Scottish Deerhound

There is something about the shaggy hunting dogs of Britain that makes a particular appeal to those who are attracted to dogs. It may be the touching contrast of their harsh coat and rugged body with the soft, affectionate look in the almost hidden eye.

It may be the knowledge of the indomitable courage and immunity from fear that is latent in the friendly creature that noses our palm and meets our advances with such amiable readiness.

Whatever its causes, these brave and friendly dogs, such favorites with Landseer and Burns, have surely maintained their enviable position in our regard. In the United States they are seldom seen, as only a few have been introduced and little done to establish the breed here. This is unfortunate, though easy to understand, as our
laws do not permit the hunting of antlered game with dogs, and our carnivorous big game demands dogs of a heavier and more aggressive nature than these fleet chasers of the Highland stag.

In appearance the deerhound is much like a harsh-coated, grizzled greyhound, and is an undersized counterpart of the great Irish wolfhound, standing from 26 to 29 or 30 inches. They are self-colored, the dark blue grays being perhaps the favorites. Cream, fawn, sandy brown, and both light and dark brindlcs are perhaps more frequently seen. Any large amount of white is a fault, as it indicates a foreign strain, even though the dog be fine in other respects.

The Scottish deerhound might well be described as a powerfully built, rough-coated
greyhound. While not as swift as his English cousin, he has speed enough for most purposes and strength and stamina, which made him a valued partner in the chase before the days of the modern rifle.

In olden times the possession of a fine deerhound was a matter of sufficient consequence for tribes to go to war about. In a battle between the Picts and Scots over one of these dogs more than 160 men were killed.

The deerhound makes a wonderful companion. His honest, dark hazel eyes, looking straight out from under their shaggy brows, quiet but fearless, bespeak the rugged beauty of his soul and gain at once our admiration and our confidence.

From The Book of Dogs: An Intimate Study of Mankind's Best Friend By National Geographic Society (U.S.), Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Ernest Harold Baynes Published 1919. 109 pages Original from Harvard University.

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See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 are now in the public domain In the United States,

This inage is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in thi case Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927) and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from that date. If your use will be outside the United States please check your local law.

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The Otterhound

It is said that every sizable stream in Great Britain has its otter. To hunt this elusive and wily animal, a very distinct type of dog has been evolved.

The requirements of the hunt demand the keenest of noses, the staunchest of "wills to hunt," the utmost courage, and the ability to stand the roughest of wet and dry coursing. These qualities have been assembled in the otterhound, which may be described as a bloodhound clad in the roughest of deerhound coats.

In general he is all hound, with long, sweeping ears, deep jaw, and deep-set eye snowing the haw. He is broader in the brow than the bloodhound and not quite so large, but he has the same fine carriage, on straight, strong, and heavily boned legs; large, sound, and partly webbed feet.

The hair over the eyes is long and ragged, and there is a strong tendency toward beard and moustache. He is a great favorite in Great Britain, but is rarely seen in America. In color he may be "hound colors," or "self-colored," fawn, brown, tawny, or black. The working dogs are so hardened by rough work that they are not particularly suitable as house dogs ; when reared to it, however, their fine qualities render them exceptional companions even for children.

From The Book of Dogs: An Intimate Study of Mankind's Best Friend By National Geographic Society (U.S.), Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Ernest Harold Baynes Published 1919. 109 pages Original from Harvard University.

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired.

This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years.

See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 are now in the public domain In the United States,

This inage is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in thi case Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927) and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from that date. If your use will be outside the United States please check your local law.

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Norwegian Elkhound

The Norwegian elkhound is one of the wolfy looking dogs from which the shepherd dogs of middle Europe have been evolved, and is probably a more dependable dog than any of them, having been bred for the specific uses of hunting big game,

and left free of the refinements and stultifications demanded by the more effete market, which is largely dependent on the whims of wealth and caprice.

The elkhound, in short, looks like a small, stocky, wide-faced German shepherd dog,
standing about 22 inches instead of 26 or 27, but wearing the same strong, rough working coat of grizzled buff and brown, or wolf colors.

He is a rare dog in the United States, but in northern Europe plays an important part in the life of the people of the mountainous and wooded country. He is used to some extent as a carrying and draft animal, but is unsurpassed in the rough and tumble of the hunt for such big game as bear, wolves, and elk (the "moose" of northern Europe), and is so keen of nose and so tractable that he can easily be trained to the more subtle arts of hunting the capercailzie and black grouse.

The only one the artist ever saw was the single specimen shown in the Westminster
show of 1918, and no dog in the whole show made him more envious of his owner. For
what Mark Twain characterized as "the purposes of a dog" this strong, friendly, and primitive looking animal seemed a most perfect creature. He was alert, bright, and self-reliant, but willing to extend a reserved welcome to a new acquaintance.

From The Book of Dogs: An Intimate Study of Mankind's Best Friend By National Geographic Society (U.S.), Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Ernest Harold Baynes Published 1919. 109 pages Original from Harvard University.

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired.

This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years.

See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 are now in the public domain In the United States,

This inage is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in thi case Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927) and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from that date. If your use will be outside the United States please check your local law.

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The Timber Wolf and Coyote

The timber, or gray, wolf, which undoubtedly has an influence in the formation of the native Indian and Eskimo dogs of this country, formerly occupied practically all of the northern continent of America.

He is a large, strong animal, attaining a weight of probably well over 100 pounds.

His main points of difference from "true" dogs are the woolly brush and the small, obliquely set eyes. In form he is close counterpart of such dogs as the German shepherd (see page 48). His coat is harsh and quite long, especially on the neck, throat, shoulders, and hind quarters.

In color he ranges from nearly pure white in the Arctic to black in Florida and the more humid regions. The average color1 is grizzled gray and buff. The coyote is extremely similar in color, following the changes, geographically, which characterize his big and burly cousin.

In weight the coyote seldom goes over 60 pounds, and an average would probably be under 40. He is much more fox-like in general appearance, having relatively as well as actually a more slender muzzle and even bushier tail. His gait is an easy, shadow-like trot until scared or in hot pursuit, when he flattens out and simply flies over the ground.

From The Book of Dogs: An Intimate Study of Mankind's Best Friend By National Geographic Society (U.S.), Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Ernest Harold Baynes Published 1919. 109 pages Original from Harvard University.

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired.

This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years.

See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 are now in the public domain In the United States,

This inage is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in thi case Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927) and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from that date. If your use will be outside the United States please check your local law.

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Scottish, West Highland and Skye Terriers

the Scottish terrier, or "Scottie," as he is familiarly called — a short- legged, stocky-bodied, wire-coated "tyke," who looks like nothing else in the world. Of course, he hails from the Highlands of Scotland, where he is used to unearth foxes and other "varmints." His pluck has earned for him the soubriquet "die-hard," and usually he "lives" right up to it.

The "Scotty" is a "one-man dog." There is probably no dog more indifferent to the advances of any one but his own master or mistress. Mrs. Baynes has a Scottish terrier named Heatherbloom. The little tyke cares nothing for the other side of the Baynes household, and only in the absence of her mistress will she condescend to follow him. For her, other people do not exist, except as things to bark at sometimes. But to the one and only mistress she is loyalty itself. bloom will lie on the bed hour after hour, her head between her paws, and her bright eyes, half screened by her long lashes, steadily shining on the face she loves.

His trustful eye. homely comeliness, and whimsical playfulness combine to endear the Scottish terrier strongly, and no dog is more companionable or unobtrusively affectionate. In these traits he is much like his rough little cousin, the West Highland white, from which, in fact, he differs in nothing so much as in the color of his coat.

The Scotty is usually black or very dark grizzled with yellowish tips, although steel or iron gray, brindle, sandy and wheaten specimens are occasionally seen. The dark dogs are much more popular here, however. A good dog should stand 10 to 12 inches and weigh 16 to 20 pounds. The long-whiskered face; low, strong body; short, heavy legs, and rather heavy though gaily carried tail are all "earmarks" of the well-bred Scotty. He is all terrier, and with all his busy, active ways he combines a dignity and solemnity of manner that is very amusing.

THE WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER The West Highland white is almost the counterpart of the Scottish terrier except in color, which must be pure white, with black- nose. The forehead is higher, and a distinct stop is evident in the profile. The coat is double, the long outer hair being very harsh and wiry, the under coat much shorter and softer. The Cairn and Sealyham terriers are rapidly coming into popularity, and belong in this group.

The Cairn terrier has less pronounced whiskers than the Scotty, and his coat is somewhat shorter and reveals his form rather more, while the Sealyham is quite different in that the ears, instead of being short and pointed, are quite long and lop forward like an Airedale's.

In color they are like the wire-haired fox terrier — white, with or without patches of black for sandy red) on the face. The Sealyham is supposed to have Dandie Dinmont in his make-up, which gives him substance and rather a more bandy-legged appearance than Scotty or his white cousin should have. The head, with its lopping ears and more pronounced stop, has a less piquant expression. The tail is docked and carried high.

THE SKYE TERRIER No doubt in his earlier days the Skye terrier was a good sport, but of late years he has given so much consideration to "dress" that he has degenerated into a lap-dog. His coat, which is his chief title to distinction, is so long that it is not easy to see whether he is going or coming. And he can't tell you; for there is so much hair over his eyes that he can't see for himself.

The long hair covers this dog so completely as totally to conceal the physical characteristics it is supposed to possess. There are two types : those with pendent ears and those with upright "pricked" ears. The dog himself is long and low, like the other Scotch terriers, and the hair, which parts from his nose to his tail, comes nearly or quite to the ground. This outer coat is quite hard and nearly straight, curls being a grave fault, though a moderate wave is generally present ; it should be at least 5 1/2 inches long on the body, thougli shorter on the head. It falls forward and nearly conceals the eyes.

The only visible feature of a good Skye is his black hutton of a nose. The undercoat is much softer and more sympathetic to the touch. In color the Skye may be dark or light " blue" or gray, or fawn with black points. The height is about 9 inches and the weight 16 to 20 pounds.

From The Book of Dogs: An Intimate Study of Mankind's Best Friend By National Geographic Society (U.S.), Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Ernest Harold Baynes Published 1919. 109 pages Original from Harvard University.

This image (or other media file) is in the public domain because its copyright has expired.

This applies to the United States, where Works published prior to 1978 were copyright protected for a maximum of 75 years.

See Circular 1 "COPYRIGHT BASICS" from the U.S. Copyright Office. Works published before 1923 are now in the public domain In the United States,

This inage is also in the public domain in countries that figure copyright from the date of death of the artist (post mortem auctoris in thi case Louis Agassiz Fuertes (1874 – 1927) and that most commonly runs for a period of 50 to 70 years from that date. If your use will be outside the United States please check your local law.

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