478 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS LKTTER xxxi. 



fashion. It is not every retriever is so accomplished 

 as to carry a struggling hare or rabbit tenderly by the 

 skin of the back. 



6. He should look to his master for advice and 

 direction, and never start off with a dash to retrieve 

 bird or animal, save he is told to ; a retriever that 

 bounces away without orders, however plainly he sees 

 the game fall to the gun, is not a well-broken dog ; he 

 should be impatient to go, but should not leave your 

 heels unless directed to. 



7. I need hardly say a retriever that chases an un- 

 wounded hare or rabbit, or leaves his quest of the 

 bird he is at the moment seeking, to career after 

 ground game, has not learnt the rudiments of his 

 education, and by spoiling sport is likely to cause you 

 ten times more annoyance than a dog that only now 

 and again retrieves his game successfully, but who is 

 amenable to discipline. 



I have told you as plainly as I can how a retriever 

 should behave, and how his master should behave too. 

 I have also described the kind of animal to select for 

 training, so we will now commence his education. 



