50 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



uniform results. Inbreeding, to some extent, is not harm- 

 ful; indeed it is the only reliable course, if practiced within 

 proper limits, with well-selected individuals, as the breed- 

 ing of all domestic animals has abundantly proven. It 

 will take but a few years of such breeding to produce 

 puppies that will go afield, at almost any age, and instinct- 

 ively hunt and chase birds. They will be full of point and 

 style, and will require less than half the breaking 6ur dogs 

 now require. 



I have always made my youngsters mind me, and am 

 assisted by the example of the older dogs. I have them 

 come to me when called, teach them to charge anywhere, 

 and soon have them under full control. All this can be 

 done by kindness; and while some professional handlers 

 use and advocate force, I believe the less of it that is used, 

 the better the dog will be. An expert handler once told 

 me that the first thing he does with an Irish Setter puppy 

 when he takes it in hand is to give it a sound thrashing. 

 It is needless to say that he will never be intrusted with a 

 puppy of mine. 



Most Irish Reds are of a kind, affectionate disposition, 

 and are easily trained. Desj)ite their reputation, I have 

 found this so, year in and year out, in my own kennel; 

 and I have had many that have taken to game as natu- 

 rally as to walking. ' A long time ago, I owned a fine young 

 bitch, and wanted her trained. She was sent to a market- 

 hunter in Sullivan County, New York. Three months later, 

 I went there to see my dog on game. She was taken out, 

 reluctantly, by the trainer, who must have been the more 

 surprised of the two of us, for she pointed both partridges 

 and quails in good style, and without command; made use 

 of the retrieving she had been taught by me, in spite of as 

 I subsequently learned the fact that she had never been 

 off her chain since I sent her to him. I was satisfied, of 

 course; and to this day I have not had a better-nosed nor 

 a stancher dog. I have hunted her for years, to my entire 

 satisfaction; she is living now, and is nearly fourteen years 

 old. 



