SOUTH AUSTRALIAN  BULLDOG CLUB

1906

I hear that a movement is afoot to form a bulldog club, and that the matter is being taken up with much enthusiasm. We are sadly in need of some specialist clubs in the interest of various sections of the ‘friend of man.’ On numerous occasions ‘Breeder’ has urged this, and now welcomes the news. Full particulars are not to hand, but when it is remembered that we have so widely known a breeder as Mr. Nash among us, it is not surprising that something is doing among bulldogs. Mr. Nash owns Taraxacum, the beautiful golden brindle I described about a year ego, probably one of the best headed dogs living. The other day Mr. F. W. Marshall showed me a fine brindled bull puppy, and I noted he had a much deeper head than usual, and strongly reminded me of a head I had seen somewhere. It turned out the puppy is a son of Taraxacum, and promises to turn out well, great bone and good style all round. A bulldog club with monthly or quarterly meetings whereat exhibits are discussed and papers, &c, read, will boom the breed well. Bulldogs are most satisfactory animals to keep, for they are very faithful and splendid companions, and as a rule not at all mischievous. (Chronicle Sat 24 November 1906 – THE KENNEL by Breeder)

At a meeting held at Mr. J. Creswell’s office, Waymouth Street, on Tuesday, it was decided to form a bulldog club. Messrs À. E. Stafford, J. H. Potter, 0. Gribble. J. H. Ward, W. Perry; A. F. Nash, and F. W. Marshall were present. It was resolved to ask Mr. C. H. Angas to accept the office of president. Mr. F. W. Marshall was elected chairman, and Mr. A. F. Nash hon. secretary, and Mr. J. H. Ward hon. treasurer. It was decided to call the club the South Australian Bulldog Club. The chairman explained the objects of the club, to be the encouragement of the breed arid the appointment of approved judges at the leading shows. (The Advertiser Wed 28 November 1906)

The announcement that a Bulldog Club has been formed in Adelaide will be received with pleasure not only by the lovers of that truly British breed, but also by the many who wish to see the canine section of our shows in, a healthier condition. Although the owners of Bulldogs are few in number, still they compare favourably with owners of most breeds, for even if not so numerous as Collie, Irish, or Fox-terrier owners, the Bulldog people are all sportsmen and exhibit their dogs, not merely to win money prizes or trophies, but from the sportsman’s feeling alone. In the president, Mr. Marshall, we have a well-known hard worker and keen fancier in the dog and poultry world. Mr. Marshall at one time owned Croydon Girlie, and a dog whose registered name has just escaped my memory. The bitch I always fancied and considered a really good one. She won here, and recently carried all before her in the West. There are several ardent fanciers of the breed among the members, of whom I shall have more to say later on. In Mr. A. F. Nash, the secretary, the club is fortunate, for it is not often that one meets a Bulldog breeder who has won leading honours in England, America, and Australia. Without in any way wishing to appear as if sitting in judgment, it has been my frequently expressed opinion that it has been a misfortune that among South Australians, until quite recently, there were only a few qualified to judge our shows. Now that we have a breeder of such Jong experience among the best Bulldogs in the world, he will be a tower of strength to young fanciers and others, and thus the standard of the club should be a high one. (Chronicle Sat 22 December 1906)

1907

A well attended special meeting of the Bulldog Club was held at Mr J. Creswell’s office on January 24. Mr Marshall, chairman of the committee, presided and read the proposed rules, which were adopted. The Chairman, in addressing the meeting pointed out that the club was composed of genuine Bulldog lovers, none of whom was actuated by any motive of gain. To further the interests of the club, he would propose that at a meeting to be held in February, something should be provided to interest members and so help to sustain enthusiasm. The club should not remain inactive at other than show season and he was willing to provide a puppy and would ask Mr A. F. Nash, the hon secretary, who was facile princeps of authorities on the breed here to discuss each point. To provide comparison Mr J. H. Potter offered to bring a puppy also so that the pair may be discussed and compared. On the motion of Mr Laurie, seconded by Mr Steele, it was resolved that a meeting be held on the second Thursday in each month with the exception of January. It is confidently expected that these monthly meetings will be both instructive and interesting. On the motion of Mr Steele, seconded by Mr Perry, it was decided that each member may introduce a visitor at a monthly meeting. Some routine business was transacted. (Chronicle Sat 2 Feb 1907)

At a well-attended meeting of the Bulldog Club, held recently, Mr. Nash, the hon. secretary, gave an excellent demonstration before the members, for which purpose two specimens were provided, viz., Abbotshall General (belonging to Mr. R. Wemyss) and Medindie John, the latter owned by Mr. F. W. Marshall, a fine brindle puppy of great promise by Taraxacum ex Shandon Queen. Mr. Nash explained the various points and displayed the good and bad features of each animal. This is the way to teach the points of any breed, and as before been pointed out in these columns, is an example owners of other breeds might with advantage follow. Dog-owners are often at a loss to know why such and such a decision has been given, and why certain blemishes debar a dog, and why failure in some points is of more importance than in others. It is true that there are faddist judges who make their awards on a few cardinal points only. The general appearance of an animal must be taken into consideration; cases are common, where a judge passes dogs out of the ring for lack in this direction quite as often as for serious faults. If an animal lacks character, generally it shows a serious departure all round from the standard. In the past it has been the practice for judges to remark that such and such a dog is ‘wrong all over,’ and yet such a statement conveys but little to the owner or the public. Where we have good specimens of a breed the task of comparing and explaining can be more easily accomplished. It is to be hoped other clubs will be formed on the lines of the Bulldog Club of South Australia. (Chronicle Sat 2 Mar 1907)

It is reported that Messrs. F. W. Marshall, chairman, and A. F. Nash, hon. secretary of the Bulldog Club of South Australia are sending to England for a first class Bull bitch. This sportsmanlike enterprise is most commendable, for a top quality brood bitch is just what is wanted here. All dog lovers wish them luck, as with the Taraxacum celebrity we should later see quality equal to anything going. At the Poultry and Kennel Club show in June a big display of Bulldogs will be made, as it is the intention of every member to exhibit, quite apart from any chance of winning a prize. It is reported that several valuable prizes are for competition, and entries from the other States are sure to make the show well worth seeing. Several importations have recently been released from quarantine, and, if exhibited at the Poultry and Kennel Club show, should prove an attraction. It is high time owners of other breeds followed the example of the Bulldog breeders; dogs are popular just now and a little effort would put our canine sections on a sound and prosperous footing. (Chronicle Sat 30 Mar 1907)

The South Australian Bulldog Club is offering special prizes, valued at ten guineas each, for the best bulldog and bitch respectively, shown at the annual show of the South Australian Kennel and Poultry Club on 27th, 28th and 29^th June. The society will undertake to look after all dogs sent from other States, should the owners be unable to attend; Valuable prizes like these should engender keen competition. The club is giving the prizes with a view of attracting the best dogs in the Commonwealth. I understand that the judging will be in the hands of Mr A. Nash, whose name is well-known by bulldog fanciers throughout Australia. (Weekly Times (Melbourne) Sat 27 April 1907)

The entries for the forthcoming P. & K. Club show a total of 20 which must be about an Australian record for Bulldogs. No inter-State entries were received, although there was sufficient attraction. I have not yet seen the newly imported bitch. Mr. F. W. Marshall showed me her photograph, and she appears to have a grand front, splendid body, and beautiful finish all over. Mr. A. F. Nash tells me, he likes her very much, and there is no doubt this bitch will prove a source of strength to the breed in Australia. Bulldog lovers are looking forward to great times and notable doings in the local bulldog world. The breed is represented by the right sort of owner.

At the monthly meeting of the S.A. Bulldog Club, the Bulldogs Spot Bruce, owned by Mr. K. T. Colley and Taraxacum, owned by Mr. A. F. Nash, were on view before a well-attended meeting, Mr. R. Weymss took the chair in the absence of Mr. F. W. Marshall, and Mr. A. F. Nash commented on the dogs present, and in doing so went exhaustively into the points of the British Bulldog. Spot Bruce won at the Kennel Club show last year and has improved since last seen in public. Taraxacum is well known, and was looking his best. In Mr Nash’s comments on his own dog, he was particularly frank and outspoken, explaining the faults of the dog, as well as his many good points. (The Chronicle Sat 29 Jun 1907)

SA Poultry and Kennel Club Show: The Bulldogs formed a feature of the dog show. This was owing to the fact that the newly founded Bulldog Club held its initial display in connection with the exhibition. It was by far the largest collection of Bulldogs ever seen in the State and some of the animals reached a high standard. Medindie John, a brindle of magnificent bone and substance, won for his owner (Mr. F. W. Marshall, the club’s president) first prize in the puppy class, first among the novices and second m the open event. This is a very promising dog, with but few faults. Another prominent winner was Vanguard, who with slight improvement should become a champion. Even now this dog is probably good enough to win in the other States. Two fine bitches were Lady Magnificent and Lady Majestic. In the puppy class for bitches Peggy was a likely looking contestant and should develop into a good brood bitch.

Results: Bulldog Novice: F. W. Marshall (1 and special); J. H. Ward; W. Perry. Bulldog winners: Dr. J. Ë. Good’s Bargee Prince. Open class: A. C. Stafford (1 and special challenge trophy); P. W. Marshall; J. H. Ward. Puppy: F. W. Marshall; W. Perry (2 and 3). Extra Novice dog: R. R. Lee, R Weymss. Bull Bitch winners: Dr. J. E. Good’s Pom Pom. Bitch novice class: W. Perry (1, cash special, and a challenge trophy); A. D Stock. Bitch open class: W. Perry (1 and 2), A. J. Stock. Extra novice bitch: Mr B. Lee. (The Advertiser Sat 29 Jun 1907)

Bulldogs were quite the feature of the show, (SAPKC) and the fine lot benched shows what can be done when a properly constituted club formed of genuine fanciers takes a breed in hand. The Bulldog is always spoken of as a British breed, the national breed, and it is only natural that there should be many supporters in Australia. In England and America the Bulldog is very popular, and the breed is at a very high stage of perfection. We already have, good specimens here, and among them is Taraxacum, one of the finest specimens of the day. Mr. F. W. Marshall recently imported a very fine bitch, and Mr. A. F. Nash is expecting another very shortly. These importations should put breeders in a very strong position. As regards the judging, it is most satisfactory that Mr. Nash accepted the task, as he has laid down a definite standard for our breeders to follow. There is no one more competent than Mr: Nash in Australia, and those who think otherwise should do what he has done, breed dogs that can win championships in England, America, and Australia. Halt the trouble in the past has been the result of bad judging in the early days of a breed. (The Chronicle Sat 6 July 1907)

Bulldogs were quite the feature of the show, (SAPKC) and the fine lot benched shows what can be done when a properly constituted club formed of genuine fanciers takes a breed in hand. The Bulldog is always spoken of as a British breed, the national breed, and it is only natural that there should be many supporters in Australia. In England and America the Bulldog is very popular, and the breed is at a very high stage of perfection. We already have, good specimens here, and among them is Taraxacum, one of the finest specimens of the day. Mr. F. W. Marshall recently imported a very fine bitch, and Mr. A. F. Nash is expecting another very shortly. These importations should put breeders in a very strong position. As regards the judging, it is most satisfactory that Mr. Nash accepted the task, as he has laid down a definite standard for our breeders to follow. There is no one more competent than Mr: Nash in Australia, and those who think otherwise should do what he has done, breed dogs that can win championships in England, America, and Australia. Halt the trouble in the past has been the result of bad judging in the early days of a breed. (The Chronicle Sat 6 July 1907)

The first Annual Dinner of the South Australian Bulldog Club was held at the Exchange Hotel, Hindley-street on last Friday night, when there was a large attendance of members and friends. Much regret was expressed at the absence of the president, Mr. C. H. Angas. The ‘two handsome challenge and two puppy cups were placed on the table, decorated with the club’s colors (Cambridge blue), and the picture by Miss Maud Earle, ‘What We Have We Hold,’ representing ‘Champion Dimboola’ as a perfect Bulldog, together with an excellent work in plaster of a Bulldog’s head, illuminated by electric light, hung on the walls of the dining-room. The menu and programme card, got up by Mr. J. H. Ward, the club’s treasurer, is very creditable to that gentleman, and indeed, Mr. Ward and Mr. J. H. Potter deserve much praise for the admirable way in which the arrangements, of the club’s first annual dinner was carried out. The menu card’s frontispiece represented an engraving of that magnificent Bulldog, Rodney Stone; under which was the club’s motto “Captum tenemus.” Mr. Joseph Hill, in proposing ‘The South Australian Bulldog Club,’ said he felt highly honored when called upon to propose this toast, since it was the first specialist club ever promoted in South Australia, and he was confident that under the chairmanship of Mr. F. W. Marshall the club would continue on its upward career. The toast of ‘The winners and losers at the late South Australian Poultry and Kennel Club Show,’ was honored, and Mr. Rob Wemyss humorously responded for the latter. Messrs. A. Jefferies, M. Smith, J. Wall, Rob Wemyss and J. H. Potter contributed largely to the musical portion, of the programme. (The Chronicle Sat 13 July 1907)

The Bulldog Club in South Australia made a capital display with them exhibits at the recent show held in Adelaide by the South Australian Poultry and Kennel Club. The dinner of the Bulldog -Club, too. was, I hear, an immense success. A writer in a South Australian paper South Australian paper has the following to say on several of the leading exhibits:

“The winning dog in the Challenge Cup competition, Vanguard, is a wonderfully well-balanced, solid, little dog. He is very square in the face, and excels all over except that he might be more massive In bone. His sister, Lady Majestic, won the Challenge Cup for bitches, and has, a phenomenally wide under jaw, fairly well turned up. She has a good sour expression. She has the same fault as her brother in being “too” light in bone. The bulldog Rewa is very sound, and the best bodied dog on the bench, but lacks head and face properties. Medindie John is a wonderfully well-developed puppy very massive in skull but might be a trifle more sound in front. His chief fault lies in being pinched in face. Lord Excellent is a nice red dog puppy, with fair “lay-back,” but is too long in body, and has a bad tail. Lord Rodney is more or less crippled, and the same might be said of Prince George. The bitch puppy Peggy, full sister to Medindie John, is a really good red brindle. She has a good “layback,” is very deep in stop, and has good bone and a beautiful pair of ears: she will be heard of again. Dandelion Queene is a puppy bitch of much promise.

A correspondent, writing from Adelaide, says bulldogs are very strong there, and a bulldog to the order of Mr. A. F. Nash is expected to arrive next March. (The Australasian (Melbourne) Sat 13 Jul 1907)

There was a splendid collection of Bulldogs, (at the Spring Show of the RA&HS and the vicinity of these exhibits was crowded the whole afternoon by lady and children spectators, for whom these “beauties” seem to possess a strong fascination. Mr. A E. Lykke’s “Tiger” was placed first in the puppy class, and Mr. F. W. Marshall’s Medindie John won the dog section. Mr. A. F. Nash’s “Mixture” won the bull bitch section. The Judge Mr W. T. Wright (Melbourne) said the champion “Medindie John” was a dog with a wonderful head and a great body, splendid front, good legs and feet and altogether the best Bulldog in the Commonwealth. He went on to say that the best exhibits and the general stamp of animal in the younger classes were equal, if not superior, to those to be found in Sydney, where the best bulldog show had previously been held. (The Advertiser Sat 14 Sep 1907)

Top: Mr J Potter’s “Vanity”, winner of the Challenge Cup, being the best bitch shown.

Bottom: Mrs R. W. Bennett’s “Romulus” secured Amgoorie Cup as being the Best Puppy Dog.