THE RETRIEVER. 



hares or pheasants, this Dog is preferable to the Terrier Retriever, as it is a more 

 powerful animal, and therefore better able to carry its burden ; but, for the lesser de- 

 scription of game, the smaller Dog is preferable for many reasons. 



The height of the large Retriever is from twenty-two to twenty-four inches ; its 

 frame is powerfully built, and its limbs strong. A good nose is necessary, for the purpose 

 of enabling the Dog to trace the devious and manifold windings of the wounded birds, 

 which would baffle any animal not endowed with so exquisite a sense of smell. The 

 fur of this Dog is curly and of moderate length, and is almost invariably black 

 in color. Indeed, many Dog-owners will repudiate a Retriever of any other color 

 but black. 



RETRIEVER. Caais familiarls. 



To train a Retriever properly is rather a difficult task, demanding the greatest 

 patience and perseverance on the part of the instructor. It is comparatively easy to 

 teach a Dog to fetch and carry a load, but to teach him to retrieve in water is quite a 

 different matter. On land the Dog can see the object from some little distance, but 

 in the water his nose is so nearly on a level with the object for which he is searching, 

 that he can only see a very little distance ahead, and must learn to guide his way by 

 the voice and gesture of his master. 



It is said that the greatest difficulty in the course of instruction is to keep the Dog 

 from the water-rats, which are found so abundantly on the banks of rivers and ponds, 

 and which afford such powerful temptations to a young and inexperienced animal. 



Another obstacle in the tuition is the natural propensity of the Dog to bark when he 

 is excited ; and as a young Dog is excited by almost everything that crosses his path, 



