74 RETRIEVE WOODCOCK. [en. iv. 



] 28. Making a first-rate retriever is a work of time, 

 but his being thoroughly grounded in the required 

 initiatory lessons facilitates matters surprisingly. In- 

 deed after having been taught the "drop" (23, 25, 26) 

 to "fetch" (107 to 109) and "seek dead" in the 

 precise direction he is ordered (xi. of 141), almost any 

 kind of dog can be made to retrieve. The better his 

 nose is, the better of course he will retrieve. Sagacity, 

 good temper, quickness of comprehension, a teachable 

 disposition, and all cultivated qualities, are almost as 

 visibly transmitted to offspring as shape and action ; 

 therefore the stronger a dog's hereditary instincts lead 

 him to retrieve, the less will be the instructor's trouble ; 

 and the more obedient he is made to the signals of the 

 hand, the more readily will he be put upon a scent. 

 Dogs that are by nature quick rangers do not take 

 instinctively to retrieving. They have not naturally 

 sufficient patience to work out a feeble scent. They are 

 apt to overrun it. A really good retriever will pursue a 

 wounded bird or hare as accurately as a bloodhound will 

 a deer or man ; and if he is put on a false scent, I mean 

 a scent of uninjured flick or feather, he will not follow 

 it beyond a few steps : experience will have shown him 

 the inutility of so doing. (545.) 



129. Avail yourself of the first opportunity to make a 

 young retriever lift a woodcock, lest in after life, from 

 its novel scent, he decline touching it, as many dogs 

 have done to the great annoyance of their masters. 

 Ditto, with the delicate landrail. 



130. The directions given about " fetching," led me 

 to talk of retrievers ; and having touched upon the 

 subject, I thought it right not to quit it, until I had 

 offered the best advice in my power. I have but one 

 more recommendation to add before I return to your 



