354 BRITISH DOGS 



popularising the breed over the Herring Pond. They logically 

 ask, "Say, what do we want with Retrievers? All our Pointers and 

 Setters are taught the job." But if it could be impressed upon 

 them that a Retriever of the right sort will also do any kind of 

 work that is asked of him, America might be the richer for one 

 of the handsomest, cleverest, and most docile of the canine species. 



At the beginning of the chapter allusion was made to one of 

 the silliest cants of the day, which is in vogue with a certain 

 class of sportsman who abhors anything to do with dog shows. 

 He will tell you that show dogs are useless for work, and that 

 you are to recommend him to a thick-headed, yellow-eyed, bow- 

 legged keeper's slave, if you want work. This is all nonsense ; and 

 though " Handsome is as handsome does " may be a trite enough 

 saying, there is no possible reason why a thing of beauty should not 

 be a joy for ever. It is true that there are some dogs and bitches 

 whose time is so called upon in maintaining their reputation on the 

 show-bench that they may never have been broken at all, or, if so, 

 have not had the opportunity of fully displaying their excellence in 

 the field ; but take our present-day champions of the show-bench 

 seriatim, it will be found that five out of six are particularly clever 

 and steady workers. The writer can vouch for the skill of such dogs 

 as Blackthorn, Black Cloth, Black Drake, Black Charm, and Black 

 Quilt (a direct line) ; whilst Wimpole Peter, Darenth, Horton 

 Rector, and Boreas of Batsford have reputations as workers that 

 cannot be challenged. 



In buying a dog with such a reputation, one is apt to court 

 momentary disappointment, for it very frequently happens that he 

 will take all sorts of liberties, and for a time, 'at least, refuse to work 

 to a new hand ; but sometimes the boot is on the other leg a 

 change of masters will engender a change of manners, and a hitherto 

 untractable animal will come to hand in an almost miraculous 

 manner. 



The writer was once called upon to arbitrate between two 

 gentlemen of the highest position and integrity. One had sold a 

 Retriever to the other, describing him as perfectly broken and 

 excellent in his work. The purchaser took him home, and after 

 a while tried him, when, he alleged, he was unsteady, disobedient, 

 and terribly hard-mouthed in fact, useless; consequently he de- 

 manded a return of the purchase-money. The vendor stoutly 

 maintained the dog's excellence, and the matter was by mutual 

 consent submitted to arbitration. The purchaser sent the dog to 

 the writer. He tried him exhaustively, found him as near perfection 

 as a Retriever could be, and gave his arbitrament accordingly, much 

 to the surprise of the purchaser. Again, a draft of the writer's 

 own dogs was disposed of at the Barbican ; amongst them a bitch 

 whom he had always found to possess a peculiarly tender mouth, 



