Dogs, 1 4 1 



top-knot : with him the young shooter should 

 make an early acquaintance if he has not al- 

 ready done so, for no more useful animal can 

 be found anywhere. Poodles, too (of course 

 not the barber-trimmed absurdity of Hyde 

 Park), have performed admirably as retrievers, 

 and are keen and hardy, besides being amongst 

 the most intelligent of their race. Even 

 terriers can be taught this useful accomplish- 

 ment, and if properly trained there could be 

 no better animals for the work, as they are 

 built on just the wire and whipcord lines 

 which most " professional " retrievers lack. 

 Mr Abel Chapman mentions an Airedale in 

 his possession which was a great success at 

 gathering ducks shot from ** hides" on the 

 ooze, compared to which amusement even 

 snipe - shooting is comfort and luxury. In 

 fact, as I have said, any dog will do, if what 

 is certainly the natural instinct of "" fetching " 

 can be disciplined to the sportsman's needs. 

 It will occasionally be found that dogs, per- 

 fect retrievers perhaps at other game, will at 

 first evince the greatest dislike to carrying 



