IDEAS ON DOG-BREAKING. 261 



and after instructing them to retrieve by land, they 

 will do the same from water. 



Some dogs have a natural tendency to retrieve; 

 with such there will be no difficulty, while others take 

 a long time to comprehend what is desired of them, 

 one pupil that I possessed coud not be tempted for a 

 length of time to take any thing in his mouth and 

 carry it. For days I tried to overcome this repug- 

 nance till my patience was almost exhausted ; at last I 

 adopted a new plan and found it successful, I attach- 

 ed a long string to a ball and after rolling it from me, 

 he would go and nose it, but do no more ; when he 

 was about to leave, by pulling the ball his curiosity 

 became excited, and he w r ould then lay hold of it. 

 Repeating this, it awakened a desire to retain it, 

 and at length, as if in sheer opposition, he would keep 

 it in his mouth and carry it with him. With others 

 I have tried the same course, and always successfully. 

 I do not consider any dog of these breeds perfectly 

 broken that will not retrieve from both elements ; and 

 although I know that in England it is not generally 

 considered a necessary part of their education, the 

 advantages are so obvious that it does not need fur- 

 ther comment. At four or five months old you 

 should commence to handle your youngsters. Ac- 



