113 



Under this head I shall first observe, that, by proper atten- 

 tion to breeding, the sportsman will have very little trouble in 

 training. A well-bred dog, either setter or pointer, will gene- 

 rally require very little instruction, as he will, particularly if taken 

 out young, set arid back of his own accord. For an illustration 

 of this remark I refer the reader to what has been said under the 

 heads of Setter , page 14 ; and Pointer, page 18 



I know it is a received opinion that those dogs which are very 

 difficult to reduce to the required subordination, prove, when 

 thoroughly subdued, superior to all others. From experience, 

 I will venture to pronounce this a hasty opinion : These 

 hardy, untractable animals are chiefly the offspring of the 

 pointer and setter ; and are, after all the painful flagellation, 

 and endless trouble in training, no better than a good dog 

 of a milder and more pliable disposition indeed, after repeated 

 trials of dogs of this description, I have become so disgusted 

 with them, that I would not on any account take the trouble 

 of another experiment- 

 However, in order that this chapter may be complete, it will 

 be necessary to detail the regular progressive mode of trainings 



