Poachers in nineteenth century England were rural thieves. They were more than violators of game laws; they were stealing actual property from these estates. Game was owned. Wildlife was not viewed as state property in the way that it is in the United States.
Poaching was a very common offence. At one time, it was estimated that about a fourth of all people in the United Kingdom had been convicted of violating various game statutes.
Poachers often came by at night to take game that had already been shot and left to lie in the field. This was one reason why the estates needed the best retrievers available. If game was left to lie in the field, the poachers would sneak in and collect it. They would also come by in the wee hours of the morning and take game with their dogs.
This particular poacher was likely taking game that was already shot. His retriever was a bull and terrier type– which served another purpose.
To apprehend poachers, it was not uncommon for a gamekeeper to have what was called a “night dog.” A night dog was type of mastiff, though it was usually a bit smaller and more agile than the big war and estate guardian mastiff that became what we call the “English mastiff” of today. The night dog was often brindle so that it could more easily hide in the shadows. The night dogs were trained to leave all game alone and to seek only people. They were also trained never to use their jaws on people. Instead, they were trained to pounce upon the poacher and hold him down until the keeper could catch him.
The night dogs would eventually become the modern bullmastiff breed, but at the time they were solely a purpose-bred mastiff, often crossed with bulldogs or bloodhound to add agility or nose.
This particular poacher’s luck has run out. The night dog has found him and has him down. His loyal bull and terrier-type retriever has rushed to save him, but it may all be for nought. However, the bull and terrier might be enough of a distraction for the night dog to allow the poacher to escape.
