FOR THE FIELD AND FIELD TRIALS. K)l 



CHAPTER XIV. 



RETRIEVING. 



ALTHOUGH in America retrieving is made a part 

 of the dog's field work, it is not a natural quality in 

 the sense that pointing, reading, etc., are. There are 

 those, however, who maintain that it is instinctive, 

 and, moreover, that it is instinctively implanted in 

 the dog's nature for the especial benefit of man. 



The fact that an exceptional puppy will grasp a 

 bird in his mouth on opportunity, in his first experi- 

 ence afield, and carry it with more or less directness 

 to his master is cited as proof of its natural origin. 

 The fact that the puppy will grasp the bird on his 

 own account, even if his master is absent, is entirely 

 ignored. 



Whether in a wild or domestic state, if his prey is 

 of a size which permits of his doing so the dog fre- 

 quently carries it to his home. That he should at- 

 tempt to carry it when in the presence of his master 

 has therefore no special significance as an instinct 



