WHICH came first, the breed standard or the breed? It’s a bit like the conundrum of the chicken and the egg, but the truth is that certain breeds evolved long before anyone had ever thought of a breed standard for them – the Saluki is a good example – while others were bred selectively to conform to their breeder’s written vision of what they were trying to produce. The classic example is the Korthals griffon, a Continental pointing dog.
Edward Karel Korthals, the breed’s creator, wanted a versatile hunting dog. He regarded the existing British breeds as too fast, the Continentals too slow, so sought to combine the two in a tough, adaptable animal. Thirty years of rigorous selective breeding, culling any animals that didn’t reach his expectations, led to a breed standard that hasn’t been changed since he wrote it. Today, there’s no such thing as a show or working strain of Korthals griffon: all the dogs bred are expected to be able to work, just as they have to conform to the breed standard before being allowed to enter competitions. As a result, the modern Korthals griffon looks almost identical to the dogs pictured alongside Edward Korthals more than 100 years ago.
This story is from the October 2021 edition of The Field.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2021 edition of The Field.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The apple of your eye
With scores to choose from in the UK, there is a delicious apple variety for everyone - and now is the ideal time to start thinking about planting one
Art in the field
Being able to study her subjects as she races alongside them has informed Belinda Sillars work, as she explains to Janet Menzies
Nicole Moore
The Shooting Girl With An Afro blogger explains her passion for fieldsports and outlines the importance of sharing skills and knowledge with newcomers
'Probably the greatest detective in the world'
For 100 years, on page and screen, Hercule Poirot has captivated audiences around the globe with his supreme intellect and peculiar eccentricities
View from a Bridgerton
They were the 18th-century version of a drinks trolley and now hunt tables are popular once again, partly due to Regency-period television dramas
Fishing Japanese...the road to tenkara KERON
Discovering this little-known, traditional approach to fly-fishing will take you on a spiritual journey and test your angling skills to the limit
The time to act is now
With Labour odds-on to win the next election, the Countryside Alliance launches a vital call to arms to protect hunt staff, hounds and hunting itself
Cotherstone Moor Co Durham
It's a happy team of guns that leaves the moor having enjoyed a classic driven grouse day imbued with the camaraderie of close friends, kind weather, a dedicated team of shoot helpers and such a good show of wild birds. Conservation efforts in remote Baldersdale have helped to create habitat for a spectacular array of wildlife, as well as a surplus of red grouse
Embracing change in an ancient land
The Ballington shoot on the edge of Salisbury Plain offers classic partridge days but with one eye focused on creating a positive future for fieldsports
Nature's bounty
Autumn foraging is on the agenda as Neil and Serena Cross venture out to gather woodland and hedgerow produce, from sloes to penny buns and chanterelles