FOR THE FIELD AND FIELD TRIALS. 245 



CHAPTER XIX. 



FIELD TRIAL BREAKING AND HANDLING. 



IN field trial competition, a dog needs to do his 

 best, and this he can do only when he has self-con- 

 fidence, proper schooling, good spirits, and the stam- 

 ina which comes from excellent physical condition. 



A dog working alone in such a manner as pleases 

 himself, and, perhaps, in a manner pleasing to the 

 shooter, is then engaged quite differently from a 

 matter of competition. Allowed to take his own 

 time and methods he may do well ; but in competition 

 his performance is relative, and therefore inferior if 

 some other dog does better. 



The field work of the dog, with its cramped sub- 

 serviency to the interests of the gun, and the work 

 of the dog in field trial competition, are distinct, in- 

 asmuch as the pottering of the shooter and dog in 

 actual work is largely eliminated. 



There are shooters who hold that a field trial 

 should be an exhibition of high-class fie!4 work as it 



