Snake Mouth

Working Teckel Club of Ireland

2010-02-07T17:44:00.006Z

A club has recently started for working Teckel and Dachshund owners in Ireland. The club is open to any owners of Teckels, Dachshunds, and crosses thereof wishing to meet. The club will have hunts, tracking, and training. It is very informal and meant to be just for fun and enjoyment in appreciation for these entertaining little hounds.

Please check out the blog & website or contact the email.

http://workingteckel.blogspot.com/

http://workingteckel.webs.com/

EMAIL

Greyhounds are just the nicest!

2009-12-01T02:10:00.002Z

I am just after getting a greyhound here in my house. She has never seen me before, and she calmy let me spray her down with flea spray, shove a worming tablet down her throat, scrub her with shampoo and conditioner, rinse her down and towel dry her, then blow dry her and brush her coat. I then flipped her over (like a cockroach) on my lap and carefully clipped her long toe nails, even accidentally knicking the quick. She laid there with her muzzle under my chin in peace and relished every kiss I gave her between the eyes.
How many creatures on this Earth are like this?
Such a gentle beast, and always forgiving.

What a babe! I wish I could keep her.

a sheep dog put up a hare...

2009-11-17T03:55:00.000Z

THE TRUE SPORTSMAN'S GAZETTE
The Era (London, England),
Sunday, January 27, 1839; Issue 18.

over a healthy part of the New Forest, I observed a sheep dog
put up a hare, which was immediately pursued by a lurcher,
attendant upon a farmer who was close at hand. Puss found that
she had very little superiority in speed over her pursuer, and as
there was no cover which she could resort to for shelter, she in
running over a part of the plain, where there were some rab-
bit burrows, retreated into one of their holes. A turf cutter
who was engaged near the spot was employed to dig her out.
of her temporary asylum. This act was not, however, so
speedily effected, for the burrows were so intersected, that it
was a long time ere he discovered the one in which she lay
concealed. On being at length captured, she was let go again
before the dogs, but as is almost invariably the case in such
instances, she was picked up by the hunters before she had run
fifty yards.

A challenge

2009-11-17T03:32:00.000Z

THE RING (canine)
The Era (London, England),
Sunday, February 18, 1844; Issue 282.

A challenge appeared in our last from Henry King, of Birmingham,
offering to back his black lurcher bitch, Gip, to kill rats, for 5 or 10
sovs ; the number was not mentioned ; but the bitch is open to all
England, to kill 50 or 100 rats, against any other dog that may be pitted
against her. The money is always ready at Mr. Samuel Russell's, the
Shakspere's Head, Queen-street, Birmingham.

THE CANINE RING

2009-11-17T03:10:00.001Z

THE RING
The Era (London, England),
Sunday, November 2, 1845; Issue 371

CANINE

On Monday last the renowned lurcher dog, Tommy, had a contest
with the celebrated Bow Lee dog, Spring (22lb), for 10 sovs a-side
The betting was 6 to 4 and 2 to 1 on the lurcher, with few takers. It was
soon seen that Spring had not a shadow of a chance, except as a cour-
ageous dog to receive, and after contending for one hour and ten
minutes, the lurcher was declared the winner, without any perceptible
punishment. The lurcher was excellently well trained, and handled
in first-rate style by Young Simons, of the Gipsy King, and Spring
by Jud, of Bow Lee. It was fought near Manchester.

TRESPASS IN PURSUIT OF GAME

2009-11-14T06:12:00.001Z

POLICE INTELLIGENCE
The Preston Guardian etc (Preston, England),
Thursday, December 24, 1857; Issue 2365.

(Before Messre. Winstanley)
TRESPASS IN PURSUIT OF GAME, - Thomas Pyke,
shoemaker, of Fulwood, appeared to answer a charge of
trespass in pursuit of coneys, on land in Haighton, in the
occupation of Mr. Corless, farmer, and over which Mr.
Anderton has the right of shooting. - John Bradley, game-
keeper, said the offenence was committed on Wednesday
morning, the 9th instant. Saw Pyke with a lurcher dog,
on the land, about a quarter to eleven o' clock, and watched
him above an hour, during which time he was beating for
rabbits with a stick. At last he started a rabbit and the
dog caught it. Pyke then took it up and put it in his
pocket. Witness then went to him, and charged him with
taking rabbits. He at first denied that, but afterwards ad-
mitted having one, which he said he found. - The defend-
ant said the rabbit mentioned by Bradley must have been
dead three or four days, and he had thrown it away ; it had
evidently from the wound in its neck, been killed by a
ferret. He had no intention of taking any rabbits. A
previous conviction was proved against the defendant, and
he was fined £1 and the costs, in default of payment to be,
imprisoned one month. - The money was immediately paid.

Night Poaching

2009-11-14T05:41:00.000Z

DISTRICT POLICE NEWS
The Derby Mercury (Derby, England),
Wednesday, November 7, 1860; Issue 6712.

Nov. 3
[Before R. W. M. NESFIELD, and W. LONGSDON, Esqrs.]
Night Poaching.- Two young men from Sheffield, call-
ing themselves John Marshall and Thomas Atherton, where
charged by Mr. Wilson, head keeper at Chatsworth, with
poaching that morning at 1 o 'clock ; the keepers found about
300 yards of netting and stakes, and on the capture of these
men by the keepers they were attacked by a powerful lurcher
dog ; this, however, the keepers killed in self-defence, and took
the prisoners to the Bakewell lock-up at 3 a.m. - They were
committed for three months each to hard labour, and ordered
to find the usual sureties at the expiration of their imprison-
ment.

DRURY V. SCOTT

2009-11-12T04:55:00.003Z

Jackson's Oxford Journal (Oxford, England),
Saturday, April 10, 1824; Issue 3702.

DRURY V. SCOTT,
This was an action to recover the value of a dog
which was killed by the defendant's gamekeeper. It
appeared in evidence that the plaintiff's servant was
out with the dog ( a lurcher), and that when near the
defendant's residence at Woodhall, he killed a hare.
The defendant's gamekeeper came up immediately
after; the servant threw the hare into a ditch, and
the dog instinctively ran away, the gamekeeper having
previously sworn vengeance against him. The
gamekeeper then seized hold of the man, and the dog
seeing this, returned to defend him. The game-
keeper threw a cord around the dog's neck, and
brought him to his master's house, and there hung
him. The servant was convicted of poaching, and
sent to the House of Correction for three monthes,
The only defence was that the dog was a lurcher, and
was found in the pursuit of game.- Verdict for the
plaintiff - damages 40s.

POACHING

2009-11-12T04:14:00.000Z

Police Courts
The Newcastle Courant etc (Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England),
Friday, February 2, 1877; Issue 10545.

POACHING.
Geo. Walton, otherwise Geo. Thompson, was charged with
poaching on the Rokeby estates on January 4th, A game
watcher, named Spence, discovered, on the morning in
question, about nine o'clock, footprints in the snow, and
afterwards came upon the defendant, who had two hares
in his pockets, and had with him a lurcher dog. Defend-
ant, who did not appear, was fined £1 and the costs. -John
Nicholson, a labourer, was then charged by a game watcher
named Wim. Calvert, with killing two rabbits on Sunday
the 31st December, near Gilmonby. On being seen, de-
fendant decamped, but he was afterwards identified. De-
fendant was fined £1 and the costs, which were paid.

A painful tragedy is reported from Loamington

2009-07-08T02:15:00.001+01:00

" A painful tragedy is reported from Loaminglton. Mr. Russell, a farmer, was returning to his home at a village near that town one night last week, when he was assailed by a lurcher and two poachers. Raising his gun, Mr. Russell fired, and one of the men fell. The help of neighbours was sought, but when they came the wounded man could not be found. He was discovered, however, next morning, some three-quarters of a mile away, and died a few minutes afterwards. "

excerpt from "The Penny Illustrated Paper and Illustrated Times" (London, England),
Saturday, September 28, 1889; pg. 284; Issue 1478.

How to ride the Subway/Train/Bus

2009-06-30T01:07:00.005+01:00

I saw this notification and had to pass it on to my friends for their safety.

How to hold on while the train is in motion in order to avoid falling.

I am referring to the older gentleman by the door!!!

But surely you knew that.

Two Wolves

2009-06-29T02:18:00.001+01:00

A Cherokee grandfather is teaching his grandson about life. He says:

'There is a fight going on inside me. It is a terrible fight between two wolves.

One is evil: he is anger, envy, greed, arrogance, selfpity, resentment, and superiority.

The other is good: he is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, generosity and compassion.

This same fight is going on inside you, and every other person too.'

The grandson thinks for a minute, and then asks his grandfather, 'Which wolf will win?'

The old Cherokee simply replies: 'The one we feed.'

Outline of a Greyhound

2009-06-29T02:04:00.002+01:00

The sketch at the head of this chapter represents the outline of a greyhound of well-balanced physique. The letters indicate the points familiar to all cynophilists, but useful as references when studying the description which ensues :
A A Head
A B Muzzle
A a Jaws
C Eye
D D D D } Neck
d Ear
E E Shoulder
E E e e K K Chest
F Elbow
F F Forearm
F G Pastern
H Pastern-joint
I Foot
J Brisket
D N N Back
L L Ribs
LM Couplings
N o Stifle
p Thighs
Q Q Whip or tail
R Hock
S Second thighs

The vertical line cutting the diagram divides the dog into :
X Fore quarters z Hind quarters.
The termforehand is generally taken to include chest, shoulders, brisket, and forearm ; whilst quarters signifies back, couplings, stifle, thighs, second thighs, and gaskins ; but each term is elastic, and is often applied to the whole of the fore and hind quarters respectively.

Jeremiah Johnson

2009-06-24T02:07:00.003+01:00

I love this film. Everytime I watch it, it makes me want to go out into the wild, camp, and hunt.

wiki article

Training Greyhound Pup by means of the Common Kestril

2009-06-24T02:03:00.003+01:00

The Arabs of "Unayza and Shammar", as I have myself witnessed, rear the nestling of the Common Kestril, and when it is "hard-penned", lure it with a lump of meat. As soon as it will somewhat come to this lure, they catch an antelope-rat or jerboa-rat, tie a cord to its leg, and fly the kestril at it. They next tie a long cord of ten or twelve ells in length to a rat's leg, and then fly the kestril at it from a distance. After that they break one leg of a jerboa and let it go in front of a two months old greyhound pup, and then cast off the kestril at it. The rat is taken after a few stoops. Next a jerboa is loosed in front of two greyhound pups three or four months old. The pups start in pursuit, and the kestril is then cast off. At one time the pups make a dash, at another the kestril makes a stoop, till at last the rat is taken.

After killing a few rats with broken legs, a sound rat is released, a fine stick, four fingers breadth in length, having previously been passed cross-ways through the ears. This stick hinders the rat from taking refuge in a hole, for of course two-months-old pups cannot, unaided, overtake and kill a kangaroo-rat in the open country. Well, the rat is let go, and the kestril and the pups give chase. It is exactly like hawking gazelle with a charkh. After about thirty or forty stoops and dashes, the rat is taken.

The whole object of this play is to teach the pups, while growing up, to recognize the charkh; so that should a hawk be flown at a herd of even a thousand gazelle, the hounds will chase none but the one at which the hawk is stooping. In puppyhood the hound has learnt that without the assistance of the kestiil it cannot overtake an antelope-rat, and hence it has learnt to watch the hawk; and gradually it becomes so knowing, that instead of at once starting in pursuit of the gazelle-herd when it is slipped, it will fix its gaze skywards, and wait on the movements of the charkh.

excerpt from "The Baz-nama-yi Nasiri, a Persian treatise on falconry", (1908)

Life's Full Of Chickens

2009-06-21T02:28:00.001+01:00

Jack London's classic, White Fang, is about an animal, half dog, half wolf, who learns to live among men. White Fang is very fond of chickens. Once he raided a chicken-roost and killed 50 hens. His master, Weedon Scott, whom White Fang "loved with single heart," scolded him, then took him into the chicken yard. When White Fang saw his favourite food walking around in front of him, he obeyed his natural impulse and lunged for them. Immediately he was checked by his master's voice. He stayed in the chicken yard quite a while, and every time White Fang made a move toward a chicken his master's voice would stop him. In this way he learned what his master wanted - he learned to ignore the chickens. Weedon Scott's father argued "You couldn't cure a chicken killer" but Weedon challenged him and they agreed to lock White Fang in with the chickens all afternoon: "Locked in the yard, White Fang lay down and went to sleep. Once he walked over to the trough for a drink. The chickens he calmly ignored. So far as he was concerned they did not exist. At four o'clock he executed a running jump and leaped to the ground outside, whence he sauntered gravely to the house. He had learned the law." Out of love and a desire to obey his master's will, White Fang overcame his natural, inborn tendencies. He may not have understood the reason, but he chose to bend his will to his master's. Life's full of "chickens." What you have to settle is - who will I serve?

The Bull Terrier

2009-06-16T05:14:00.003+01:00

" Many of our smooth terriers are slightly crossed with the bulldog, in order to give courage to bear the bites of the vermin which they are meant to attack. When thus bred, the terrier shows no evidence of pain, even though half a dozen rats are hanging on to his lips, which are extremely tender parts of the body, and where the bite of a mouse even will make a badly bred dog yell with pain. In fact, for all the purposes to which a terrier can be applied, the half or quarter cross with the bull, commonly known as the "bull-terrier" or "half-bred dog", is of more value than either of the purely bred progenitors. Such a dog, however, to be useful, must be more than half terrier, or he will be too heavy and slow, too much under-jawed to hold well with his teeth, and too little under command to obey the orders of his master. Sometimes the result of the second cross, which is only one quarter bull, shows a great deal of the shape peculiar to that side ; and it is not till the third or fourth cross that the terrier shape comes out predominant : but this is all a matter of chance, and the exact reverse may just as probably happen, if the terrier was quite free from the stain of the bull, which is seldom the case ; and this may account for the great predominance of that side in most cases. The field fox-terrier, used for bolting the fox when gone to ground, was ofthis breed. So also is the fighting-dog par excellence, and, indeed, there is scarcely any task to which a dog of his size may be set that he will not execute as well as, or better than, most others. He will learn tricks with the poodle, fetch and carry with the Newfoundland - take water with that dog, though his coat will not suffer him to remain in so long, hunt with the spaniel, and fight "till all's blue." For thorough gameness, united with obedience, good temper, and intelligence, he surpasses any breed in existence. "

excerpt from "The Dog in Health and in Disease" By Wesley Mills, 1895

Northern English Greyhound (Lancashire and Cheshire)

2009-06-16T00:07:00.004+01:00

" In the southern parts of England, the Greyhounds are generally smooth, beautiful, high-bred dogs;— while, in some parts of the north, particularly in Lancashire and Cheshire, they are rough-haired animals, partaking much of the lurcher breed. As these counties abound in broad fences, as well as old dry marl-pits covered with briers and brushwood, the rough-haired dog is supposed to rush into and thread these places better than his smooth-haired high-bred competitor. Another advantage is, that many of these rough-haired dogs, when they lose sight, will immediately put their noses down, and pursue by the scent till they again come in view ; but they are apt to whimper in the chase when near the game, and manifest the impurity of their blood in many ways. They are not nearly so numerous at present as formerly, the smooth high-bred dog having almost uniformly been found far superior, even in the rough parts of the country just mentioned; and we have no doubt that in a few years a rough-haired mongrel (for mongrels they certainly are) will rarely be seen. It is very common in England for ill-trained dogs of this breed to run sly; that is, in place of following directly after the hare, and trusting to their speed to overtake her, they make towards the covert to which she is likely to run, and, taking the string of the bow, are sure to meet and destroy her. This is frequently the case when the Greyhound is acquainted with the country. The lower class of farmers seem to consider that it is not on a well-matched couple of dogs that the pleasure of the sport depends, but upon the number of hares they kill. "

excerpt from "BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND AUTHENTIC ANECDOTES OF DOGS" BY CAPTAIN THOMAS BROWN, 1829

Shooting Game: Partridge Shooting - Have a go!

2009-06-15T03:00:00.001+01:00

I have been having fun playing this game.
My best so far on the 50bag, is 96% accuracy in 99 sec

game

Historical Dog Films - British Pathé

2009-06-15T02:28:00.002+01:00

British Pathé has made their vast film archive available online, including many segments of vintage dog footage.

Do a search for dogs and hunting etc. Very interesting.

pathé

Master McGrath

2009-06-15T02:06:00.005+01:00

One of the greatest hounds in history.
A living legend never to be forgotten by the Irish.

read about him here

Three Hares

2009-06-14T01:16:00.004+01:00

The three hares is a circular motif which appears in sacred sites from the Middle and Far-East to the churches of England, where it is often referred to as the Tinners’ Rabbits. It's precise origins and significance are uncertain, as are the reasons why it appears in such diverse locations.

more here

Flouridation

2009-06-14T01:04:00.004+01:00

I think most of you should all know this.
I wont got into the conspiracies of it all. I will let you decide that in your own mind.

But basically flouridation is very bad for our health. It is in our Irish treated water.
Stop drinking treated water.
Do you really want those chemicals in your water? Flourine, chlorine, aluminium etc

If I were you, I would find a nice clean source of pure untreated water.
I have been drinking mountain stream water for years and I havent had any sickness.

One question to get you thinking:
Why do we have to drink flouridated water?

Nature has a good way of making us healthy. Stick to natural food and water sources.

Flouride Alert

San Bushmen of the Kalahari

2009-06-14T00:45:00.006+01:00

Ok, maybe most of you have already heard of this people. But I would like to draw your attention again to them. In my opinion they are living a way life that most of us humans were probably supposed to live. That is their diet, hunting, relationship with other animals etc.
Interestingly, the Bushmen's ancestors predate the genetic changes of the rest of the human population — making them a "Genetic Adam". I wonder what the Nazi's would have thought about that? (master race)

San people

Here is an amazing persistance hunt of a Kudu

The Maternal Affection of Rats

2009-06-13T00:29:00.003+01:00

" The maternal affection of rats for their young is not, perhaps, to be surpassed by any other animal; and so far from their being the low, degraded, dirty, ignoble creatures that many imagine them to be, they are, on the contrary, perfectly aristocratic in their habits and notions. Sir W. -Jardine says : " The rat is a very cleanly animal; for even when its residence is in a ditch, or sewer, in the midst of all sorts of filth, it almost invariably preserves itself from pollution ; and in parts remote from towns its fur is often possessed of considerable beauty. Although, on account of the injury it inflicts upon us, and the abhorrence with which in childhood we are taught to regard it, few persons will be apt to discover much beauty in a rat; nevertheless, any one who has taken notice of rats, can bear testimony to the fact, that tn all their leisure time they are constantly sitting on end cleaning their fur, and seem perfectly restless and unhappy till their jackets are dry and clean, and arranged in proper order."

But in their more infantine days she is one of the kindest of nurses, eternally washing their little faces, backs, bellies, legs, and feet, by rolling them from side to side, and licking them over with all the tenderness and solicitude of any other mother. But if an enemy intrudes, she will protect them with all the vicious determination of a tigress, and if she does not succeed in beating him off, she will relinquish the contest only with her life. So, if the old rat should call, who in some cases is a barbarous old brute, she will show him her teeth, and squinny at him till he decamps ; but, should she be from home, the infanticidal old cannibal -will sometimes eat up her children, and then walk doggedly to his retreat, and lay himself down most tranquilly to digest them.

.... Some gintraps were set for the purpose of taking vermin. On the following morning a large female rat was discovered in one of them, caught by one of her fore legs, but squatting over a nest containing six young The poor animal, regardless of all pain, during the previous night had actually, with the fore paw which was at liberty, and probably with the assistance of the hind feet, contrived to scrape together a quantity of the neighbouring grass, and formed the nest,thus providing for the warmth and comfort of her young, although she was tortured with iron teeth, and almost disabled by her position in the trap. "

extract from "The Rat" by By James Rodwell, 1858

The Prince of Sloughis

2009-06-10T03:55:00.002+01:00

Amazing video of sloughi hunting hare.

Beautiful Photo

2009-06-10T00:50:00.004+01:00

What an awe inspiring image! click on photo to see full size.

Thanks to romangelos for making this public on Panoramio.

Children Slug Hunting

2009-06-09T23:47:00.005+01:00

I would like to share with you this interesting blog entry. These parents are very much interested in their children's education. I dont know much about them, but there is plenty to read on their blog.
What took my interest was that they choose to take their young kids slug hunting. What a great way to introduce them to the real world!
How many children are so brave as to handle, kill, slaughter and eat slugs?
These kids are amazing!

read here and watch the videos

Rabbit Distribution Map of Ireland

2009-06-09T03:37:00.001+01:00

"I wish I were as I have been..."

2009-06-09T01:10:00.003+01:00

" My hawk is tired of perch and hood,
My idle greyhound loathes his food,
My horse is weary of his stall,
And I am sick of captive thrall.
I wish I were as I have been,
Hunting the hart in forest green,
With bended bow, and bloodhound free,
For that 's the life is meet for me, "

poem extract from "The Sportsman and His Dog: Or, Hints on Sporting" By Elzéar Blaze, Herbert Byng Hall

The Irish Greyhound

2009-06-08T01:54:00.006+01:00

Canis Graius Hibernicus

This is one of the largest of the canine race, with an air at once beautiful, striking, and majestic. He has been known to grow to the extraordinary height of four feet although the general standard is about three feet.

In shape the Irish Greyhound somewhat resembles the common greyhound only that he is much larger and more muscular in his formation, clumsy in all his different parts, and is quite unserviceable for hunting either the stag, fox, or hare. His chief use in former times was in clearing the country of wolves and wild boars for which his great size and strength peculiarly adapted him.

The colour of the Irish Greyhound is a pale cinnamon or fawn. His aspect is mild, and his disposition gentle and peaceable. It is said he is greatly an overmatch for either the mastiff or bull-dog; and when he fights, he generally seizes his antagonist by the back, and shakes him to death, which his great strength enables him to do with ease.

M. Buffon supposes the great Danish dog to be only a variety of the Irish Greyhound; and Mr Pennant was of opinion that the French Matin and the Albanian dog were also varieties of the same.

The Irish Greyhound is now rarely to be met with even in his native country.

The Marquis of Sligo is among the few individuals who possess that fine animal in a state of tolerable purity; he keeps a number at Westport, in the county of Mayo, Ireland, where there is a person employed to look after them. It is said that great care is necessary to preserve the breeds and to keep them in good health.

Aylmer Bourke Lambert, Esq., one of the vice-presidents of the Linnsean Society, took the measurement of one of the Marquis of Sligo's dogs, which was as follows :
" From the point of the nose to the tip of the tail, sixty-one inches ; tail, seventeen and a half inches long ; from the tip of the nose to the back part of the skull, ten inches ; from the back part of the skull to the beginning of the tail, thirty-three inches ; from the toe to the top of the fore-shoulder, twenty-eight inches and a half; the length of the leg, sixteen inches ; from the point of the hind-toes to the top of the hind-shoulders, thirteen inches ; from the point of the nose to the eye, four inches and a half; the ears, six inches long ; round the widest part of the belly, (about three inches from the fore-legs,) thirty-five inches ; twenty-six inches round the hind-part, close to the hind-legs ; the hair short and smooth ; the colour of some brown and white, of others black and white."

They seemed good-tempered animals, but, from the accounts Mr Lambert received, it is obvious that they must have degenerated, particularly in point of size.

Dr Goldsmith says he has seen a dozen of these dogs, and assures us the largest was about four feet high, and as tall as a calf of a year old.

extract from:
"BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES AND AUTHENTIC ANECDOTES OF DOGS, Exhibiting Remarkable Instances of the Instinct, Sagacity, and Social Disposition of this Faithftil Animal", BY CAPTAIN THOMAS BROWN, 1829

The Properties Of A Good Grehounde

2009-06-07T03:25:00.005+01:00

" A Grehound shold be heeded lyke a snake
And neckyd lyke a drake,
Footed lyke a catte,
Tayllyd lyke a ratte,
Syded lyke a teme,
And chynyd lyke a beme.
The fyrst- yere he must lerne to fede,
The 'second yere to felde him lede,
The thyrde yere he is felowe lyke,
The fourth yere there is none syke,
The fyfth yeare he is good enough,
The syxte yere he shall hold the plough,
The seventh yere he woll avaylle
Grete bytches for to assaylie,
The eygthe yere licke ladyll,
The nynthe yere cartsadyll ;
And when he is comyn to that yere
Have him to the tannere,
For the best Hounde that ever bytche had
At nynthe yere he is full badde. "

Extract from "The Booke of St. Alban's" by Dame Juliana Berners

A similar shorter proverb:

" The Shape of a good Greyhound.
A head like a snake, a neck like a drake,
A back like a beam, a belly like a bream,
A foot like a cat, a tail like a rat. "

Hare Outsmarts Greyhounds

2009-06-06T17:35:00.004+01:00

Ox Tongue

2009-06-06T17:13:00.008+01:00

First the tongue needs to be well scrubbed with a stiff brush, then covered with cold water and left to soak for half a day or so. After that discard the water, place the tongue in a deep pan and cover with 6-7 pints (3.5-4 litres) of fresh cold water. Bring this up to the boil, then skim off all the surface scum. Simmer very gently for about 3½ hours.

The tongue will be ready when the skin is 'blistered' and the T-shaped bone at the root comes away easily when pulled. Remove the tongue from the pan and douse it with cold water to cool, then strip away all the skin. Neaten the tongue by trimming away the ragged and gristly bits at the root and underneath, then curl it round to fit into the tin or dish or plastic freezer bag.

Leave for several hours (or overnight) in the refridgerator until cold.

Slice some onto a sandwhich with English mustard and salad.

This is very cheap. I get ox tongue free from my local butcher.

Dog Breed Historical Pictures

2009-06-05T18:32:00.005+01:00

This is the finest collection of old dog breed photos that I have ever seen. A really excellent resource! Thanks to Pietoro for making this public on his photobucket account.

Album

Some breeds really stand out as looking spectacular and useful in their original form, for example;

The Hinks Bull and Terrier

The Boxer

Dobermann's Pinscher

The Russian Greyhound "Borzoi"

Isn't it amazing how much these fine canine breeds have changed as a result of selective breeding for aesthetics?

Remember also that some of the examples in this photo album are already in an early state of "show bred" mutation. The British Bulldog for example is seen in it's frog like form, as compared to the early bull baiting athletic form.

Poor Bambi!

2009-06-05T00:13:00.003+01:00

I was watching a good nature documentary about a pair of cheetahs the other day. These two formed a hunting team that would work together to take down deer and warthogs. They even defeated a large fullgrown agressive male warthog that most cheetahs would avoid.
Well, I sat there amazed watching this primal beauty as they tucked into their fresh warm venison, but then I noticed Bambi's eyes blink! It was still alive!

I am sure most people didnt notice this at all. What came to my mind then was;

We accept now that an animal should be given a quick death, but just take a look at how nature does it!

I mean, if bunny huggers think hare coursing is bad, they should head over to Africa and watch how mother nature really does it.

Pedigree Dogs Exposed BBC documentary

2009-06-04T17:36:00.002+01:00

This documentary was made last year and it has had a great effect on the publics view of pedigree dogs and kennell club policy.

Worth a watch.

Beware it contains some disturbing scenes of dogs in distress.

watch here