The Collie

O. P. Bennett

Description

Originally published in Washington 1924, and republished in a revised and up-dated edition in the same year, this extremely scarce early work on the Collie is both expensive and hard to find in any edition. VINTAGE DOG BOOKS have republished the revised edition, using the original text and photographs, as part of their CLASSIC BREED BOOKS series. The authors were highly respected figures in the dog world with Dr. Bennett being President of the Collie Club of America, and C.H. Wheeler being an expert on the history and origins of the Collie in the United Kingdom. Both men realised the great need for a modern volume on the Collie. This resulted in a work giving a fuller and more complete history of the breed than was hitherto available. They also took up the question of breeding in a more thorough manner than any other work of its kind in existence. The book's three hundred and fifty six pages consist of ten comprehensive chapters, illustrated with rare vintage photographs of Collie Champions for the period beginning circa 1874 through to 1923. Over two thirds of the work is devoted to detailed records of individual Collies. Although published in the U.S.A., the content is evenly divided between British Collies and their history, and their American cousins. Chapters include: - Origin - History - Blue Merles - American Collies - The Typical Collie - Breeding - Foods and Feeding - Kennelling - Exhibiting - Common Ailments. This is a fascinating read for any Collie enthusiast or historian of the breed, and also contains much information that is still useful and practical today. Many of the earliest dog breed books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. VINTAGE DOG BOOKS are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

Sujets

• Breeds
• Pets
• Dogs

Informations

• Publié par: Read Books Ltd.
• Date de parution: 03 décembre 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781447487173
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

THE COLLIE
THE COLLIE
By
DR. O. P. BENNETT President Collie Club of America
and
C. H. WHEELER
Copyright
To all those who love the Collie, the most noble animal of all, and are interested in his advancement, this book is respectfully dedicated .
PREFACE
The great need of a modern volume on the Collie was the reason for the writer undertaking the preparation of a book of this kind. He has attempted in this work to give a fuller and more complete history of this variety and also, to take up the questions of breeding in a more thorough manner than does any other work of this kind in existence.
Two classes of fanciers have been kept in mind in the preparation of this book-viz., the novice, the one just becoming interested in the fancy, and the older breeder. The former needs all the information obtainable to enable him to start aright in the breeding of the Collie, and to him, it is hoped that this volume will prove of inestimable value. The older fancier, though he may not be able to learn anything strictly new from its pages, should find it, also, of great assistance as a convenient book of reference.
The writer has been intensely interested in Collies for many years and has given much thought and study to the subjects discussed herein. To be sure, in many cases, this work represents to a great extent only his opinions, but in every instance, these have been formed only after due consideration has been given to the various facts propounded by the scientists and to the opinions of our best and most practical breeders and judges. Throughout the book, it has been the purpose of the writer to take up the various questions of breeding in such a manner as to free them from the ignorance and prejudices that have been handed down for years and that are even today believed by many.
Now that the volume is about completed I feel more keenly than ever the responsibility of trying to guide the thoughts and actions of the newly interested. I sincerely hope that the non-professional or the beginner may find in these pages some facts and suggestions that may acquaint him with certain guide posts familiar to those who have already reached success. If my expectations in this regard prove well founded, then I shall feel amply repaid for the great amount of time, energy and money, expended in its preparation.
I am especially indebted to Mr. Chas. H. Wheeler, Birmingham, England, for his preparation of chapters one, two and three. Only by his efforts was the book made possible. I am also under obligation to Dr. D. B. Franklin for his help with the chapter on Minor Ailments, to Mr. W. Ormiston Roy, for his notes on Canadian Collies and fanciers, to Mr. W. H. Gall, Mr. Robert McEwen, Dr. Henry Jarrett and others for information given, nor must I forget that daughter of mine, Marguerite, who by her efforts has helped me to put the material in proper form.
D R . O. P. B ENNETT .
W ASHINGTON , I LLINOIS .
PREFACE-SECOND EDITION
The fact that a large edition of this work was exhausted in a short time and that the demand for the book has been even greater since it was out of print than before, led me to undertake the task of publishing a second and revised edition.
The rewriting of a book of this kind is no small task. It has been my desire to give an honest and correct estimate of every breeder and an accurate description of each dog reviewed. The reader must realize, however, that no two judges, no matter how experienced, value a Collie or a breeder s efforts or success alike.
I would have been glad to have given prominence to breeders not mentioned and to have reviewed more dogs, but to do so would have doubled the size of the book.
In the preparation of this edition I am indebted to Mr. Hugo Ainscough and Mr. Tom Harrison of England and to Mr. Fred Lord, formerly of England but now living here, for information concerning the English Collies, and to Mrs. C. M. Lunt, Mr. Mike Kennedy and Mr. W. R. VanDyck, for items concerning those American Collies with which I am not familiar.
O. P. BENNETT, M. D.
Washington, Illinois,
August 1st, 1924.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Origin
History
Blue Merles
American Collies
The Typical Collie
Breeding
Foods and Feeding
Kennelling
Exhibiting
Common Ailments
THE COLLIE

ORIGIN
As to the origin of the Collie, the theme probably provides an interesting problem on which for the imagination to play; but, though several theories have been advanced, the absence of any reliable data on the matter leaves the mystery unsolved.
Being devoid of the slightest trace of satisfactory information to offer encouragement for strenuous research the petrified fossil must remain in its inextricable obscurity and the inquiring mind has perforce to be content with substituting conjecture for positive knowledge, and to remain in bewildering uncertainty on the point.
As we approach times less remote, a glimmer of light assists our investigations which enables us to discover proof sufficiently conclusive that the essential material from which our present ornaments of the Collie race have been evolved was a product peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland.
True enough, the mountainous districts of Wales provide ground for speculation as to the probability of the Collie having been fostered and cultivated in those regions; but, although Welsh shepherds have made astounding advancement in the working qualities of their sheep dogs since trials were instituted in Wales on October 9, 1873, we are confronted with facts, borne out by a very reliable authority, that until round about the year 1828 the Collie, or gathering dog, as he was then called, was unassociated with Wales.
Abundant evidence has been adduced that the Collie, in its usual vocation of shepherd s assistant, in the Highlands of Scotland, is a canine species of distinct type and of immeasurable distant antiquity.
At this point more light may be reflected on the subject by interpolating the remark that the work required of sheep dogs embraces many duties varying as certain conditions demand.
For instance, the general run of work that the restricted areas of low lying districts exact is, as a rule, that in which heavy slow sheep are concerned, therefore not providing scope for the exercise and display of the critically fine points of a dog s capacity of intelligence, whereas on the other hand the most intricate pieces of work, with the little nimble ovine species indigenous to the Highlands of Scotland have to be executed at a considerable distance from the shepherds, by reason of which a dog s intelligence, obedience and agility are put to the most severe tests.
It is therefore only reasonable to suppose that in accordance with the nature of things, the Scotch stock-owners have, for many generations past, exercised intelligent care in the breeding of Collies by selecting for the purpose those possessed of the most valuable attributes to fit them for their all important duties.
No further explanation is needed to emphasize the suggestion that, as regards the early progenitors, of which our modern show Collies are the worthy scions, was of Scotch composition.
With these premises in view our curiosity should find repose in the conclusion that to the Scotch shepherd is the credit due of being the means of founding one of the most handsome, sagacious, and docile of animals that have been given to become the faithful companion of mankind.
C. H. W.

C H . C OCKSIE

C H . C HARLEMAGNE

C H . P ORTINGTON B AR N ONE
HISTORY
In dealing with the history of the Collie in its elevated sphere as a show specimen, it is thought expedient to form a chain with connecting links that furnish items of interest in regard to its advancement from its natural, humble servility to that of the petted companion of the great, and onward to the present period.
It is a trite saying that every dog has its day, a proverb that has been borne out by various breeds of our four-footed friends which have made rapid flights to the altitude of public favor.
The sheep dog prior to the year 1860 was, except from the shepherds point of view, looked upon slightedly as belonging to an indifferent section of the canine race, and was commonly referred to as the cur dog.
It was in the sixties, whilst Her late Majesty Queen Victoria-a great lover of animals-was on a visit to Scotland that she became enamoured of the faithfulness, sagacity, and devotion of the Collie, which led to a member of this meritorious race being recognized as worthy of a place amongst her collection of much cherished canine pets.
This episode marked the epoch of the Collie s day and gave it the impetus that assured its destiny. From that time forward its popularity grew rapidly and, for many subsequent years, it flourished not only as the animated ornament which served to complete the out-of-doors equipment of the leaders of fashion but, as that of the fashionable household pet of the majority of dog lovers. It became a common sight to see the fashionable Collie companion, spick and span, well groomed, revealing a life of luxury, fulfilling, with all the alacrity of satisfaction, the mission of accompanying its owner on his customary ambulations. This propitious aspect of the Collie s existence was indicative of continued felicity; but a check to the favorable omen seemed imminent. A remark was given currency obviously by people who had not seen the light turned on to the Collie s many good qualities, the docile ones in particular, that Collies were inclined to be stupid. The stain that such a slur leaves on its trail must spring from either misconception or prejudice and is not easily effaced.
Those whose lot it has been to have the pleasure of the companionship of a well-trained Collie will possess familiar knowledge of the many invaluable features that are deeply seated in the grain of our canine friend s constitution.
Despite misleading suggestions or innuendoes, of a defamatory characte