186 PERSEVERANCE INSTANCED. [CH. xi. 



an hour, if I do not allow the dog to start ahead and 

 seize?" It may, (but I hope months will pass before you 

 witness such agility) ; and this shows that those who do 

 not employ a retriever, and yet are sticklers for a setter's 

 (or pointer's) never being permitted to touch a feather, 

 must on such occasions get into a dilemma ; and, unless 

 they are willing to lose the bird, must plead guilty to the 

 inconsistency of being pleased however loudly they may 

 roar out " Toho," " ware dead," when they see their dog, 

 in defiance of all such calls, disable it by a sudden grip. 

 This plan, though frequently followed, cannot be correct. 

 They blame the dog for doing what they really wish, 

 and if he be too tender-mouthed to injure the bird, he 

 keeps them at top speed, while he is alternately picking 

 up the unfortunate creature, acting on his natural im- 

 pulses, and letting it fall on being rated. I therefore 

 repeat, that even if you do not wish your dog constantly 

 to retrieve (536), you would still act judiciously in 

 teaching him as a puppy to fetch (96), for then he will 

 give chase to the winged bird, and bring it to you on 

 getting the order, instead of permitting it to escape for a 

 fresh burst, or carrying it off, as I have seen done. You 

 thus maintain discipline. The dog will do what you 

 wish, in obedience to orders, not in opposition to orders. 

 The sticklers for dogs never being allowed to nose a 

 feather, ought, unless they are willing to give up slightly 

 winged birds, not to shrink from the difficult task 

 of teaching their pupils to stop and retain with their 

 paws (319). 



318. The pertinacity with which some dogs will " seek dead " is 

 really surprising. A relative of mine had an English pointer which 

 was so devoted to hunting for " knocked-down " birds, that she was 

 almost unequalled in "finding," though in other respects possessed of 

 very ordinary qualifications. If she failed in soon winding the lost 

 bird, she would of her own accord make a large circuit ; and if still 



