Club possesses two challenge cups and two breeders' cups, and issues an excellent Annual Report; in the last one to hand it is indicated that field trials and produce stakes for the breed may soon be established. The following is the Standard of Points it publishes :— STANDARD OF POINTS OF THE IRISH WATER SPANIEL HEAD.-Capacious skull, rather raised in dome and fairly wide, showing large brain capacity. The dome appears higher than it really is, from its being surmounted by the crest or top-knot, which should grow down to a point between the eyes, leaving the temple smooth. EYES. Comparately small, dark amber, and very intelligent looking. NOSE.-Dark liver coloured, rather large, and well developed. EARS.-Set on rather low. In a full-sized specimen the leather should be not less than 18 inches, and with feather about 24 inches. feather on the ear should be long, abundant, and wavy. The NECK.-Should be "pointer-like," i.e., muscular, slightly arched, and not too long. It should be strongly set on the shoulders. BODY (including size and symmetry).—Height at the shoulder from 20 to 23 inches, according to sex and strain; body fair sized, round, barrel shaped, and well ribbed up. SHOULDER AND CHEST.-Chest deep, and not too narrow; shoulders strong, rather sloping, and well covered with hard muscle. BACK AND LOIN.-Back strong, loins trifle arched and powerful, so as to fit them for the heavy work of beating through sedgy, muddy sides of rivers. HINDQUARTERS.-Round and muscular, and slightly drooping towards the set on of the stern. STERN. -A "whip tail," thick at base and tapering to a sting." The hair on it should be short, straight, and close lying, excepting for a few inches from its root, where it gradually merges into the body coat in some short curls. FEET AND LEGS." Fore legs" straight, well boned. They should be well finished with wavy hair all round and down to the feet, which should be large and round. "Hind legs" stifle long, hock set low; they should be well furnished except from the hock down the front. COAT.-Neither woolly nor lank, but should consist of short, crisp curls right up to the stern. Top-knot should fall well over the eyes. It, and furnishing of ears, should be abundant and wavy. COLOUR.-Dark rich liver or puce (to be judged by its original colour). A sandy light coat is a defect. Total absence of white desirable; any except a little on chest or a toe should disqualify. GENERAL APPEARANCE.-That of a strong, compact, dashinglooking dog, with a quaint and very intelligent aspect. They should not be leggy, as power and endurance are required of them in their work. Noisy and joyous when out for a spree, but mute on game. Light yellow or gooseberry eyes Cording, or tags of dead or matted hair Moustache, or poodle hair on cheek Lank, open, or woolly coat A natural sandy, light coat Furnishing of tail more than half-way down to sting 0257870015 Total negative points Disqualifications.-Total absence of top-knot; a fully feathered tail, any white patch on any part of the dog, except a small one on chest or toe. My illustrations reproduce Ch. Harp and a vignette of the head of Rock Diver. Ch. Harp was bred by the late Dr. Fletcher, and subsequently the property of Colonel the Hon. W. le Poer Trench. It was by Ch. Blair ex Widgeon. The photograph of the bitch was taken just after she had come out from having a swim, and had shaken herself. Mr. Trench O'Rorke remarks, "Although Harp is dead, the photograph of her will be a useful guide to modern breeders. It shows clearly the length of foreface and muzzle, and squareness and quality of the latter. It also shows her deep, well sprung ribs and most typical hindquarters, closecurled coat, and whip-tail. She won numerous championships and prizes, and was the dam of Ch. Shaun and other winners." Rock Diver was the property of Mr. Trench O'Rorke, and by Barry Sullivan ex Madam Blair. He stood 21 inches high and weighed 58 lbs. His owner held him to be a most typical specimen of the breed, especially in his beautiful head. He signalised his last public appearance by winning the championship at the Dublin Show when he was nine years old-a fitting climax to a long winning career. Rock Diver was phenomenally successful at stud, sired three champions, and was grandsire of the Irish Water Spaniel Her Majesty the Queen has lately accepted. During the last few years his progeny have practically monopolised all the prizes in the Irish Water Spaniel classes at dog shows. |