TitleThe Terriers. A History And Description Of The Modern Dogs Of Great Britain And Ireland
AuthorRawdon B. Lee
PublisherHorace Cox
Year1894
Read more: The Terriers. A History And Description Of The Modern Dogs Of Great Britain And Ireland | by Rawdon B. Lee
I fancy that most of us at one time or another have owned a bull terrier. The undergraduates at Oxford and Cambridge were fond of him, and at one time it formed as much a part of their equipment as a "top hat" does at the present day. One of the first dogs I ever possessed was a bull terrier, a fawn dog with a black muzzle, and about 3olb. in weight. He was a really good-looking dog, though he cost but half a crown when a month old, purchased from a sporting barber in a country town, whose reputation for dogs was as high as that he possessed as a shaver.
The puppy was christened "Sam," for a long time he was my constant companion, and became an adept at hunting rats by the riverside, a capital rabbiter, and as good a retriever as most dogs. He would perform sundry tricks, find money hidden away, and could be sent back a mile for anything - a glove, a stick - that had been left behind. He would take part in a game at cricket, and fielded the ball so expeditiously that on more than one occasion Sam and I played single wicket matches against a couple of opponents, and as a rule came out successfully. Altogether this was a kind of dog that could not be obtained now, but on his father's side he came of a fighting stock, and as he grew older he developed a love for a "turn-up" with any passing canines, which caused me to part with him. He was the death of about a couple of dogs, but otherwise he was the gentlest of the gentle; our cat kittened in his kennel, and with one little shaggy dog belonging to a friend he struck up a great friendship. Prince, this cross-bred creature's name, was one day turned over and worried by a bully of a sheepdog. In canine language he came and told the story of his woe to Sam. The two set out together, and on our cricket field came across the bully; Prince and Sam went up to him, the latter, with his tail held stiff and looking savage, seized the sheepdog by the throat, threw him over by a fair buttock in the $#@!berland and Westmoreland style of wrestling, then, turning his back on his fallen foe, raised one of his hind legs, and, after treating him in the most disdainful manner possible, trotted off with his little friend.
Poor Sam ! I even now think of him with regret. We had to part, and he was sent to Manchester to do duty as guard in a warehouse and shop. But the smoky Cottonopolis he did not like, nor the confinement; instead of snarling and barking at the tramps, he "canoodled" with them and made friends - as a watch-dog he was useless. Perhaps he pined for Prince and the cricket field, for the riverside and the country walks. He died of a broken heart, for he did not like the large town's ways.
This was nearly thirty years ago, and friends of mine still tell me "You never had another dog like Sam," or "Sam was the best dog you ever had."
Read more: The Bull Terrier. Part 2
Read more: Chapter II. The Bull Terrier
AuthorRawdon B. Lee
PublisherHorace Cox
Year1894
Read more: The Terriers. A History And Description Of The Modern Dogs Of Great Britain And Ireland | by Rawdon B. Lee
I fancy that most of us at one time or another have owned a bull terrier. The undergraduates at Oxford and Cambridge were fond of him, and at one time it formed as much a part of their equipment as a "top hat" does at the present day. One of the first dogs I ever possessed was a bull terrier, a fawn dog with a black muzzle, and about 3olb. in weight. He was a really good-looking dog, though he cost but half a crown when a month old, purchased from a sporting barber in a country town, whose reputation for dogs was as high as that he possessed as a shaver.
The puppy was christened "Sam," for a long time he was my constant companion, and became an adept at hunting rats by the riverside, a capital rabbiter, and as good a retriever as most dogs. He would perform sundry tricks, find money hidden away, and could be sent back a mile for anything - a glove, a stick - that had been left behind. He would take part in a game at cricket, and fielded the ball so expeditiously that on more than one occasion Sam and I played single wicket matches against a couple of opponents, and as a rule came out successfully. Altogether this was a kind of dog that could not be obtained now, but on his father's side he came of a fighting stock, and as he grew older he developed a love for a "turn-up" with any passing canines, which caused me to part with him. He was the death of about a couple of dogs, but otherwise he was the gentlest of the gentle; our cat kittened in his kennel, and with one little shaggy dog belonging to a friend he struck up a great friendship. Prince, this cross-bred creature's name, was one day turned over and worried by a bully of a sheepdog. In canine language he came and told the story of his woe to Sam. The two set out together, and on our cricket field came across the bully; Prince and Sam went up to him, the latter, with his tail held stiff and looking savage, seized the sheepdog by the throat, threw him over by a fair buttock in the $#@!berland and Westmoreland style of wrestling, then, turning his back on his fallen foe, raised one of his hind legs, and, after treating him in the most disdainful manner possible, trotted off with his little friend.
Poor Sam ! I even now think of him with regret. We had to part, and he was sent to Manchester to do duty as guard in a warehouse and shop. But the smoky Cottonopolis he did not like, nor the confinement; instead of snarling and barking at the tramps, he "canoodled" with them and made friends - as a watch-dog he was useless. Perhaps he pined for Prince and the cricket field, for the riverside and the country walks. He died of a broken heart, for he did not like the large town's ways.
This was nearly thirty years ago, and friends of mine still tell me "You never had another dog like Sam," or "Sam was the best dog you ever had."
Read more: The Bull Terrier. Part 2
Read more: Chapter II. The Bull Terrier
A Bull Terrier called Sam 1894
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