274 BREAKING AND ENTEllIXG. 



time at a little distance, after trailing it tlirougli the grass so 

 as to imitate the natural progress of the animal when wounded. 

 When putting the young retriever on the scent at the commence- 

 ment of the "run," let him puzzle it out till he finds the rabbit, 

 and then make him bring it to his master without injuring 

 it in the least. Encouragement should be given for success, 

 and during the search the dog should. have the notice of his master, 

 by the words " Seek ! seek ! seek dead ! " &c. A perseverance 

 in this kind of practice will soon make the dog very clever in 

 tracing out the concealed rabbits, and in process of time he may 

 be intrusted with the task of retrieving a wounded partridge 

 or pheasant in actual shooting. But it is always a long time 

 before the retriever becomes perfect, practice being all important 

 to him. 



Many s/ioofers nse a s/ip for the retriever, the keeper leading 

 him in it till he is wanted, Avhich is a good plan when a keeper , 

 is always in attendance. In an}' case, however, these dogs 

 should be made to drop "down charge," as the gun may be 

 used while they are at work, and if they are not broken to drop 

 they become excited, and often flush other game before it is 

 reloaded. 



The hrcaldng of the Wafer- Spaniel or Retriever is also a 

 complicated task, and, as he has to hunt in the water and on 

 the banks, his duties are twofold. These dogs are used in the 

 punt as well as on the edge of the water, but, when the educa- 

 tion is finished in the river, the pupil will generally do what 

 is wanted from the punt. As in the land retriever, so in this 



