WATEE SPANIEL.] THE DOG, AND ITS VAEIETIES; [watee spaxiel. 



to teach him to couch and lie close, not daring 

 to stir or move from that posture in which 

 you put him without your especial license, 

 cherishing him ever when he doth your will, and 

 correcting him when he doth the contrary; 

 and always observing this maxim in the first 

 teaching of him, that you never let your dog 

 eat or taste any meat, but when he doth some- 

 thing to deserve it, that custom may make it, 

 Unown food is a thing which cometh not by 

 chance, or the bounty of your hand, but for 

 reward or merit when he doth your command- 

 ments ; and this will not only make him willing 

 to learn, but kept to remember and retain 

 what he learueth, and diligently to perform 

 your pleasure without stick or amazement ; the 

 characters of your commands being so deeply 

 imprinted in his knowledge ; and to this end, 

 you must have no more teachers, no more 

 feeders, cherishers, or correctors, but one — for 

 multiplicity breeds confusion — and to teach 

 divers ways is to teach no way well; also 

 you must be very constant to the words or 

 directions by which you teach, choosing such 

 as are the most significant for your purpose, 

 and fittest for the action you would have the 

 dog do, and by no means alter the word which 

 you first use. When, therefore, you have 

 made your whelp understand these several 

 aounds or words, and that he will couch and lie 

 down at your feet, how you please, when you 

 please, and as long as you please, and that 

 with a single word or a look only ; you shall 

 then proceed and teach him to lead in a line 

 and collar, following you at your heels in 

 decent and comely order, neither treading 

 upon vour heels, nor going before or side by 

 you, which shows too much haste ; nor hanging 

 back, or straining your line, by the means of 

 too much sloth, but following in decent and 

 orderly manner, without offence either to the 

 dog or his leader ; and this kind of leading is 

 to make the whelp familiar with you that he 

 may love and acknowledge you, and no man 

 else. AVheu this general obedience is taught 

 (which is done b}" observation of his going, and 

 moving him by sights or sports, which may 

 tempt him to stray beyond his bounds, and 

 then to correct his oflenees, and to cherish and 

 reward his obedience), you shall then teach 

 him to fetch and carry anything you shall throw 

 forth of your baud." 

 U2 



The water spaniel is greatly improved in 

 point of beauty by intermixture with the laud 

 spaniel. The small-sized water spaniel is, by 

 some, considered the best to hunt with, as they 

 make excellent retrievers, and are exceedingly 

 active and expert at their work. Some, how- 

 ever, prefer middle-sized dogs, perhaps from 

 the conception that they are a little stronger ; 

 but what they have in strength, the probability 

 is that they lose in activity. It is from this 

 supposition that some have even gone so far as 

 to cross the spaniel with the Newfoundland; 

 but, we believe, the preference, by many 

 eminent sportsmen, is generally given to the 

 smaller-sized animal. The water spaniel is 

 the most faithful and affectionate of all dogs. 

 In these qualities he may be said even to sur- 

 pass, certainly to rival, Arrian'a description of 

 the hound, Horme, which was "most gentle, and 

 kindly affectionate." " Never before," says 

 Arrian, " had any dog such regard for myself 

 and friend, and fellow sportsman, Megillus ; 

 for, when not actually engaged in coursing, he 

 is never away from one or the other of us ; 

 but while I am at home, he remains within by 

 my side, accompanies me on going abroad, 

 follows me to the gymnasium, and, while I am 

 taking exercise, sits down by me. On my re- 

 turn, he runs before me, often looking back to 

 see whether I had turned anywhere out of the 

 road ; and, as soon as he catches sight of me, 

 showing symptoms of joy, and again trotting 

 on before me. If I am going out on any 

 government business, he remains with my 

 friend, and does exactly the same towards 

 him ; he is the constant companion of which- 

 ever may be sick ; and if he has not seen 

 either of us for only a short time, he jumps 

 up repeatedly by way of salutation, and barks, 

 with joy, as a greeting to us. At meals, he 

 pats us first with one foot, and then with the 

 other, to put us in mind that he is to have his 

 share of food. He has, also, many tones of 

 speech, more than I ever knew in any other 

 dog ; pointing out, in his own language, what- 

 ever he wants. Having been beaten, when a 

 puppy, with a whip, if any one, even to this 

 dav, does but mention a whip, he will come up 

 to the speaker, cowering and begging, applying 

 his mouth to the man's, as if to kiss him, and, 

 jumping up, will hang on his neck, and not let 

 him go until he has appeased his angry threats. 



