34 SHOOTING. 



teacli divers ways is to teach no wsij well ; also you must be very 

 constant to tLe words of dii-ections by which you teach, cherishing 

 such as are good and most significant for your purpose, and fittest 

 for the action you would have the dog do, and by no means alter 

 that word which you first use. When therefore you have made 

 your whelps understand these several sounds or words, and that 

 he will crouch and lie down at your feet, how you please, and as 

 long as you please, and that with a single word, or a look only, 

 you shall then proceed and teach him to lead in a line and collar, 

 followiug you at your heels in decent and comely order, neither 

 treading upon your heels or going before or side by you, which 

 shows too much haste, nor hanging back or straimng your line by 

 the means of too much sloth, but following in decent and orderly 

 manner without offence either to the dog or his leader, and this 

 kind of leadhig is to make the whelp familiar with you that he may 

 love and acknowledge you and no one else. When this general 

 obedience is taught (which is done by observation of his going, and 

 moving him by sights or sports, which may tempt him to stay 

 beyond his bounds, and then to correct his offences, and to cherish 

 and reward his obedience), you shall then teach him to fetch and 

 carry anything you shall throw forth out of your hand." The 

 author goes on to lay much stress on learning the dog how to 

 fetch and carry properly, and to learn him also to seek for things 

 that may be wanting. He should likewise be taught to read your 

 wishes in your countenance, gestures, and motions, so that he may 

 divine your wants without your speaking a single word. All this 

 is very minutely and circumstantially dwelt upon, and enforced 

 with much good feeling and sound sense. 



The Retriever. — This is a useful dog, but of uncertain parentage. 

 He is required to act many parts — to make a tolerable pointer, a 

 better setter, and a handy hunter in thick covers after woimded 

 game. To be perfect in his calling he should, on the very glance of 

 your eye, spring among tangled woods and briars, or rush into the 

 water and bring you out a dead or wounded bird, He is, to use a 

 common phrase, " a Jack of all trades." This kind of dog is a 

 necessary appendage to a regular shootmg estabhshment. It is 

 astonishing how sagacious he becomes by j)roper training, and 

 how much his labours facOitate the acquisition of a good day's 

 sport. The great error to guard against, is the haste and im- 

 patience which are embodied in the dog's nature. 



On the Breeding, Breaking, and Traiyiing of Spaniels, Setters, and 

 Poitders^ generally, there has been much vn-itten, and the subject is 

 of vital importance to the movements and amusements of the true 

 sportsman. The training of all these different kinds of animals 

 partakes of the same common character. There are special rules 

 and exceptions, but these do not affect the regular coui'se of educa- 

 tion and discipline. 



The breeding of dogs for shooting purposes is a matter sedu- 

 lously attended to by all shooters. When a good and proper stock 



