\.\x. NOTES ON BREAKING DOGS FOX THE Gr.\v 471 



personal attendant, a retriever for choice. If a 

 gentleman chooses to take a dog in hand, he can, 

 in my opinion, if he really tries, educate him better 

 than any keeper, and a man is naturally more patient 

 with and interested in his oirn dog, than another person 

 ever would be in training it for him. 



There are few keepers' dogs that have not the 

 terrified cowed aspect which tells of a too frequent 

 correction. 



If you wish personally to turn out a well-finished 

 dog for your gun, no one save yourself should, whilst 

 he is -young, feed, exercise, and, above all, unkennel 

 him ; for it is the fact of giving an animal pleasure 

 that attaches him to his master and paves the way 

 to obedience. When you have perfected your dog, on 

 no account permit anyone else to use, correct, or 

 caress him, which implies spoil him ; he should 

 work to his master's voice and hand alone. 



To lend a valuable book is an unwise act, but to 

 lend a good dog is a reckless one. One final piece of 

 general advice is this : do not trouble to persevere in 

 training a dog that you discover is cross or morose, 

 is gun-shy, or is hard-mouthed ; exchange, sell, re- 

 place, or drown him, and save yourself an infinity of 

 perhaps useless labour, and the chance of owning an 

 animal that is well nigh worthless when he is half 

 broken, or when you require his services most. 



