x.\x i u. Ho\v TO TRAIN A RETRIETI-.R 507 



to pick up yourself, as this is no training for him, or 

 any exercise of that sagacity which makes him so 

 valuable an assistant to a shooter. 



As a final hint let me strongly advise you never 

 to allow your young retriever to hunt with several 

 others, particularly if they are strangers to him : you 

 will only make him jealous and excitable should you 

 do so, and in his anxiety forgetful of his previous 

 training, though the occasional companionship of a 

 kennel-fellow, if the latter is old and steady, may 

 have a salutary effect on a puppy that is disobedient 

 or careless. 



If a number of partridges or pheasants have fallen 

 to the gun at one spot, allow any other retrievers 

 present to gallop wildly about here and there as much 

 as their owners fancy to see what they can find in the 

 ' lucky bag,' as children call a receptacle in which 

 they dive their hands for what they can find, but 

 if you value your dog keep him at heel on these 

 occasions, or allow him a quiet run by himself to cool 

 his ardour, when you are able to give him the oppor- 

 tunity. It is equally injudicious to send two dogs 

 to look for one bird, and thus risk a jealous dispute 

 between them for its possession of all ways this is 

 the one to ruin a dog's mouth and spoil his steadiness. 



If you lose a bird in a hedge do not fail to direct 

 a young dog to hunt along the downward side of it : 

 he will then find the game in half the time. An 

 old dog will not require the hint. 



