(From a painting)
From the Lady's Pictorial, September 3rd, 1910.
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| Mrs. Shewell's Wolfhound Kennel, Cotswold,
Cheltenham (From a painting) |
Mrs. Shewell, the wife of Major Percy Shewell, of Cotswold, Cheltenham, has long been given pride of place in the list of owners of the Irish wolfhound, and at her residence on the outskirts of the garden town of England can now be seen the finest team in existence. At all the leading shows Major and Mrs. Shewell have been irresistible for many years, and, as the breeders of Cotswold, a hound even the late Captain Graham said he considered to be the finest specimen of the variety he had ever seen, they cannot be forgotten as long as the variety is provided with classification by enterprising show committees. It was Captain Graham, by the way, who, as long since as 1863, turned his attention to the work of resuscitating the variety, for it had become all but extinct, and it was only by thorough research that he found three distinct strains of the ancient hound in existence, though each was considerably deteriorated. The lines of breeding he decided to take up were those of hounds owned by Sir J. Power (Kilfane), Mr. Baker (Ballytobin), and Mr. Mahoney (Dromore) - all really Irish beyond a doubt - and from brood bitches bought from two of the kennels named, he succeeded in building up the Irish wolfhound of today, a handsomer hound than the original stock, for in its composition the deerhound, borzoi, and even the Great Dane were used, and the wolfhounds which are sent from Cotswold combine the grace of the Russian wolfhound with the symmetry of the Dane and the speed of the deerhound, the last-named one of the few breeds which have not been spoiled by the modern rage for show points.
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| Some of the dogs out at exercise in the paddock
(In the background is seen "Cotswold", the residence of Mrs. Shewell) |
It is from the pick of this stock that such hounds as Cotswold, Wolfe Tone - a black and grey dog bred by the late Mr. Herbert Compton, but for a time in Mrs. Shewell's kennel - Cotswold Patricia, Desmond, Paddy, and many others of the same beautiful type were bred, and though Captain Graham did so much to restore the fortunes of the historic variety, it is to Major and Mrs. Shewell, Mr. Compton, Mrs. Williams, and Mrs. Arthur Gerard that the thanks of its admirers are due for its present very satisfactory position. As the best Irish wolfhound of modern times, Cotswold, Mrs. Shewell's famous champion, is worthy of more than passing notice. He was whelped in March, 1902, and is by O'Leary-Princess Patricia of Connaught. When at his best, he weighed 142 lbs., and stood 34 ½ inches at the shoulder - a measurement making him the tallest dog in the country. Wheaten in colour, he possesses a long, head, great bone, hazel eyes, and a long tail beautifully carried. His coat is profuse; his body is well ribbed up, and his legs as straight as pillars; while his all-round quality was proved in his first season, for he won three championships in that period. Mrs. Shewell has been singularly successful at Cotswold, but there could be no better place for the rearing of hounds which require such liberty and, at the same time, careful attention, as Irish wolfhounds. The kennels are beautifully situated, several hundred feet above the sea level; the young hounds can be given perfect liberty in the park; while the roads in the district are not so motor-crowded as are those in the valley. The result is that both old and young hounds can be exercised in perfect safety. Their hardy appearance proves that road work, the best of all exercise, for it hardens the feet and tightens the muscles in a natural way, is not neglected at the Gloucestershire kennel, and Mrs. Shewell undoubtedly deserves the proud position she has attained as the owner of the famous Cotswold team.
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| Ch. Cotswold Patricia | Ch. Cotswold |
When one considers that history proves the Irish wolfhound to have been highly prized by the Romans, the value of Captain Graham's efforts in the work of restoration cannot fail to be appreciated by all dog-lovers, especially those who are students of breeding, for there can be little doubt that the deerhound is descended from the hound which the Gloucestershire sportsman really saved from absolute extinction. The modern deerhound is smaller, less robust, and more slim in body than the wolfhound, but it is not probable that our remote ancestors arrived at any very high standard as to quality or looks. Strength, stature, and fleetness were the points most carefully cultivated as regards those breeds used in the capture of large and fierce game. It is rather remarkable that while we have accounts of all the leading breeds from a remote period - including the Irish wolfhound - we find no reference to the deerhound except in writings of a comparatively recent date, which would in a measure justify us in supposing that the deerhound is the modern representative of the superb hound under notice. The Romans used the last-named in their combats in the arena, his great size, strength, and activity fitting him for that work, but it has always been questionable whether the Irish wolfhound was, strictly speaking, of the greyhound type, or a dog of far more robust character resembling the mastiff. Richardson, a writer on dogs in the middle of the last century, gives particulars of a combat in Pliny's time in which the dogs of Epirus had a part. He describes them as being much bigger than mastiffs, and of greyhound form, and mentions that their contest was with a lion and an elephant. Richardson holds the opinion that those dogs were Irish wolfhounds, and that opinion is shared by other writers of even an earlier date.
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| Cotswold Watch |
The breed now has a club to safeguard and further its interests. The chief shows are supported by the awarding of prizes and the institution of competitions, and it was through the generosity of the members that the Irish Guards were presented with a regimental pet - Rajah of Kidnal (re-named Brian Boru), some ten years since. The breed certainly got a very fine advertisement, and up to within the last two years Brian Boru accompanied his regiment in all its marches, and looked especially well at the head of the line, generally led by two privates. He is now on the retired list but another Irish wolfhound of equally pure descent has taken his place. According to the club standard, an Irish wolfhound should not be quite so heavy or massive as the Great Dane, but more so than the deerhound, which in general type he should otherwise resemble. Of great size and commanding appearance, very muscular, strongly though gracefully built, movements easy and active; head and neck carried high, and the tail carried with an upward sweep, with a slight curve towards the extremity. The minimum height and weight of dogs should be 31 inches and 120 lbs.; of bitches 28 inches and 90 lbs. Any hound below these should be debarred from competition. Great size, including height at the shoulders and proportionate length of body, is what should be aimed at, and it is desired to firmly establish a race that shall average from 32 to 34 inches in dogs showing the requisite power, activity, courage and symmetry. The recognised colours are grey, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn or any colour that appears in the deerhound. Too light or too heavy a head; a short neck; too narrow or too wide a chest; bent forelegs, or too curly a tail are looked on as serious faults in this most historic hound.
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Updated 7/14/2004
