5o8 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS LETTER 



In partridge shooting there should certainly be a 

 retriever to each shooter, and if birds are plentiful a 

 man to mark also. I hate the cry passed down the 

 line of guns, ' Bring a dog here, please.' The dog 

 should be there already, just where he is wanted, 

 and not be raced from a distance, as this is sure to 

 excite his natural propensity to chase (when all the 

 men and boys present have also perhaps trampled 

 away the scent of the lost bird). 



As to runners, when partridge shooting, why the 

 best retriever in the world may flush a score birds out 

 of shot as he follows the wounded one he is sent after, 

 and the dog is doing nothing wrong, though I often 

 hear him scolded for flushing birds when footing a 

 runner as if it was his fault. The blame lies with the 

 master who allowed the dog to go forward at an in- 

 opportune moment (a dog should never be called off 

 a runner when hot on its scent, unless you want 

 to spoil and puzzle him), or with the shooter who 

 tailored the game by firing a long shot. Nothing is 

 so sure to spoil a young dog as wild random shooting, 

 and nothing educates him so successfully as the 

 reverse of such. 



To put the finishing touches on a young retriever 

 by working him yourself whilst your friends shoot will 

 pass two or three days very pleasantly, and will give 

 a man who loves dogs as much enjoyment as if he 

 were shooting, and much more than if his dog was 

 carelessly handled by an assistant. 



