FOR THE FIELD AND FlELD TRIALS. 



the trainer and the success of the latter in plundering 

 the dog of his prey are exceedingly limited data on 

 which to found a theory that the act of retrieving 

 is instinctive. Intelligent retrieving in the service of 

 the gun is the result of education. 



If the dog retrieved naturally for the benefit of 

 man he would exhibit and maintain a constant pur- 

 pose of doing so, instead of a consistent purpose to 

 possess and eat the bird. Furthermore, it would seem 

 that if the dog retrieved naturally for man, the lat- 

 ter would know instinctively why the dog pointed 

 and retrieved, but man has to be taught these things 

 before he knows them. 



Some dogs, it is true, learn to retrieve much more 

 quickly than others, and take a great interest and de- 

 light in it. But this may be said of any other work 

 imposed on the dog by man. 



The average dog is easily susceptible to praise or 

 flattery, and if he is skillfully handled in this respect 

 he will do many things of no special interest or bene- 

 fit to himself other than the vain gratification which 

 he feels from evoking the approbation of his master. 

 His keenness of observation and discrimination in 

 determining what acts are pleasing and what are dis- 



