Irish Wolfhound History

The American Kennel Gazette

Breed Column on the Irish Wolfhound from the American Kennel Gazette:-

Irish wolfhound
I wish to remind every member of the Club of our specialty show, which is to be held in connection with the Devon Dog Show Association event at Devon, Pennsylvania, on May 30. We must surpass the number of entries at the recent Westminster show, if we are to keep the breed to the front. Although Westminster brought out twenty-five hounds, and was considered by all of us to be a very good entry, we can, I believe, do still better, and I sincerely hope that support will be forthcoming for the Devon show. It is a one-day out-of-door show, and as such should appeal to many who are reluctant about bringing out their hounds to a three-day show. It is a splendid opportunity for breeders and lovers of this breed to get together, and as this is also the day for the annual meeting of the Club, I feel I cannot urge, too strongly, the need for every member to try and be present and bring as many hounds as possible to Devon.
It might not be amiss, at this time, to mention the membership in the Club. There are both active and associate memberships offered. Active membership includes all privileges of the club. The applicant's name should be sponsored by a member of the Club and mailed to the secretary, who, in turn, will present it to the committee to be voted on. The dues for active membership are $10 a year. Associate membership grants all privileges of the Club, with the exception of voting or holding office. The yearly dues for associate membership are $5. Anyone interested in the breed, or desiring to join the Club, is eligible to associate membership, and will become a member upon payment of one year's dues.
This avails everyone of the benefits of the Club, enables newcomers to become acquainted with older fanciers at Club shows. Active membership may be applied for later if desired. Everyone interested in Irish wolfhounds should belong to the breed Club.
The Mid-West shows have, consistently, brought out Irish wolfhound entries. At Chicago there were eight Irish wolfhounds on the bench, and with the exception of one rather embarrassing nondescript that has a habit of popping up at this show, all the entrants were of considerable quality.
Edward T. Clark reports that his Felixstowe Kilfree is nursing a very fine litter of puppies, by his Felixstowe Kilmorac Halcyon, and that his Ch. Felixstowe Kilbagie is also in whelp to Kilmorac.
Ch. Mona of Ambleside is busy with a litter of puppies to Sulhamstead Dan of Ambleside, as is also Frona of Ambleside at the Ambleside Kennels.
The following appeared in the April 4 issue of the English publication, Our Dogs:
"The hound group at Detroit was decidedly interesting as it brought in a very spectacular entry which, after a very careful sorting out, were placed as follows: The beagle, Ch. Continental Prim of Giralda; the Irish wolfhound, Ch. Felixstowe Kilmorac Halcyon.... with a mighty close race for the blue, as the Irish wolfhound had topped one of the best entries of this impressive breed, for a special effort had been made by the local Ambleside owned by Mr. and Mrs. L.O. Starbuck, who have worked most diligently to boom the breed, and the 'Halcyon' the property of Mr. and Mrs. Edward T. Clark, to make Detroit the banner entry in hopes that the breed champion might be in evidence when it came to the Hound Group and final struggle for best in show.
"It was at this show that the now famous local-bred Ambleside Mona, one of the best balanced hounds of all breeds ever shown, came out some years ago, and has since topped the breed until the Halcyon champion, Felixstowe Kilmorac, appeared. I have clear memories of the early importations of the late Jos. A. McAleenan, the majority of which came from dear old Felixstowe; but for type, balance, and character, I am of the opinion that Kilmorac, a grayish brindle by Felixstowe Killona x Iduna of Hindhead, is about the best ever bred by the astute Suffolk fancier, I.W. Everett, and if judges will only take into consideration the remarkable balance, rare shoulder formation, true front, and powerful quarters of Kilmorac, as seen at Detroit, the Irish wolfhound is apt to be much in evidence in the final lineup for best in show."
I should like to add that among the American-bred hounds that have done phenomenal winning in the past few years, should be included Ch. Cragwood The O'Toole, the sire of the young winners dogs at the last Westminster show, Cragwood Ballybilly.

L.O. STARBUCK, Secretary-Treasurer,
Ambleside, Augusta, Michigan.
1930
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Irish wolfhound
 At the recent meeting of the Irish Wolfhound Club of America, it was suggested that different members of the club should take over the work of supplying this column with one article each month. The idea met with immediate approval, and Edward T. Clark of Halcyon Farms, Goshen, New York, was asked to write the first article. This he sent me on April 4, and I use it as the introduction to our column. It follows:-
"Certainly that was a splendid idea that someone had at the meeting of the club at the Westminster Show that different members of the club would assume responsibility to get together some news items to put in this column. Have just received a note reminding me that my comments are due at this time. Since the Westminster show we have made no sales, been to no shows, had no puppies. Of what, then, can I write?
"We had hoped that our long story of hard luck with the hounds would be broken this spring by a litter of puppies which we had counted on our Ch. Halcyon Tamara presenting to us. Our hopes, however, had not mounted too high as it had been impossible for us to get a satisfactory mating. We find now that we are to have no puppies.
"We are beginning to work on coats and exercise for the specialty show, and are hoping to be able to make three or four entries for that event. Dogs that are kept on this circuit are of course kept in the pink of condition as long as is possible. It seems to me that two of the advantages of dog shows is the tendency which it develops on the part of the owner to look with a very critical eye at his own stock.
"Following these times of inspection inevitably come a series of constructive practices that tend to improve the condition of the dogs about to be shown, and ultimately the welfare of the whole breed. Few things can do more for the general well-being of the breed than to exhibit at least at the important fixtures in the country. I hope we may have a very large entry at Madison and Essex.
"My wife has just suggested that it might be interesting to the readers of this column to mention the fact that one of the bitches which came home with us from England a year ago, has spent the past winter at the Halcyon Farms School where, together with a Welsh terrier, she has been the playmate of the children of the school. The school is located so near to our own place that for some time it was difficult to keep her from returning to her former home, but for many months now she has been contented to stay at the school where mutual love and companionship have sprung up between her and the children of the school. They feel very proud of their Irish wolfhound, and have used her once or twice, symbolizing the school and what it stands for, in the way of designing bookplates, etc."
And on April 11, these further notes reached me:
"Immediately after sending my notes for our column, the April GAZETTE came in, and I read the splendid article by Mr. Starbuck. This question of seeing our hounds actually used in the field is one in which I am sure all fanciers are interested. I hope that we may be able to carry on the discussion that Mr. Starbuck has raised, and that this column may contain specific suggestions from which, possibly at a later meeting, we may be able to set up some plans which may be practical.
"I have always hoped that one day I might be able to see hounds working on Western prairies where presumably their game would be coyotes. This, of course, would be very impractical from the standpoint of Eastern breeders and would lack any specific way which the dog could be judged or rated on any competitive scale. While such a rating might not in every case be entirely desirable, it would be difficult without to attempt to place the dogs as to their hunting skill.
"Of course in any competition, no matter how definite the requirements may be, the judging is very largely a subjective thing on the part of each individual judge. Possibly, any such competition could be left entirely to the judgement of a group of two or three judges, and then again it may be entirely unwise to rate the dogs in any such way.
"The Irish wolfhound is supposed to have the speed to overtake and the strength to dispatch its quarry. It seems to me that the question of speed might be more easily tested than the ability to dispatch. I have often wondered about the advisability of trying some of our hounds after a mechanical hare in much the same manner as is done with the greyhound racing. I know nothing about this racing at all, but the few times I have seen it I have wished that I had one of the hounds at hand and could arrange to try him around the track. Possibly someone has done something of this sort, or is located near a track where they could try it.
"Another possibility might be more practical for this part of the country where the hounds could be brought together at any convenient place and hares liberated for them to chase. Personally, I have hesitated to do this on our own place as I have disliked the idea of having the hares killed or, on the hand, liberating them to multiply. Frequently, when out riding with the hounds, they raise a rabbit, but the lay of the land and the undergrowth often prevent their seeing the rabbit, and among the few hounds that we now have, none go out and hunt in the way some of the older dogs used to do.
"The sire's brother of the first Irish wolfhound that we ever owned, had been used for wild boar-hunting in Southern France. The tale is told that he dispatched six wild boars by himself and was killed by the seventh one. This must be a very thrilling sport, but as far as I know, it would be impossible to try in this country. One of the puppies that we sold was to be used for running deer, but I have never heard how successful she was, and, indeed, she would only now have become old enough to be used for that purpose.
"These are simply some of the first thoughts that come to my mind in response to reading Mr. Starbuck's article. I hope that others may have some definite and specific suggestions.
"A few days ago we were remarking that our Welsh terriers seemed to take their dispositions from the dam rather than the sire. We went back over several litters and picked out individual dogs over a period of some years, and it does seem as though invariably it were the case. With our hounds, we have so comparatively few litters that it is more difficult to generalize, but it is apparent to us that, even to a greater degree than with the terriers, the hounds do seem to take their disposition and temperament from the dam.
"One of the fanciers spoke to me about this recently, and it occurred to methat it might be somewhat interesting if we could pool observations and experiences on this point in the column. Possibly it will get us nowhere, but there is no doubt that the question of temperament is a very important one with the Irish wolfhound."
This column is open to all Irish wolfhound fanciers, and comments on any ideas presented in this column from time to time will be welcomed.
There is a new family of Irish wolfhounds in Arizona. Last November, Dr. Kimball Bannister of Phoenix, Arizona, shipped his Kathleen to California to be mated to Mrs. Norwood B. Smith's Cragwood Muldoon. On February 1, Kathleen whelped nine puppies. Kathleen was bred by D.D. Davis of Minneapolis, and is sired by Sulhamstead Dan and out of Brenda of Ambleside. Cragwood Muldoon was bred by his owner, anbd is by Felixstowe Kilgarth Halcyon out of Cragwood Macha. This should prove an interesting litter.
I regret to report the death of Rathmullan Kennels Gelert of Ambleside, following a short but severe illness. Gelert was but three and one-half years old, a hound of great symmetry and a litter-brother to Ch. Garragh of Ambleside, now owned by Mrs. J.S. Morgan, Jr. of Glen Cove, Long Island. Gelert leaves two fine sons at Rathmullan, in their Sagramohr and Gareth of Rathmullan.
At Avonwood Kennels, Haverford, Pennsylvania, there are some six-month puppies that are thriving and creating considerable interest, so writes their owner, Mrs. Victor C. Mather. These puppies are out of Mrs. Mather's two imported bitches, Bournstream Lorna and Marcella of Westervale, and are sired by her Ch. Cragwood Ballybilly.
With the arrival of spring, we are hearing here and there of new litters, and I shall be glad to have any reports on these so we may all be in touch with one another's breeding plans. There are two new litters at Ambleside Kennels, sired by the imported Sulhamstead Dan and out of Raglan of Ambleside and Top Lady of Ambleside.
The Morris and Essex Kennel Club show at Madison, New Jersey, will be considered the club's specialty for this year, and I am hoping for greater numbers than turned out last year. There ought to be a good entry in the puppy classes. It's fairly easy to bring puppies to a one-day out-of-door fixture, and there is no question but that the puppy class is always one of great interest to those really interested in the breed. It's a real task for the judge, however, as in this large breed, the difference in the monthly development is very great, and the difficulty of appraising them together is obvious.

L.O. STARBUCK, Secretary
May 1, 1933
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Irish wolfhound
 The more experience I have with Irish wolhounds," writes Mrs. Grant Small, "the more I am impressed with their intelligence and disposition. Some years ago, I purchased from Mr. Everett, owner of the Felixstowe Kennel in England, a wolfhound bitch, Lady Patricia; at that time she was about five years old. Mr. Everett wrote me she had been brought up as a pet, and he hoped she would find a good home. I first placed her in our kennels, but she was so unhappy there, refusing to eat and evidently mourning so for her old associations. I was afraid she would not live.
"I removed her from the kennels to my house. In a few days you would have thought she had always lived there. In two weeks' time, much to my annoyance, she had learned to open the front door. No one had taught her; but she had evidently found out, by observation, how to open the door. I have since been trying to teach her to close the door after she enters the house. If I am around, she will generally do so, but if no one sees her, she still leaves the door open.
"If I am away from home she cannot be induced to eat for four or five days. After that period, nature evidently overcomes sentiment, and starvation drives her to begin eating again.
"So much for the wisdom and devotion of the Irish wolfhound. There are many Irish wolfhounds like Lady Patricia. She is in no way exceptional. They will show these traits if given sufficient human association.
"It has been my experience that no other dog is easier to keep in condition than the Irish wolfhound when fully grown, but as puppies they are difficult to rear. The breeder must remember that in raising Irish wolfhounds. He has the task of bringing up a strong large hound, and like a good colt, or even a baby, these dogs require constant care and careful feeding before they reach maturity. The same applies to the dam before she whelps. If the mother's milk is not strong and in good quantity, the puppies are apt to develop rickets soon after weaning.
"I think it would be very interesting if the breeders of wolfhounds in their next series of letters would write how they feed their bitches before whelping, and how they feed their puppies after weaning. These letters might lead to a standard of feeding that would no only make the puppies easier to raise, but improve our type of dogs.
"Is it not a fact that the Irish wolfhound is probably the largest dog known to exist? So let us endeavour to retain their size, by trying to breed large, sound dogs, and not breed to more or less artificial points or characteristics, that tend to lessen the size or stamina of the dog, as has been done in so many other breeds.
"I am not sufficiently informed to give you any news of other Irish wolfhound kennels but my own, and as my kennels are of more recent date than many of our club members, I do not feel justified to be the first to write on feeding, as I have suggested.
"Has it ever occurred to you that the life of dogs in a well-kept kennel is simply a replica of our life in a large family? They have their joys and sorrows, births and deaths. Some members of the large family become famous, some are cast to play a more humble part in the world.
"As it is with the family, so it is with the dogs; as the children grow up, the youngsters are sent out into the world to make their own way. Let the father of the Inverdale Kennels, Cragood Hy'on, tell his own tale. If his enthusiasm for his offsprings should seem in poor taste, pray make allowance for a father's pride, and also for Celtic temperament. The Irish wolfhound, Cragwood Hy'on, will now tell you the story of the Inverdale Kennels, largely a history of his family. Here it is:
"'My mistress has asked me to write you the recent news of the Inverdale Kennels. First, with the deepest regret, I report the death of my beloved mate, Cragwood Clare. She has given me many children, who I am proud to say have made their mark in the world, some by winning ribbons for our kennel; and some were adopted by other families, and though I shall probably never see them again, I feel confident they are repaying the care they received ten-fold by the loyalty and love they give to those who have adopted them. The latest to leave us was my daughter, Selene of Inverdale. She has been adopted by a lady in Montreal.
"'Four other youngsters have left us since last February. I might add that my mistress, very wisely, disposed of the wolfhound dog, Punch of Brom Bones, which many time annoyed me by his attention to my mates. However, I bear him no ill will, and trust he has found a good home.
"'We still have left in the kennels two puppies, a boy and a girl about seven months old. I also have three children by the same mate, nearly two months old. Their mother, Felixstowe Kilcash, my mistress brought from England especially for me. She is the daughter of Ch. Iduna of Hindhead, a famous wolfhound in England.
"'There are also four youngsters, two boys and two girls, about six months old, by Cragwood Wendy Wee, and one baby out of Judy of Brom Bones, three weeks old.
"'Romance still comes our way. A Mr. Tolfree, owner of Felixstowe Kilbrew Cragwood, a son of Mr. Clark's famous champion,Felixstowe Kilmorac Halcyon, sent Kilbrew to our kennels to mate with Cragwood Wendy. Though neither the groom nor bride were any relation to me, I regret to report no children blessed their union.
"'I am glad to announce that all the rest of my descendants are in excellent health. In case this letter should chance to be read by some of my children that have left us, let them remember the traditions of their race, be kind and gentle to all the members of the family that have given them a home, and be loyal to their master.
"'My show days are over, and I have been retired to the side-lines. May my children and my children's children carry on. Cragwood Hy'on has told you in his own way the news of the Inverdale Kennels. In case any one might find fault with his morals or lack of morals, it is only fair to remember that he was brought up in the Mormon faith.'"
Next month we hope to have a report of our breed at the Morris and Essex Kennel Club show to offer.

L.O. STARBUCK, Secretary
Ambleside, Augusta, Michigan.
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Irish wolfhound
 I am sorry that our notes have to be sent in before Westminster and not after, so those unable to be present at the Club's annual meeting and at the Westminster show will have to await the April issue for reports concerning same. We hope Mr. McCandlish will favour us with a report on the hounds as he sees them, and if so, that will be included. Westminster starts the year and I hope the rest of the year will find great activity in our ranks that will contribute to the meat of our column.
Some time ago I had a splendid letter from Alex Scott. He remarked that he was now running the Afghans with the Irish hounds. He says:
"The hounds had quite a run after a coyote the other morning. Lost him twice, due to barbed wire fences. The hounds know what a coyote is now. Brick is a fast yin. Started up a jack rabbit, turned him twice, and the Afghan killed it. Then, on the way home, we got two cottontails.
"The dogs are getting as hard as nails, and come back to the kennels as fresh as when they left with me—all rarin' to go! The puppies are all coming along nicely. They are around ten months. I've got two extra good dog puppies. One light grey and the other dark. The dark one weighs around 140 pounds, and the light one 134 pounds, both big rangy hounds. The lighter pupper excelling in head and coat, the dark one in legs and feet.
"I started just before Thanksgiving to take the puppies out with the horse. They were just over nine months old then. I had them broke in to follow me on foot either singly, coupled, or as a pack. Also broke to come to a shrill blast from a police whistle.
"I started out the first day with Brick and one puppy. The second day took two puppies. The third day I left Brick in the kennels and took four puppies with me. By the end of the week, I have seven puppies exercising with the horse. The worst trouble I had was to keep them away from the horse's feet. Also to keep them from jumping up at me when the horse was standing still. Now I can run the horse among them, turn either right or left, and they will look out for themselves.
"They are getting light runs as yet. In fact, I am letting them do almost as they please when out. I take them away out in the open, and they run around until they have had enough. But I have them under control all the time. When called in to heel, they bunch nicely, and follow close to the horse. I have had them over the main highway a few times, and they have done fine."
In the Xmas issue of the British publication Our Dogs there was an interesting retrospect of our breed for 1934 given by I.W. Everett, who has had more than 44 years experience with the breed. I shall briefly give a few of his comments. Mr. Everett says:
"Many of our judges appear to have their special likes and dislikes, and unfortunately their values of those good or bad points vary very much. I think it would be of the greatest value if we could get together and in some way come to a more generally accepted opinion as to these values. There are some judges who appear to consider a good head outweighs to a great extent some fault which an animal may possess, and which from a utility point is much more vital.
"For instance, I think we all admire a really typical Irish Wolfhound head very much (that is, those who have gone to the trouble of finding out the ideal head), but at the same time it is, I submit, of more importance to have a good body and limb formation and placement. I do not suggest that just "any old head" will do, if the body and limbs are good, but a head less good than an outstandingly good one should be tolerated if the rest of the hound is better. Yes, I do feel we need to agree more closely as judges on the good and bad points. Follow the advice "Judge the animal according to his legitimate job".
"May I once again remind our breeders of the danger of tampering with the type of our breed. There is that everlasting trend to alter type; sometimes it has done good, but more often harm. Beware in our breed of the awful square-muzzled, narrow-skulled, untypical heads, deep narrow briskets, roach backs, flat or hollow backs, short couplings, tails set on high, straight, sticky hindquarters, too long or too short necks, and thin, fenceless coats.
"In a few words, I would like to give an idea of a typical head: of fair length, with the muzzle giving the impression of being a bit cut under, although the teeth are level, fairly well filled in before the eyes, the muzzle to be a bit pointed rather than giving the idea of squareness, skull reasonably strong, but not coarse, eyebrows, beard and eyelashes of good length and profuse, ears set on fairly high, of thin texture, folded back in repose and semi-erect when watching distant objects." [N.B. The whole of Isaac Everett's 'Retrospect' can be seen here.]

L.O. STARBUCK, Secretary,
Ambleside, Augusta, Mich.
March 1, 1935
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Irish wolfhound

Of the 28 hounds entered at Westminster, 26 appeared on the benches and later in the ring for W.L. McCandlish, chairman of the English Kennel Club, who came over to judge our breed. Mr. McCandlish went over all the entries, and in the classes he not only carefully watched the gait going and coming, but from the side. He was very particular that every hound be shown with a loose lead and was not patient with anyone who attempted to pose a hound, or touched one, or handled one while he was scrutinizing them. He distinctly wanted to see the hounds as they moved naturally about and placed themselves, and appeared annoyed when he had to repeat his remarks of "leave the dog alone" and "don't touch him."

It was confusing to some of those showing their hounds, since after being shown on a loose lead walking and trotting, it is quite the custom for the average exhibitor on this side to attempt to keep his hound in a decent pose while he is standing still. We seem to think, on this side, it gives a more orderly display and is more attractive from the ringside point of view at least. Since each hound must be moved in turn, no faults can be covered up definitely by keeping the hound, when not in action, in what is termed a 'posed position.'

We all appreciate the necessity of running the hounds on a loose lead, and any attempt to show them as terriers, holding their heads up, is to be discouraged. I have often heard Chas. G. Hopton comment on this, and he particularly deplores the tight lead when he asks you to move your hound.

The awards for Westminster will be found in their proper place in the Gazette, and since the future editorial policy of the Gazette is to discourage the giving of show awards in the columns, causing needless repetition, this column will no longer give any show placings in our breed, with the exception of the awarding of club plate or major awards or entries that have a direct bearing on the breed's progress.

It was evident to the close observer at the ringside at Westminster - which, by the way, was packed when Irish wolfhounds were being judged - that from the time the hound Dan Riley came into the ring, the judge was impressed, and he remarked to his owner, Miss Margery Arms, after the judging, that he was the most magnificent hound he had ever seen. Later, Mr. McCandlish remarked that all the hounds were better than he had expected.

There was an imposing array for the finals after Dan Riley had been judged best of winners, when Ch. Felixstowe Kilcully Halcyon, Ch. Steyning Sorrel Halcyon, Ch. Balbricken of Ambleside, and Ch. Halcyon Tamara came into the ring to contend for the top honor.

There were seven exhibitors in our breed, and they represented the States of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and New Mexico.

As to the club plate, the Halcyon Farms Trophy for best of breed and the Ch. Killabrick Cup for winners dog was given to Miss Arms' Dan Riley (Sulhamstead Dan of Ambleside — Molly Bawn of Ambleside and bred by Mrs. J. St. A. Boyer). The Secretary's Cup for winners bitches went to Mr. and Mrs. L.O. Starbuck's Ch. Roonagh of Ambleside. The Coval Brood Bitch Trophy was awarded to Halcyon Kennels' Ch. Steyning Sorrel.

The annual meeting of the Irish Wolfhound Club was held February 12, and the Board of Governors for the ensuing year includes the officers, which are: President, Edward T. Clark; vice-presidents, Herbert B. Shaw, Mrs. Victor C. Mather, Thomas M. Howell, Miss A.E. White and Mrs. Norwood B. Smith; the secretary-treasurer, L.O. Starbuck, and the following committee: Mrs. Edward T. Clark, R. Pryor Combs, Mrs. C. Groverman Ellis, Mrs. Amory L. Haskell, Mrs. Grant Small and Mrs. L.O. Starbuck. Our delegate to the American Kennel Club is Amory L. Haskell.

Let me remind all exhibitors at this time that the next "get together" for our breed is our Club Specialty, held at the Morris and Essex Kennel Club Show, at Madison, New Jersey, in May. Fred Ford is the judge. —

L.O. Starbuck, Secretary, Ambleside, Augusta, Mich.
April 1, 1935

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Irish wolfhound

This month I shall interrupt what I had intended to continue about the Irish wolfhound standard with a matter of more immediate importance. But first I am requested to announce that the annual meeting of the Irish Wolfhound Club of America will take place, as usual, on the day on which the breed is judged at the Westminster Show. The place of meeting, however, will be changed from a room in Madison Square Garden to a private room in the Hotel Lincoln. Members of the Club in New York on the selected date should ascertain the precise time and place by enquiring of the Secretary, Mrs. Starbuck, or other members, either at the wolfhound benches or by telephone at the Hotel Lincoln.

A problem which may come before the annual meeting is this: Morris and Essex has for some time been considered the specialty show for the breed, and rightly so, because it is outdoors and attracts more breeders, since it is held for only one day. But with the growth of the Morris and Essex show to its present huge proportions, there has come a corresponding growth in the distractions for the exhibitors, so that many feel they scarcely get settled and have time to show their dogs before the show is over in a whirl. There are so many people to see, so many things to do, that there is scarcely any time available for proper "visiting" or discussion.

The question at hand, therefore, is whether the Irish Wolfhound Club should not — with Mrs. Dodge's permission — hold its specialty show the day before Morris and Essex at the show grounds or at some other equally convenient place. The advantages that come to mind most prominently are these. Without the pressure of a large all-breed show going on around, members can meet in perfect leisure, discuss and compare their hounds formally and informally, and have a completely secluded and isolated wolfhound day devoted exclusively to the breed.

The judge selected will be the one selected by the Club, and not, as sometimes happens, with the best of intentions, a compromise between Club and Show. He will have no other assignment, and no other obligations or outside interests. Therefore, he will be able to devote more time to a detailed examination of every hound and discussion with its owner. In a manner impossible under other conditions, there will be no excuse for exhibitor and judge not coming closer together in an ideal situation.

Since Morris and Essex generally means that the exhibitor must come to the neighbourhood the night before, there should be no serious difficulties for the majority of exhibitors in arriving on the previous day. There will be the added advantage that in two days — since obviously all will wish to stay over for the main show the next day — they will be able to match their hounds at two large gatherings under two different expert judges, who may very well differ in certain awards.

Finally, with such a specialty show, there will once again arise the chance for competing for all sorts of special prizes, as was formerly done, but is now debarred by A.K.C. rules from all-breed shows. Thus, there could be specials offered, as there used to be for the tallest hound, for the best movement, for most ideal conformation, all sorts ranging down to the hound with the smallest ears or whatever points of excellence need emphasizing.

More points of advantage, and perhaps of disadvantage, will undoubtedly arise in the discussion at the meeting, and certainly the question of expense must be investigated. But, if sentiment is favorable, I hope we shall see in 1940 the new Irish wolfhound specialty show with all the trimmings.

Perhaps other large breeds would join us, and we might have the start of the "big breeds show", which is a feature of the English show year the day before another important all-breed show. Such a show would attract spectators who would be interested in us as we in them. But the main purpose of the proposed change is, and ought to remain, the complete and unhurried exhibition of our breed for our own sakes. —

F.T. Bowers
, 27 University Circle, Charlottesville, Va.
February 1, 1939

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