LESSONS IN "FETCHING." 519 



being clearly understood that he has been previouslv 

 tutored into having no dread of the gun. As he will 

 have been taught to search where bidden iv. to vin. 

 of 119, nothing now remains but to take him out on a 

 regular campaign, when the fascinating scent of game 

 will infallibly make him search I do not say deliver 

 with great eagerness. When once he then touches upon 

 a scent, leave him entirely to himself not a word, not 

 a sign. Possibly his nose may not be able to follow the 

 bird, but it is certain that yours cannot. Occasionally 

 you may be able to help an old retriever (296), but 

 rarely, if ever, a young one. Your interference, nay, 

 probably your mere presence, would so excite him as to 

 make him overrun the scent. Remain, therefore, quietly 

 where you are until he rejoins you. 



98. When we see a winged pheasant racing off, most 

 of us are too apt to assist a young dog, forgetting that we 

 thereby teach him, instead of devoting his whole atten- 

 tion to work out the scent, to turn to us for aid on occa- 

 sions when it may be impossible to give it. When a 

 dog is hunting for birds, he should frequently look to 

 the gun for signals, but when he is on them he should 

 trust to nothing but his own scenting faculties. 



99. If, from a judicious education, a retriever pup has 

 had a delight in " fetching " rapidly, it is not likely he 

 will loiter on the way to mouth his birds; but the 

 fatigue of carrying a hare a considerable distance may, 

 perhaps, induce a young dog to drop it in order to take 

 a moment's rest. There is a risk that when doing so he 



