638 DOG-BREAKING. 



CHAPTER XV. 



SETTER TO RETRIEVE. BLOODHOUNDS. RETRIEVERS TO 

 "BEAT." WOUNDED WILD FOWL RETRIEVED FIRST. 



SETTER TO RETRIEVE. 



292. UNDENIABLY there is some value in the extra 

 number of shots obtained by means of highly-broken 

 dogs ; and nearly as undeniable is it that no man, who 

 is not over-rich, will term that teaching superfluous 

 which enables him to secure in one dog the services 

 of two. Now, I take it for granted as I cannot suppose 

 you are willing to lose many head of killed game that 

 you would be glad to be always accompanied in the field 

 by a dog that retrieves. Unless you have such a com- 

 panion, there will be but little chance of your often 

 securing a slightly winged bird in turnips. Indeed, in all 

 rough shooting, the services of a dog so trained are 

 desirable to prevent many an unfortunate hare and 

 rabbit from getting away to die a painful, lingering 

 death ; and yet, if the possession of a large kennel is 

 ever likely to prove half as inconvenient to you as it 

 would to me, you would do well, according to my idea 

 of the matter, to dispense with a regular retriever, 

 provided you have a highly-broken setter who retrieves 

 well. 



