SETTER TO RETRIEVE. C 13 



any kind of unwounded game ; and, on the other hand, 

 that no rating would make him quit the pursuit of 

 injured running feather or fur. The retriever's speedy 

 return with puss, conveniently balanced between his 

 jaws, bore satisfactory testimony to the accuracy of 

 both his own and his master's judgment. 



299. Some good sportsmen maintain that a retrieving 

 setter or pointer on finding a dead bird ought to 

 point it until desired to lift it. This training they 

 hold to be advisable, on the ground that it conduces 

 to the dog's steadiness by diminishing his wish to run 

 forward on seeing a bird fall ; but the plan has neces- 

 sarily this evil consequence, that should the setter, 

 when searching for the dead bird, come across and 

 point, as he ought, any fresh game, on your telling him 

 to fetch it as you naturally will he must spring it if 

 he attempt to obey you. Surely this would tend more 

 to unsteady him than the habit of lifting his dead 

 birds as soon as found? Your dog and you ought 

 always to work in the greatest harmony in the 

 mutual confidence of your, at all times, thoroughly 

 understanding each other arid you should carefully 

 avoid the possibility of ever perplexing him by giving 

 him any order it is out of his power to obey, however 

 much he may exert himself. Moreover, if you teach 

 your retrieving setter to "point dead," you at once 

 relinquish surely unnecessarily? all hope of ever 

 witnessing such a fine display of sagacity and steadi- 

 ness as has just been related in the first part of 298. 



