492 DOG-BREAKIXG. 



the keeper, and lay down among his companions. * The 

 keeper then confessed that a couple of the spaniels had 

 never been shot to but he confidently assured the 

 sportsmen they would see before the day was over that 

 the pups behaved fully as steadily as the old dogs, and 

 explained to the party how the retriever did all the dis- 

 agreeable work, and indeed nearly relieved him of every 

 trouble in breaking in the youngsters. On the next few 

 shots this novel schoolmaster was again deputed to show 

 his pupils that he would not allow his special duties as a 

 retriever to be interfered with. Both the young dogs, 

 having been thus well chastised, became more careful 

 made only partial rushes to the front, when a recollec- 

 tion of their punishment and a dread of their four-footed 

 tutor brought them slinking back to their older compa- 

 nions. As the keeper had averred, they soon learned 

 their lesson completely gave up all thought of chasing 

 after shot, and quietly crouched down with the other dogs. 

 53. I can easily imagine that it was a feeling of 

 jealousy which first prompted the retriever to thrash 

 some spaniel who was endeavoring to carry off a bird, 

 and that the clever keeper encouraged him in doing so, 

 instantly perceiving the value of such assistance. It is 

 worth a consideration whether it would not be advisable 

 to train the retriever employed with a team to give this 

 assistance. A dog of a quarrelsome disposition could be 

 taught, by your urging him, to seize any spaniel who 

 might be mouthing a bird, in the same manner you 

 would set on a young terrier to fly at a rat. 



