ENGLISH BREEDS OF DOGS - 1881

Englsih Breeds of Dogs

In former works relating to dogs but small attention has been devoted by the authors to the modes of classification adopted by the earlier writers on the subject, a brief notice of the principal cannot but be of interest. As to later works, in several encyclopaedias there has been an attempt made to classify the different varieties, but such classification has, so far as our observation carries us, invariably been founded on the structural development of the different breeds alone, and aot unfrequently on comparison with the characteristics of other animals, little or no attention having been paid to the various temperaments and capabilities of the several breeds. Visitors to the great shows of the present day, on the con- trary, must be struck by the extreme simplicity of the arrangement of the catalogues, which invariably divide the candidates into two divisions, namely, one for sporting, and one for non-sporting dogs. In our opinion this is an ample distinction, for all practical purposes ; since in the present day, in consequence of dogs being so much better understood than they formerly were, the uses and capabilities of each breed are well appreciated by those at all interested in them. Moreover, the large increase in the number of breeds (owing to the manufacture of so many new varieties of late years) has rendered an elaborate classification undesirable, as being likely to complicate instead of facilitating the task of distinguishing between the various breeds.

The majority of the earlier writers on the dog, however, adopt different classifications in the lists of dogs published by them, and these, being of some considerable historical interest, we propose recapitulating ; whilst due attention shall be given to the scientific division of Cuvier, in which the structural development of the dog is compared with that of other mammals.

Ik-fore turning our attention to the various works on the dog which have from time to time appeared in our own language, we may mention that in the earlier part of the Christian era only two races of dogs out of the sixteen or seventeen known to the ancients, are stated to have been recognised by them as hunting dogs. These were Greyhounds, and dogs hunting by scent. Arrian, however, also called the younger Xenophon, who wrote in the year A.D. 130, affirms that dogs hunting by sight and not by scent were quite unknown in the time of Xenophon the elder. At the same time Arrian, in his work above alluded to, most accurately describes our modern Greyhound ; and the anonymous translator of this writer, who has been the means of rendering his works so popular, fairly shows the dog to be of Celtic origin.

The earliest work on dogs in English is a MS. in the British Museum, entitled the " Mayster of Game," and is written by Edmund de Langley. This work was published in the fourteenth century, and deals principally with hunting subjects, though frequent allusion is made to dogs therein.

The earliest printed work in the English language in which the various breeds of dogs then in existence are referred to, is the "Book of Field Sports," written by Dame Juliana Berners, Prioress of Sopwell Nunnery, in Hertfordshire. This lady, who was born about the end of the fourteenth century, thus expresses herself in the above work : "Thyse ben the names of houndes, fyrste there is a Grehoun, a Bastard, a Mengrell, a Mastif, a Lemor, a Spanyel, Raches, Kenettys, Teroures, Butchers Houndes, Dunghyll dogges, Tryndeltaylles, and Pryckeryd currys, and smalle ladyes poppees that bere awaye the flees." From this catalogue it would appear that the list of dogs which came under Miss Berners' notice was a very limited one. It is, however, an important one ; inasmuch as it shows that many of the breeds of dogs then in existence have retained at least their names until the present time, in spite of the vast increase in number of breeds.

The next work from which we are able to quote is a. short treatise on English dogs, originally written in Latin, by Dr. John Caius, physician to Queen Elizabeth, and published in 1576- There was, however, also a translation of the work in old English, which we quote as more clearly showing the ideas of the time. According to Dr. Caius

( A gentle kind, serving the game. All Lnghshe dogges be).,

A homely kind, apt for sundry necessary u

' A currish kind, meet for many toyes.

The first of these three classes is divided by Dr. Caius into two sections viz., Venatici, which were used for the purpose of hunting beasts ; and Aucupatorii, which served in the pursuit of fowl. The Venatici arc treated by this author as follows :

Dogges serving y pastime of hunting beastes are divided into

Leverarius, or Harriers.

Terrarius, or Terrars.

Sanguinarius, or Bloodhounds.

Agaseus, or Gazehounds.

Leporarius, or Grehounds.

Lorarius, or Lyeminer.

Vertigus, or Tumbler.

Canis furax, or Stealer.

The next section of Dr. Caius's work is taken up by the dogs used for pursuing fowl, Aucupatorii, which consisted of- Dogs used or Setter.

fowling. ( Aquaticus, or Spaniell.

Section three is entirely devoted to the Spaniell Gentle, or Comforter. And Section four consists merely of

Canis Pastoralis, or the Shepherd's Dogge.

The Mastive, or Bandogge, called Canis Villaticus, or Carbenarius.

In the sixth section are the which hath sundry names derived from sundry circumstances, as

The Keeper's or Watchman's.

The Butcher's Dogge.

The Messinger's or Carrier's.

The Mooner.

The Water Drawer.

The Tinker's Curr.

The Fencer.

Admonitor, or Wapp., Vernerpator, or Turncspet, Saltator, or Dauncer.

The varieties of dogs contained in these six sections prove that there was at all events a considerable increase in the number of the breeds of dogs between Dr. Caius's time and that of Dame Berners. The former, however, is extremely vague and rambling in many of his statements concerning the dogs he describes in his work ; but the value to be attached to that will scarcely be diminished by this fault on his part, when it is remembered that Dr. Caius's work is the first book published in the English language which solely confines itself to the various breeds of dogs, and the manner of hunting them.

Shakespeare seems to have been a student of Dame Juliana Berners' work, for in King Lear, Act III., scene 6, the following lines occur:

" Be thy mouth or black or white, Tooth that poisons, if it bite. Mastiff, greyhound, mongrel grim, Hound or spaniel, brach or lym, Or bobtail tike, or trundle tail, Tom will make them weep and wail ; For, with throwing thus my head, Dogs leap the hatch, and all are fled."

Linneuis, in his classification of animals, enumerates the following breeds of dogs :

Canis Familiaris, or Faithful Dog.

Canis Domesticus, or Shepherd's Dog.

Canis Pomeranus, or Pomeranian.

(The above being the Chien Loup, or Wolf-dog of Button.)

Canis Sibiricus, or Siberian Dog.

Canis Islandicus, or Iceland Dog.

Canis Aquaticus Major, or great Water Dog (Grand Barbet).

Canis Aquaticus Minor, or lesser Water Dog.

Canis Brevipilis Pyramc.

Canis Parvus Melitans, or little Maltese Dog.

Canis Extrarius,

Canis Hyspanicus,

Canis Pilosus, or Hairy Maltese Dog.

Canis Leoninus, or Lion Dog.

(This was a small dog, having long hair on the fore-part of the body like a lion, the hinder part only growing short hair.)

Canis Variegatus, or Little Danish Dog.

Canis Hybridus, or Bastard Pug Dog, also called Roquet.

Canis Fricator, or Pug Dog.

Canis Molossus, or Bulldog.

Canis Anglicus, sometime Bellicosus, or Mastiff.

(The above is the Canis Mastious of Ray).

Canis Sagax, or German Hound.

Canis Gallicus, Hound.

(Also C. G. Venatorius, or sagacious Hunting Dog.)

Canis Scoticus, Bloodhound.

Canis Avicularis, Pointer.

Canis Aquatilis, Barbet (see above).

Canis Cursorius, Greyhound.

Canis Hibernicus, Irish Hound.

Canis Turcicus, Turkish Hound.

Canis Graius, Scotch Hunting Dog.

Graius Hirsatus, rough Scotch Hunting Dog.

Canis Italtcus, Italian Greyhound.

Canis Orientalis, Persian Greyhound.

Canis Egyptius, Hairless Greyhound.

Cants Laniaris, Lurcher.

Canis Fuillus, Boarhound.

Canis Vertigus, Turnspit.

Canis Amcricanus, the Ala.

Canis Antarcticus, New Holland Dog.