THE SPANIELS 311 



in fan-shaped sections ; but for a considerable time he should 

 not be allowed to retrieve a rabbit or too many dead birds, until 

 he has learnt to track a wounded partridge through turnips 

 peopled by ground-game. He must never search for a fallen bird 

 till ordered, nor chase one that he has sprung, even for one yard, 

 as these faults will spoil many an otherwise possible shot. 



Some men, indeed, there are who from the beginning train 

 their pups and train them well on rabbits, but unless you are 

 sure of being one of the Elect, do not attempt this method ! 



On the other hand the talk about the difficulty of training 

 Spaniels is palpably false, since so many of them manage to become 

 tolerably broken dogs in spite of the hindrance of their (so-called) 

 breakers. 



J 

 FIG. 68. MR. H. JONES'S ENGLISH SPRINGER BITCH FANSOME. 



All the preliminary course, which is by far the most important, 

 may be efficiently taught in your own house and garden ; and 

 the training of the volatile Cocker (provided he be free from Beagle 

 cross) only differs from that of the sedate Clumber in the length 

 and application of the trash-cord ! 



The mouth of a puppy can often be "softened" by squeezing 

 his lips over his teeth, and so giving him pain, whenever he has 

 been too intimate with his bird. 



Breaking for trials is precisely the same as breaking for your 

 own shooting nothing extra, nothing occult, is required ; but you 

 must of course for either purpose encourage a quick return when 

 retrieving. 



The breaking of pups destined to work in teams is precisely 



