66 TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



Dogs so taught, or rather so untaught, become ab- 

 jectly perfunctory. They lose all independence of 

 action or purpose, and look to their trainer for 

 orders at every turn. All idea of initiative is gone 

 from them and therewith nearly all of self-interest ; 

 consequently they are more or less listless and sloth- 

 ful in manner and are devoid of ardor and industry. 

 Let the puppy range and locate the birds in his 

 own wild way. Let him alone. What if he flushes 

 and chases? All the better. A puppy which will 

 not flush and chase at first is a marvel. Left to him- 

 self, he learns to locate quickly and discriminates as 

 to the kind of cover and the nooks which the game 

 frequents. With more experience he will modify 

 his puppy ways ; at all events, the qualities useful to 

 man have been developed by sensible opportunity 

 and are in proper form for his schooling to the gun. 

 Developed in this manner, besides having a knowl- 

 edge most useful in the capacity of servant, he will 

 have dash, enthusiasm, persistence and that very 

 desirable quality commonly called "bird sense," 

 which the dog acquires for himself, and which the 

 trainer could not impart to him otherwise than by 

 experience if he devoted a lifetime to it. 



