114 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 



dog under the supposition that many will be found amongst the 

 very best bred animals, which require every instruction from the 

 sportsman. 



In the first place, then, it is indispensably necessary that the 

 sportsman should procure dogs whose breed is unexceptionably 

 good ; as well-bred dogs are more than half broke the moment 

 you take them into the field. The dog is an animal possessed 

 of an uncommon degree of sagacity ; in short, he has reason- 

 ing powers to a very great extent, whJch may be converted to the 

 pleasure or the service of his master; yet, in this respect, dogs 

 will be found to vary very much ; and while some will appear to 

 exhibit instinct merely, others will be found to evince a degree 

 of acuteness very similar to reason. There is a countless variety 

 of the dog tribe, many of the non-descript ramifications of 

 which, with an ugly and diminutive form, seem to sink much 

 below the general level of the canine tribe in sagacity, while 

 the nobler kind appear to rise in the scale of importance in 

 proportion as they are judiciously bred, and afterwards cherish- 

 ed by the fostering care of their human protector. 



The most sagacious of all the varieties of this highly inter- 

 esting animal is, without dispute, the Newfoundland dog. His 

 olfactory organs are of the first order ; yet, as from his heavy, 

 long, and loose form he is unable to support the fatigue of a day's 

 range, he, on this account alone, is ill-calculated for the shooting 

 sportsman. Similarly important disqualifying observations would 

 apply to most of the other varieties of the dog, till we come to 

 the pointer and setter, which appear altogether most admirably 

 adapted to the purpose for which they are so generally used. 

 We may, however, remark that the mere pointing or setting is 

 by no means confined to these two particular kinds ; on the con- 

 trary, terriers, hounds, and all dogs inclined to hunt, may be 

 easily taught \ '} point or set, or, in other words, to pause or stop, 

 on their approaching game. Indeed, there are few dogs given 



