FOR THE FIELD AND FIELD TRIALS. 22/ 



cance of the commands pertaining to searching for 

 it. 



These lessons should be given in moderation, as 

 they have a decided tendency to develop the carriage 

 of a low nose, a style of work which should be dis- 

 couraged as much as possible in a dog used as a 

 bird finder. 



In respect to actual field work, after the dog is 

 perfected in retrieving, the trainer should ever bear 

 in mind that all retrievers are not alike, even when 

 perfectly educated, and that circumstances alter 

 cases. Dogs vary greatly in strength. A dog phys- 

 ically small and delicate might be an excellent re- 

 triever of quail and woodcock, and yet be a poor 

 retriever of prairie chickens, owing to their extra 

 weight. 



The dog at best, owing to his construction, is not 

 a good weight carrier. Moreover, when required to 

 retrieve large birds on a hot day, he, if panting vio- 

 lently, may be forced to drop the bird so that he can 

 breathe, etc. The shooter should have some consid- 

 eration and charity for his dog under such circum- 

 stances. He has consideration for himself, as shown 

 by his voluminous excuses for missing a bird, as 



