THE SPANIELS 309 



First ascertain that the youngsters are bred from working parents ; 

 and then proceed to a minute examination of their heads. Choose 

 that one which has a round prominent forehead, a well-developed 

 occiput, and wide nostrils. He must also have a round, soft eye, 

 with a mobile pupil in it; and remember that a good nose and 

 good sense never yet existed in a gundog that had a narrow skull ! 

 The pup must, also, keep a rnerry tail, but till the feather develop 

 upon it, he will probably carry it rather too gaily. 



In the education of your puppy, you must ignore that rotten 

 old proverb that counsels plentiful beatings for Spaniel, Wife, and 

 Walnut-tree, and must rely, instead, on firmness, consistency, and 



FIG. 67. MR. R. H. BETTS'S ENGLISH SPRINGER SHIRLEY. 



the use of the trash-cord, a thin rope trailing behind, which may be 

 long or short as occasion requires. To a Spaniel's character in- 

 cessant thrashings are fatal, as under such treatment he becomes 

 either cowed or case-hardened, according to his individual tempera- 

 ment but never broken. You must, however, make constant use 

 of the trash-cord, that potent instrument by which, as Floyd dis- 

 covered in the beginning of last century, all dogs may be broken ; 

 " it will never fail to daunt the most resolute, and may be so gently 

 used as not to overawe the most timid." 



You must never allow a fault to pass unrebuked, be it ever so 

 trifling or seemingly excusable. To train a dog properly a man must 

 be always attentively on the watch to nip crime in the bud ; and it 

 is the want of this faculty in would-be breakers that is accountable 



