The Scotch deerhound is larger and more massive than the English grey hound, frequently standing as high as 28 to 30 inches at the shoulder, the body being clothed with a rough coat. Its principal use is for deer stalking in the Highlands.
Head long and narrow, tapering gradually from the ears; nose black (occasion ally blue) and pointed; lips level; ears small, set high, carried in fold, soft and silky and free from long hair; neck long, but strong, with the nape or crest very prominent; shoulders sloping; toes close and arched; chest deep; body long, but well ribbed up; loins arched with great breadth across hips; stifle well rounded; thighs long; tail set on low, curved but not curled; coat rough and harsh on body; mane on neck and slight fringe on inside legs, on thighs and on tail. Colors: All shades from dark blue or black brindle to light gray brindle, yellow, fawn, dun and drab; white markings objectionable, but very often to be found on chest and toes.
Irish This ancient breed was famous for many years in Ireland for its great power and strength and its prowess against wolves. It has practically the same lines as the deerhound only more massive in skull and body. The colors are the same.
Borzoi or Russian Is of rather larger build than his English cousin, be ing covered with a wavy silk coat quite differ ent in texture from that of the deerhound and wolfhound; the head is more domed and muzzle of the Roman nose type. It is used in Russia for hunting wolves. Colors are white with drab, fawn or brindle markings.
Italian This breed is kept purely as pets and may be regarded as a minia ture greyhound. The eyes are much larger and more prominent than in the large greyhound. There are several colors, among which are a golden fawn and a mouse fawn, the most valua ble colors; white markings are undesirable.
English The modern fox hound is somewhat smaller than the staghound and cobbier in body; the head is cleaner with more substance in the muzzle; the ears are rounded and placed much higher on the skull. The American foxhound is much the same type, but somewhat smaller and lighter built, the colors often being black and tan, showing a bloodhound cross.
This term is generally applied to any hound standing less than 15 inches high, although the true pure breed beagle is a distinct breed, which may be regarded as a miniature foxhound with the exception of the ears, which are more pendulous; the height varies from 9 to 15 inches. The beagle has a musical note and an acute scent as well as great persever ance in following a trail.
The various breeds known as set ters are practically large spaniels which acquired this name from being taught to crouch when marking their game.
English It is regarded as a result of a cross between the field spaniel and the pointer, and should have a soft coat with a slight wave, but no curl in the hair. There is a great variation in color, which is valued according to the following scale: black and white ticked with large splashes, or the Blue Belton; then orange and white freckled, known as the "Orange Beltono; black and white with tan markings and black and white.
Head long and lean with a flat skull; muzzle long and deep; lips not too pen dulous; ears of moderate size, fine in texture, set on bone and well back; neck long, muscu lar and well set in sloping, deep shoulders; chest narrow, but deep, and ribs well sprung; loins muscular and slightly arched, with powerful hind quarters; front legs perfectly straight and feet small and firm; toes arched and dose together.
Irish Of a deep-red mahogany color, this dog is rather lighter in build than the English setter, with a narrow and slightly domed head.
The Gordon or black and tan setter is much heavier than either the English or Irish breeds, this heaviness being especially shown in the head, which is broader and deeper. The body should be massive and black with tan markings.
This name applies to a large dog somewhat on the order of the setter, em ployed for retrieving game. They have more or less Newfoundland blood in them and trace their parentage to the water spaniel or setter. The curly-coated retriever, which may be either black or liver color, is the product of a cross between the smaller black Newfoundland and the Irish water spaniel. It is characterized by the short hair of the face and the tail devoid of any fringe, although covered to within a few inches of its extremity with short, crispy curls. The hair on the body is closely and crisply curled, hence the old phrase of the "nigger coated retriever' a term used in some counties in England. The wavy or flat-coated retriever has the same outline, with the exception of the coat, which is flat and wavy, and is close to the body. ke Bay As the name signi fies, this dog is a native of Chesapeake Bay. It resembles a dull-colored red retriever both in color, shape and size. The coat is extremely dense and absolutely waterproof. For general retrieving work in the water we know of no dog which can equal it. It has been known to work the whole day in the ice and never seems to tire.