268 BRITISH DOGS 



the superb quality of the Laverack, was perhaps the most beautiful 

 bitch in the world, and equally good in every sterling field quality. 

 Such were the principal ancestors of the celebrated strain that their 

 founder named " The Field Trial Setter," but which the American 

 exporters called many years since "The Llewellin," by which 

 name it is now known throughout the world. 



The writer has always considered the character and disposition of 

 the Setter to be the most intelligent and affectionate, as well as 

 the most capable of cultivation, of any of the canine family. At 

 the same time he must confess that the two cleverest dogs that he 

 ever possessed were a Retriever and a Fox-terrier ; but these were 

 exceptional instances of almost more than human sagacity, besides 

 which neither of them ever (so to speak) left his side by day or 

 night. With the exception of these two, the Setter bears the 

 palm from all other dogs he ever owned, and they have been many 

 and diverse. 



This is the more noteworthy because a Setter has not, as a rule, 

 the chance of so much intimate human companionship as many 

 other breeds, and it is human companionship most undoubtedly that 

 is the greatest factor in the cultivation of the brain and the mind 

 of the dog. One's Retriever is a far more constant and intimate 

 friend, and Terriers and other house-dogs are far oftener in 

 one's society. If, then, the Setter, with so many less advantages, 

 excels these, it naturally follows that his powers in this direction 

 must be far greater. 



Even the most ardent lover of the Pointer would not deny the 

 superior intelligence and affection of its rival in the field. To 

 prove this, take one of the best specimens of both breeds that you 

 can find, and put them together and work them, say, alternately. 

 The writer had the opportunity of doing this once during two 

 consecutive seasons. Both dogs were absolutely perfect specimens, 

 as to working powers, of their respective breeds, both were perfectly 

 broken, both would go from morning till night, and both did their 

 work in the same style and form. It may be the Pointer was a 

 trifle the better " laster," but all the same there was " a something " 

 about the Setter which was unmistakable. One can only describe 

 it by saying that the Pointer did his work most thoroughly and 

 conscientiously because he loved the work, and the Setter because 

 he not only loved the work, but loved his master, and loved him 

 so much, too, that he would have died to please him. In comparing 

 the two breeds an intelligent observer can hardly fail to notice this 

 sort of thing. 



The Pointer is a splendid dog, an admirable, a hard-working 

 servant ; he will do the practical part of his business as well as the 

 Setter, it may be better i.e. if you take all the Pointers in England 

 against all the Setters. But the Setter is more than a hard-working 



