24 TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



gree by him ; it all is as it may happen to be. The 

 dog as a worker must stand or fall on his own merits. 



In character, intelligence, stamina, industry, self- 

 ishness and unselfishness, etc., dogs vary quite as 

 much as men vary, and there are no hard and fast 

 rules for the training of either. He is the best teacher 

 of man or dog who can best understand the capabili- 

 ties of his pupil, so modifying or combining methods 

 that they are presented in the best manner to the 

 pupil's capacity and the circumstances of the partic- 

 ular case. To determine nicely all these points re- 

 quires close observation and good temper. 



The teacher must always keep in mind the two 

 standpoints, his own on the one hand as a teacher im- 

 parting knowledge, and on the other that of the dog 

 whose intellect is relatively weak, whose ability to ac- 

 quire ideas is relatively limited, and whose nature is 

 such that the lessons of servitude are repugnant to 

 him. Although comparatively slow in learning the 

 lessons inculcated by his trainer, the dog is quick to 

 learn how best to apply his powers for the benefit of 

 his own needs. 



The beginner who feels his way carefully along 

 will make much better progress than he whose cf^ 



