[Illustration: ESQUIMAU DOGS.]
The many different kinds of Dogs that are spread over the entire surface
of the globe, with the Wolves, Jackals and Foxes, and their numerous
smaller relatives are all grouped under the family of Canidae, which is
derived from the Latin word Canis, meaning a Dog. All the members of
this family are digitigrade. Though they walk on their toes, like the
members of the Felidae, or Cat family, their claws are neither sharp nor
retractile like those of the Cat and they cannot serve either for attack
or defence.
Nearly all the members of this family have long tails, more or less
clothed with hair, and their tongue is smooth, and in this respect
different from the Cats.
[Illustration: NEWFOUNDLAND DOG.]
They are the most intelligent of the Carnivora. Their senses,
particularly that of smell, are strongly developed.
Some Naturalists claim that the Dog is a tamed Wolf, others that he is a
well-educated Jackal, but there can be little doubt that he constitutes
a genus set apart for the service of mankind, although there are such
numerous varieties of domestic Dogs. It is impossible to discover in
which of the past ages, the Dog became the servant of Man. The oldest
traditions and the most ancient history show us the Dog as the friend
and the servant of mankind.
Volumes might be written relating stories of which Dogs are the heroes.
Every day in ordinary life we see something of this kind, and which,
although of such frequent occurrence, is none the less curious. As
examples of the past we might call to memory the Dog of Ulysses, the
model of fidelity; the Dog of Montargis, the vanquisher of crime; of
Munito, the brilliant player of dominoes. It is not necessary to mention
the Newfoundland Dog and the Dog of Mount St. Bernard, as preservers of
human life; their wonderful exploits are too well known to require
special instances as examples. Nor is it necessary to speak of the
numberless instances of intelligent Dogs going for provisions for their
masters, and serving them in curious ways—like the shoe-black’s Dog, who
was trained to plant his muddy paws on the best polished boots, so as to
bring more business to his master, the man of the brush. We should never
come to an end if we attempted to tell of all the exploits of this
valuable companion of man.
It is also useless to attempt to mention all the various species of Dogs
that are found scattered over all the inhabited parts of the world; but
certain varieties may be divided into classes. The Sporting Dogs, for
instance, are usually divided into two classes—the Running Dogs or
Hounds, and the Setters or Pointers. The first follow rapidly on a track
or scent, howling and crying all the way, and only stop when they have
captured or lost their game. The second follow silently on the trail of
the game, and only stop pursuing it when the scent announces that they
are close to the object of their search. It is then that they are said
to be pointing or setting. Setters generally lie down and wait for the
sportsman, while the Pointers stand.
Among the Running Dogs might be mentioned the Greyhound, the Hounds of
Saintonge and of Poitou, English Foxhounds, Harriers and Beagles,
Turnspits, Bull-dogs, Mastiffs, etc. The principal sporting Dogs are the
Pointers, Setters, Land Spaniels and Water Spaniels.
It is almost impossible to class all the different kinds of Dogs in
groups, with the many races and sub-races now existing. Some Naturalists
have divided all these different varieties into three classes—the
Matins, the Spaniels, and the Mastiffs, and although this method may
have its faults, it also has the advantage of being easy to remember and
sufficient for practical use.
It is among the Matins that the largest-sized Dogs are found. The
ordinary Matin—the great Danish Dog—is as large as a good-sized Donkey;
under this class are also found the Spotted Danish Dog, the Little
Danish Dog, the different varieties of Greyhounds, the Pyrenean
Shephard’s Dog, the Alpine Dog, and the St. Bernard Dog.
The Spaniels comprise the Wolf Dog, the Chinese Dog, the Siberian Dog,
the Esquimaux Dog—the two latter being used to draw sledges across the
snow—the French and English Spaniels, and what is classed as the Small
Spaniel, including a great number of varieties of “Lap Dogs,” which are
the favorite home pets, in spite of the fact that they are particularly
remarkable for their ugliness, and their small size. The principal
Lap-dogs are the King Charles, Cocker, Blenheim, Small Poodle and the
Small White Dog of Cuba, or Havanese Dog, etc. Then we come to the
Turnspits, with straight and crooked legs; the St. Domingo Dog; the
large Water Spaniel—the most faithful and intelligent of all dogs; the
Little Water Spaniel, Poodle, Newfoundland Dog; Stag, Fox and Hare
Hounds; Bloodhounds, Pointers and Setters.
Among the Mastiffs are placed the Great Dog or English Mastiff, an
animal that is very courageous, and a great fighter; the Thibit Mastiff,
the Small Mastiff, the Pug, the Bull-dog, the Terrier, and Bull Terrier,
the Turkish Dog, remarkable for its almost naked skin, and last of all,
our common Cur Dog, with no distinct characteristics.
Then we have a class of Dogs distinct from these friends and servants of
mankind. These live either entirely wild or half-wild, and are scattered
over various parts of the globe. These are the Dingo, or New Holland
Dog, which is very destructive to domestic animals, and even to cattle;
the Dhale, or East Indian Dog, which in packs, pursues Deer, Gazelles,
etc., and which, when collected in troops, does not fear to fight with
the Lion or Tiger; the Wild Dog of Sumatra; the Cape of Good Hope Dog
and the Maroon Dog of America.