BREAKING AND HANDLING. 77 



have some special feature in his work that is superior to all 

 other parts. The constant cultivation of the special part 

 renders it the leading accomplishment. By diverting him 

 from his preference and constantly drilling him in all 

 branches, the weaker ones especially, the endeavor should 

 be to make him as near an "all round" dog as possible. 

 Due consideration, however, must be given to peculiarities 

 of disposition and manner, the trainer adapting his methods 

 to these as much as possible, instead of attempting to reduce 

 all to an arbitrary standard. If a dog is allowed to indulge 

 his special liking or faculty without any restraint, he is spe- 

 cially fond of it all his life, and may be .inferior other- 

 wise* Thus there are "covey dogs," which range wide and 

 fast in search of covies, but work on scattered birds with 

 the greatest impatience, and are constantly on the alert to 

 break away from such irksome work. Others are only use- 

 ful on scattered birds, or in retrieving, etc. 



In some instances, the apparent absence of any improve- 

 ment will be very discouraging. Notwithstanding the dili- 

 gent efforts of the trainer, long intervals may elapse before any 

 perceptible advance is made in teaching certain parts. This 

 backwardness may occur in any part or parts, or the dog 

 may apparently be advancing when a relapse occurs, thereby 

 necessitating further effort. Occasionally a dog will be met 

 with which has a special proclivity for doing everything 

 wrong. The attention and effort required to correct such 

 idiosyncracies are very tiresome. Without any apparent 

 cause, he may develop whimsicalities in parts of his work 

 which will impede progress in all of it; or objectionable 

 habits may be formed which may entirely obstruct training, 

 or render the dog valueless. For instance, one experience 

 which the author had with a dog of eccentric character will 

 serve purposes of illustration. He was given to an inex- 

 haustible display of cranky notions, and no sooner was one 



