CHAPTER V 



DOGS 



THAT paragon of excellence, the perfect " shooting 

 dog," so frequently discussed in the smoking-room 

 or mentioned in print, is not so often to be met with, even 

 in these days of the field-trial and the show-bench. As 

 far as I have been able to discover, the average individual 

 appears to fix up a convenient, and not too rigid, standard 

 of his, or her, own as to what constitutes a good dog both 

 in the field and out of it. The fact is, we are all a little 

 blind to the faults and foibles of our canine favourites, 

 and at the same time rather prone to exalt overmuch 

 their good properties. So long as they are not ill-looking, 

 and give sufficient evidence of a true spirit of camaraderie 

 and attentiveness, we are generally disposed to condone 

 many of their sins of omission and commission in the 

 shooting-field. 



Methods of shooting have changed extensively within 

 the past twenty or more years, and this has had the 

 effect of greatly modifying opinion with regard to the 

 employment of dogs. For example, take partridge- 

 shooting. In former years it was generally customary 

 for sportsmen to take Pointers or Setters, and with them 

 to range every available acre of ground grass, clover- 

 seeds, stubble, fallow, turnips or potatoes, all being served 



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