THE IRISH SETTER 



293 



while the pups will be sufficiently grown and strong to stand the 

 ensuing winter's cold, and be ready for the following summer for 

 the necessary hand-training preparatory to their actual entry on 

 birds in August, when they may be worked daily for a few hours 

 without injury. 



Selection of the pups is a difficult matter, but dogs are so prolific 

 that, with a good strain to start from, perseverance and a hard 

 heart are all that is requisite to secure a good field dog and bench 

 winner before many seasons are over. The real sportsman should, 



FIG. 63. MR. J. H. SWINEY'S IRISH SETTER CHAMPION DONAL MACSWINE. 



however, be ruthless in destroying, no matter how handsome, the 

 dog that shows want of stamina, keenness, speed, nose, or other 

 qualities requisite for perfect field work. When the pups are able 

 to get about, they should have ample room to play, a small well- 

 fenced paddock, if possible, with a dry and comfortable kennel to 

 retire to at night or if wet, answering this purpose admirably. 

 With this exercise their feet and legs are properly formed, and 

 their muscles developed. When about four months old they 

 might be more confined, but taken out for regular exercise on a 

 mountain or in the fields, and put under some discipline, but not 

 in any way to restrain their running, which in this way they take 



