PARTRIDGE-SHOOTING 229 



Most keepers now get the chance of 

 watching the highly finished perform- 

 ances of champion dogs at the trials, and 

 thus come to realize that the retriever is 

 not such a fool after all, and that with 

 care and method in breaking, the normal 

 puppy will develop into a creature of 

 surprising intelligence. 



Dog-breaking is not really a difficult 

 art, only it calls for more than the casual 

 kicks and kindness which is all some can 

 find time to bestow on their dogs. In 

 training a retriever, the first essential is 

 good treatment ; the dog soon knows 

 that his wants are well cared for, and the 

 beginning of a good understanding is 

 thus established. Then the trainer must 

 instil the principles of implicit obedience ; 

 the dog must understand that he has 

 found his master; not the master in- 

 comprehensible to the canine mind who 

 at one time allows disobedience to pass 

 unchecked, and at another inflicts condign 

 punishment for the same mistake, but one 

 who gently but firmly corrects each fault. 



