190 THE AMERICAN HUNTING DOG 



grouse-hunting instincts already deeply rooted 

 in him. Puppies of bench-show sire and dam are 

 apt to be apathetic — that is, their hunting facul- 

 ties have lain dormant for one or two generations, 

 and you have to awaken them through a long 

 course of free hunting through puppyhood. 



It is very much better to start off with a puppy 

 who will point almost as soon as he can waddle 

 before he gets into the habit of chasing and run- 

 ning wild, which it is very hard to break him of. 

 Scout was such a puppy and was never any trou- 

 ble at all to train. Such dogs are easily pur- 

 chased from grouse dog kennels, who breed them 

 exclusively for woods shooting work. Let the 

 kennelman select the puppy for you, as he can 

 pick out a good one much more surely than you 

 can. Do not try to get a grown dog — almost all 

 the good ones are snatched when very young — 

 from two to four months — price about $25.00, and 

 raise him yourself. 



A WORD FOR THE IRISH WATER SPANIEIi 



The Irish water spaniel is a dog that stands 

 pre-eminent for all forms of water retrieving. 

 His coat is practically waterproof and affords him 

 absolute protection from the coldest water. For 

 nose he has a Chesapeake skinned a thousand 



