646 



neighborhood where you have good opportunities of fol- 

 lowing it, you should regard this accomplishment as a 

 necessary part of your spaniel's education. 



303. In your part of the country none of these extra, 

 or, as some will say, always superfluous accomplishments 

 may be required ; but if you consider that a pupil of 

 yours attaining any one of them would be serviceable, 

 be not deterred from teaching it by the idea that you 

 would be undertaking a difficult task. Any one of them, 

 I was nearly saying all of them, could be taught a dog 

 with far greater ease, and in a shorter time, than a well- 

 established, judicious range. 



304. It would be quite unreasonable to expect a regular 

 breaker " mark " I do not say your game-keeper 

 to teach your dog any of these accomplishments. He 

 may be fully aware of the judiciousness of the system, 

 and be sensible of its great advantages, but the many 

 imperious calls upon his time would preclude his pursuing 

 it in all its details. At the usual present prices, it would 

 not pay him to break in dogs so highly. 



305. In following Beckford's advice respecting your 

 making, as far as is practicable, your dog your " constant 

 companion," do not, however, forget that you require 

 him to evince great diligence and perseverance in the 

 field ; and, therefore, that his highest enjoyment must 

 consist in being allowed to hunt. 



306. Now, it seems to be a principle of nature, 

 of canine as well as human nature, to feel, through 

 life, most attachment to that pursuit, whatever it may 



