The New York herald., 1922-01-15
SPRINGER SPANIEL
| TO BE SHOWN HERE
Westminster X. G.. Extends
Classification to Include
the Old Breed.
DATE BACK TO FALCONRY
May Be Noted in Old Sporting
Prints-Gossip About
Bench Shows.
DATE BACK TO FALCONRY
BY FRANK #. DOLE.

The Westminster Kennel Club has ex-
tended its classification to make possi-
bic the debut in bench shows here of
the springer spaniels. The innovation
is the result OF desire by the club to
foster the oldtime land spaniel which
was popular centuries ago, even before
tho use Of bullets and when the art of
shooting flying was unknown.
Before the invention OF the gun
springer spaniels were used for discoy-
erng game for the sport OF falconry
and by the settlers of nets which en-
compassed the located covers Of par
tridses and other birds. Shops which
display sporting prints OF bygone days
show pictures of the springer as the
hunting dog Of the old English squires,
who shot out of long single barreled
,nuzzle leaders and as often as not shot
from the backs Of sturdy and shaggy
shooting ponies.
From the springer spaniels have beeo
bred all. or nearly all, the varieties of
the land spaniels, McCumber spaniels
excepted. as they are of French origin.
The springers. for there are two kinds,
Lnglish and Welsh, were the forebears
OF the field spaniels and cocker spaniels.
To-day the cocker the offshoot of these
big dogs, must not weigh more than
twenty-five pounds. Thus It will be
seen that through the in-breeding proc
css the breeders of cookers have pro-
uuced a moro or less bantam edition of
the large field spaniel.
Weigh Forty Pounds.
English springers weigh forty pounds
and over, are white and liver, white and
black. roam and other colors. Tho Welsh
springers generally scale less and are
white. with orange or red markings.
Both strains arc often intermixed, but,
as rule, the Welsh are less massive in
the head, especially before the eye, than
the English. Both varieties are enor-
nous producers. One Of the white and
liver sort. recently imported and in
whelp to a champion field trial dog
owned by the Duke of Hamilton, had
10 less than nineteen puppies after her
arrival in this country.
Springer spaniels have been popular
with Canadian sportsmen for many
years. There are many rundown or
run TO seed varieties OF springers in the
hands OF the French Canadians in Que
aec. These spaniels are used for all
around rough shooting and duck hunt
ing, even when the weather is as severe
as It can possibly be. The better class
of English springers are to be found in
Ontario and Nova Scotia. On the other
hand. the Welsh springers have taken a
firm hold on the sportsmen of the North
west Of the Dominion. Manitoba partic-
ulariy, the largest kennel being owned
In Winnipeg.
These Welsh springers are Of the IA
NOUS Gerwyn strain. owned by the late
~. t. Al. 80
Meath. Glamorgan, Wales These span
icls were always successful In field
trials These field trials among the
shooting or sporting spaniels owned by
the country gentlemen OF Britain sound
ed the death knell OF the then fashion
able bench show field spaniels, absurdly
heavy and long in body and short and
often unsound In legs, physical forma-
tions that were sorely against him as a
real active sportsman's spaniel able to
respond to calls of shooting men, whether
on land or water.
They're Born Retrievers.
Sprinsers arc born retrievers and will
face all weathers AS hunter the
questing OF game Is In his nature, but
he requires restraint and should always
% taught to work not more than thirty
Oards away from the gun. Thus II will
- seen that the spaniel is required to
spring or flush his game, not point It,
Most at home In the pheasant and wood
cock coverts, these dogs cause the birds
TO spring from cover into flight, the
Eunner's opportunity. hence the name
springer"
Ono OF the earliest OF the recent Inn
porters OF English springers into this
country Is Major Max Fleischman OF
Santa Barbara, Cal. His spaniels, he
says, have proved equal to every task
set. They are all that has been claimed
for them. AS a North Dakota sports
man summed them up in speaking OF
the breed. mo cover too thick. no river
or lake too rough or cold to daunt the
springers ambition"
Undoubtedly the Beechwood and Riv.
ington strains OF the English springers
are the best in this country. Among the
owners OF the Beechwoods are Robert G.
Smith OF Port Hope. Ontario; DR.. E. d.
Putnam OF Forestville. N. Y; Freeman
Lloyd OF Oscawana, N. Y. and Thomas
Shedden of Nova Scotia Major Fleisch-
man owns the choicest OF the Rivington
blood. The Avondale Duke of Hamil-
toad English springers are somewhat
smaller and consequently less powerful
than the Beechwoods and Rivingtons.
Welsh springers were first introduced
into America about dozen years ago
by Mr.. Busch, the st. Louis brewer
These. however. were unfortunately
killed in an accident. Among the pres
ent fortunate possessors of the red and
orange marked (Welsh) springers are
II. Chevrier OF Winnipeg and Harry
Johnston OF Toronto.
While there will undoubtedly be some
fne specimens of springers at the West
minister show, II Is not expected the
breed will be best represented before the
1923 show. Springer fans say the stock
now IN this country Is mostly young and
somewhat immature for show purposes
The demand for springer spanlels is now
reported 10 be extraordinary, and II Is
probable that before another year rolls
around the springer fancy will have de-
veIoped TO a point where II can take its
M place with other classes at the West
minister.
The CoIIie's Fine Instinct.
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