changeable as woman Is in dress, and the present popularity of the Dalmatian, commonly called Coach dog, brings inquiries as to its history, origin, utility and modern development.
 This breed has long been associated with England, the land of it's adoption, but it's native home is Dalmatia, on the Gulf of Venice Travellers tell of the large kennels owned by the Queen. and H. R. H. Nichols had 40 of these spotted beau- ties at one time. Exactly when the breed was introduced into England has not been recorded, but that it was used as sporting dog by the early Norman rul- CTS is shown by legends and old draw ings, and later Lady Boucher writes: we have used them for partridge shoot ing and they retrieve wel.''
 They are more frequently heard of in the stories of English coaching and rid ing. Two old prints published in 1920. after the original of Henry Aiken, 'The Consequences of Being Drove by a Gen. tleman'' and The Comforts of Being Drove Like a Gentleman" show the Dal- matian running with the coach, evidently as an important equipment of a gentle mans turnout. In Jesse's Anecdotes of
 
 matians fidelity to master. Paintings by Reinagle show this dog about the coach barn, waiting for the horses to be called out. A gentlemans country place was hardly complete without five or six of this striking looking breed about the stable. No writer has explained the source of it's singular love and adaptabil- ty as a companion for the horse, but it is well known that, either in driving or riding, as a cOmrade to both master and horse it has no equal Beyond doubt it is the aristocrat of the canine race, it's beautiful spotted body and head so well carried and so noble in bearing, his deep chest and strong back it's shapely legs and feet and strong hindquarters all proclaim it one of the handsomest of dogs.
 The Damatian was not entered at east ern shows untiles 1896. and among the earliest exhibitors were J. Sergeant Price of Philadelphia, the pioneer of coaching dogs in this country
 Many of these were bought later by Harry T. Peters, and for several years he has been the largest exhibitor The popularity of the breed has spread, and there are many kennels showing magni- ficent specimens, among which are those of the kennels of Mrs. c. Halstead Yates of Oak Ridge, Va, an illustration of one of her dogs appearing on this page. She has bred several champions, and with Halnor's F'irefly has won the an- nual road trials three years in success sion. At these kennels in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains, it is fine sight when the young puppies are let out for their morning run over the hills. Mrs. Yates has had great success training them as companions for children, rid ing ponies or driving.
 Alfred Vanderbilt has always had some good ones, and the late Clarence H. Moore who went down with the ill., fated Titanic, had usually five or six Dalmatians about his stables and house. Alfred B. Maclay imported some of Eng lands best, but today it is conceded by the students of the coach dog that our home-bred ones can and do compete and win over the present English show speci- ments. Owners of Dalmatians and horsemen have lately taken a great in- terest in the road trials to show a dog or dogs running under a trap. The Dal- matian club intends soon to make these trials one of the features of future out door horse shows.
 To further interest in this sport and to facilitate the training of the dogs for following or running under the carriage or running with the saddle horse, the Dalmatian club has selected a member whose experienced kennel man makes business of teaching young dogs to coach.
 Particulars of the methods of train- ing and trying out a dog on crowded roads and thoroughfares can be obtained by writing to the secretary of the club That the coaching dog has come to stay there is no doubt; there is steady de- mand for them especially among people caring for out-of-door sports and coun- try life. Their smart appearance is the primary attraction and later their capa- bility for companionship and as watch dogs. The lover of real dog about the stable becomes a Dalmatian enthus- fast.