The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository, Volume 2 (of 2) / Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the Field

by William Taplin

KENNEL

—is the place where hounds are kept; upon the judicious construction of which, their health, safety, and preservation, are known greatly to depend. Those who take to, or become possessed of, KENNELS ready built, frequently continue them in the form they fall into their hands; but such as encounter the expence of new erections, cannot do better than take a previous survey of the most approved plans; amongst which the Duke of Bedford's, at Wooburn Abby; the Duke of Richmond's, at Goodwood, in Sussex; and Sir William Rowley's, at Tendring Hall, Suffolk, are supposed, for extent and convenience, to take the lead of most others in the kingdom. Taste and FASHION may go a great way in the external glare of such establishments; but HEALTH and CONVENIENCE should always prove the most predominant considerations. It is universally admitted, by all who have a practical knowledge of this subject, that in large and regularly-hunted packs, two kennels are indispensibly necessary to the success and well-doing of the whole. When there is but one, it can in the winter season be but seldom cleaned; and even then the hounds are in a comfortless state, from the dampness of the situation so long as it remains. Cleanliness is so essentially necessary in every APARTMENT and DEPARTMENT of a kennel, that no continuance of health in the hounds, or excellence in the field, can be expected without it. They are individually innately clean; and will never, if they can avoid it, dung near where they lie. Air, fresh straw, and ample room for the occasional expansion of their weary limbs, are requisite for the invigoration of the frame, and the preservation of health. Hounds confined in a body, are more liable to disease, than the same animal single, and in a state of unrestrained liberty; hence the necessity for counteraction, by every means the most prudent precaution can adopt. Hounds thus subject to, and constantly attacked with disease, and even madness, under the best and most judicious management, must be evidently much more so if surrounded with filth and nastiness.

That some idea may be formed of the grandeur of the buildings, and the liberal scale, of the most celebrated hunting establishments, it is only necessary to introduce a few explanatory remarks upon the kennels of eminence already mentioned. The superb edifice of the Duke of Richmond is said (and probably with great truth) to have cost 10,000l. in its erection; to which his Grace contributed no small proportion of personal assistance. He is reported to have been his own architect and builder; to have dug his own flints, burnt his own lime, made his own bricks, and framed the woodwork in his own shops. The DOG KENNEL, abstracted from all other buildings, stands alone, in such part of the park as to form a grand and striking object from the principal rooms of the mansion; the materials are flints, finished at all the angles by a light grey brick, like the Lymington white-stock.

The distribution of the building is into five compartments; two of them 36 feet by 15, and three more 30 by 15; these are called KENNELS, to which are annexed two feeding-rooms, 28 by 15. In each of these are openings at top, for the admission of external air, when necessary; and stoves to qualify the air when too cold. There are supplies of water, and drains into what is termed a stank, a considerable depth below, full of rain-water, from the surface of which to the rise of the arch is eleven feet; so that no inconvenience arises from smell; and the whole can be occasionally cleared off by drains to more dependent depths, and dung-pits, where it becomes contributary to the purposes of agriculture. Round the whole building is a pavement five feet wide; airing-yards, places for breeding, and other conveniences, making a part of each wing. To constitute a uniformity of elegance, neatness, and perfection, the HUNTSMAN and WHIPPER-IN have each a parlour, kitchen, and sleeping-room, appropriated to their own particular purpose.

The Duke of Bedford's is an immense establishment, upon a scale of too much extent for particular description, as it includes TENNIS-COURT, RIDING-HOUSE, &c. &c. in one stone-fronted building, of 266 feet in length; with two wings of stables, containing stalls for 36 hunters; and eleven loose houses, for horses sick or lame. As the DOG-KENNEL, however, is the only part entitled to notice under this head, it will create no surprise that the richest subject should possess the most complete in England. It is in length 405 feet, having the boiling-house in the centre, with feeding rooms adjoining, and a granary behind. On the right of the centre are apartments for two KENNEL-KEEPERS, two long lodging rooms for the hunting hounds, with flues running along the walls, to preserve an equal temperature in the severity of the winter season; spacious yards to each, furnished with a fountain in the middle, for the dogs to drink at; and water-cocks fixed at proper distances, to cleanse the pavement, when it may be required: adjoining to these, are seven hospitals for sick and lame hounds, with yards to each. On the left are divisions for litter, straw, &c. eleven apartments for bitches and puppies, with yards to each; eleven ditto for bitches in pup, with yards also; and a large division for bitches at heat. In the front is a large reservoir of water, which supplies the fountains, and different cocks in the several yards within. Behind the whole is a large airing-ground, flesh-house, and all requisite conveniencies. The huntsman's dwelling-house is a handsome building adjoining. The number of hunting hounds kept in the kennel are usually from sixty to seventy couple.

The kennel of Sir Willim Rowley is by no means equal to the external grandeur of the two already described, but replete with every internal convenience that an establishment upon a somewhat smaller scale can possibly require: it is situate about half a mile from the family mansion, from the garden of which it constitutes a picturesque appearance. It is erected in a valley of the park, a spot well adapted to the purpose, being equally defended from the cutting easterly winds, and the heat of the sun in its meridian, by a thick skirting of park and forest trees. Not having the advantage of a rivulet to water the courts, that want is amply supplied by a pump, which, by means of different cocks, turns the water to every part of the premises; consisting of the HUNTING-KENNEL, or principal lodging-room, which is 20 feet by 18 in the clear, 18 feet high, and paved with flag-stones. The beds, or benches, which cover almost the whole area, are of original and most admirable contrivance, being lathed like some bedsteads, and all made to fold up with joints, for the convenience of washing the floor beneath them. This room, by means of a flue of peculiar construction, is heated to any required temperature; and the hounds, after severe chases, and in wet weather, are rendered dry and comfortable in a much less time than they could be by any other means.

There is also a kennel, or lodging-room, for the young hounds, of the same dimensions as the former, and possessing the same conveniencies, except the flue, which here would have been superfluous. Several small kennels for bitches in a state of gestation; as well as a proportional number for those with puppies. A paved court to the hunting-kennel. A feeding-house; one half of which is open, the other under cover. A paved court to the kennel for the young hounds. A pump, and stone water cisterns. A large grass-yard for airing the hounds belonging to the hunting-kennel, containing about an acre and three quarters; in which are a variety of lime, chesnut, and other trees, forming an excellent shade for the hounds during the summer season. The young hounds have a similar convenience. To these are annexed twelve small kennels for puppies, well constructed for the purpose. The hunting-hounds generally consist of about THIRTY-SIX COUPLE; and the establishment is conducted in such a style of punctuality, order, and excellence, that it is universally acknowledged equal to any, and inferior to none, upon a similar scale, from one extremity of the kingdom to the other.

Next to the choice of a proper spot for, and a judicious, as well as a convenient, construction of the KENNEL, the management of the hounds, when there, becomes a matter of serious consideration, and requires a FEEDER of strict sobriety, indefatigable industry, invariable punctuality, great humanity, personal fidelity to his employer, and a constant attention to the business in which he is engaged; as upon him in a great degree depends the health and preservation of the hounds. Mr. Beckford observes (in great proof of his practical knowledge and personal experience) that no part of a hunting establishment goes on so well, as when the MASTER becomes an occasional SUPERINTENDANT of his own concerns. He says, as the sport in the field depends on the exquisite sense of smelling so peculiar to the hound, so care should be taken to preserve it; and cleanliness is the surest means. The keeping of the kennel sweet and clean, cannot, therefore, be too strongly inculcated, and impressed upon the mind of the FEEDER; if he seems habitually disposed to deviate from which, he is not at all calculated for the office he has undertaken.

The preparation for feeding, as boiling the meat, mixing the meal, and getting it ready at the hours agreed on, is a matter that the HUNTSMAN will of course take care (on his part) never to have neglected; but there are other considerations, equally important, which become entitled to attention. Hounds cannot be properly fed by a single person; two are (for a variety of reasons) unavoidably necessary; and those two should be the FEEDER and the HUNTSMAN; as hounds should be drafted and fed according to their state of flesh and condition. Some are much more voracious than others, and will require a greater portion of food; others look and work well, with half the quantity: the eye of the huntsman should discriminate between the opposite descriptions; in want of which attention, the pack will never be of equal appearance. When any of the hounds are observed to be low in flesh, off their appetites, bad feeders, or kept under by the old and master hounds, it will be matter of advantage to draft them, and let them feed under less restraint. Young and impatient feeders, fall into the very common fault of feeding hounds with their meat too hot: it is both a prevalent and injurious error, that should be totally abolished.

Mr. Beckford is of opinion, that hounds poorer than the rest should be fed again, and that they cannot be fed too often; as well as that those hounds which become too fat, if any, should be drafted off, and not permitted to fill themselves. All hounds (particularly young ones) should be often called over in kennel; their names become more familiar to them; and it teaches them obedience; this lesson is practised, or should be, at the time of feeding. Hounds should all be let out into the airing ground, to empty them themselves after feeding, to prevent an unnecessary accumulation of filth, and consequent effluvia, in the kennel. It may be a custom with some, to shut up the hounds for two or three hours after they return from hunting before they are FED; if so, it is more entitled to contempt than imitation; no plea can justify the practice; they should have their meat ready for feeding immediately on their return; once gratified, they enjoy their rest undisturbed, the best and most natural foundation for a renovation of strength. Plenty of vegetables, boiled in the copper meat, once a week, is a custom in most kennels; as it is also to throw in a pound or two of sulphur, (in proportion to the number,) particularly in the summer season, when there is a greater tendency in the blood to morbidity, particularly to cutaneous diseases.

During the hot months, when hounds do not work, they require but a small proportion of substantial food, compared to what is necessary in the severity of the HUNTING SEASON; flesh may then be given very sparingly; the less it is used in the summer, the less likelihood there will be of seeing that malignant and unwelcome visitor, the MANGE, amongst them. Various opinions have been promulgated upon the best, cheapest, and most nutritious, food for the support of hounds in general; but experience seems to have justified the consistency of occasional changes, according to the different seasons, and the different degrees of work; without adhering too closely to one particular mode, unassisted by such deviations as circumstances may render not only prudent and proper, but sometimes unavoidable. Horse flesh, sheep's trotters, raspings, greaves, bullock's paunches, (in a scarcity of flesh,) oat-meal, and barley-meal, constitute the principal articles upon which hounds are known to subsist; although they are differently prepared, and differently administered, according to the judgment, experience, whim, or caprice, of the parties concerned. It is, however, universally admitted, after a number of fair and impartial trials, that in respect to the two meals, they act much more profitably and advantageously, when used in a mixed state of nearly equal proportions, than when either is given alone.

Mr. Beckford says, his feeder, who was a good one, and of much experience, mixed the meal in equal quantities; that the oatmeal he boiled for half an hour; and then put out the fire, adding the barley-meal, and mixing both together: his reason for boiling one, and not the other, was, that boiling made the oat-meal THICK, and the barley-meal thin; and that when he fed with the barley-meal only, it should not be put into the copper, but mixed up with the scalding liquor, in a proper tub, or hogshead, kept for the purpose. There are many little things within the department of the FEEDER, which, if neglected, become of serious consequence. Nice observation should be made upon the state of the BITCHES at all times; upon the least indication of their going to HEAT, they should be instantly removed; a few hours delay may be the destruction of some of the best hounds in the kennel. After their return on a hunting day, he should observe whether there are any hounds who have sustained injuries in the feet by thorns, flints, &c. in which case a fomentation of warm pot-liquor, (or bran and water,) followed by a washing with cold vinegar, or salt and water, will generally effect a speedy cure. Hounds seriously LAME, or palpably SICK, should be separated from the rest, and placed where they can be more at ease, and have better attention.