CH. in.] RETRIEVER MADE BREAKER. 35 



party, how the retriever did all the disagreeable work, 

 and indeed, nearly relieved him of every trouble in 

 breaking in the youngsters. On the next few shots this 

 novel schoolmaster was again deputed to show his pupils 

 that he would not allow his special duties as a retriever 

 to be interfered with. Both the young dogs, having 

 been thus well chastised, became more careful, made 

 only partial rushes to the front, when a recollection of 

 their punishment, and a dread of their four-footed tutor 

 brought them slinking back to their older companions. 

 As the keeper had averred, they soon learned their 

 lesson completely, gave up all thoughts of chasing 

 after shot, and quietly crouched down with the other 

 dogs. 



57. I can easily imagine that it was a feeling of 

 jealousy, which first prompted the retriever to thrash 

 some spaniel who was endeavouring to carry off a bird, 

 and that the clever keeper encouraged him in doing so, 

 instantly perceiving the value of such assistance. It is 

 worth a consideration whether it would not be advisable 

 to train the retriever employed with a team to give this 

 assistance. A dog of a quarrelsome disposition could be 

 taught, by your urging him, to seize any spaniel who 

 might be mouthing a bird, in the same manner you 

 would set on a young terrier to fly at a rat. 



58. Doubtless it is the highest training to teach a 

 team to " down-charge," but most breakers make their 

 spaniels come into " heel," or rather gather close around 

 them, (by the word " round ") whenever a gun is dis- 

 charged. This plan, though so injudicious in the case 

 of pointers or setters, is but little objectionable in the 

 case of spaniels, for spaniels in their small sweep in- 

 wards, are not likely to spring game while the guns are 

 unloaded. It certainly possesses this merit, that it is 



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