640 DOG-BREAKING. 



first season, to make him. thoroughly stanch and steady, 

 I cannot advise you, as a general rule liable, of course, 

 to many exceptions one of which is named in 219 to 

 let him retrieve by retrieve I always mean fetch 

 until the following year. There is another advantage in 

 the delay. His sagacity will have shown him that 

 the design of every shot is to bag the game when, 

 therefore, he has once been permitted to pick up a bird, 

 he will be desirous of carrying it immediately to you, and 

 will resist the temptation to loiter with it, mouthing and 

 spoiling it ; and however keenly he may have heretofore 

 " sought dead," he will henceforth search with redoubled 

 zeal, from the delight he will experience in being per- 

 mitted to carry his game. Moreover, the season's shoot- 

 ing, without lifting, will have so thoroughly confirmed 

 him in the " down charge," that the increased* inclination 

 to bolt off in search of a falling bird will be successfully 

 resisted. If he has been taught while young to " fetch " 

 92, 94, &c., he will be so anxious to take the birds to 

 you, that instead of there being any difficulty in teaching 

 him this accomplishment, you will often, during his first 

 season, have to restrain him from lifting when he is 

 "pointing dead." The least encouragement will make 

 him gladly pick up the birds, and give them, as he ought, 

 to no one but yourself. 



295. You need hardly be cautioned not to let more 



* " Increased : " the gratification of carrying being far greater 

 than that of merely " pointing dead." 



