294 



THE RETRIEVER. 



he generally tries his teacher's patience sorely before he learns to be silent and not tt> 

 disturb the game by even a low whine. Again : the natural instinct of the Dog tells 

 him to eat the animal which he has found, and it is 'not until he has been duly in- 

 structed that he learns to bring the game to his master without injuring it. July and 

 August are the best months for teaching the Retriever, because the water is then com- 

 paratively warm, and there is no risk of disgusting the animals by forcing them into 

 an icy bath, or of bringing on disease by overmuch exposure to a cold wind while their 

 coats are wet and themselves wearied. 



In order to keep the Dog from closing his teeth too firmly upon the game, he should 

 always be made to lay down his spoil at his master's feet, or to loosen his hold as soon 

 as his master touches the object which he is carrying. If the prey be snatched from 

 his mouth, he instinctively bites sharply in order to retain it ; and when he gets into 

 so bad a habit often damages the dead game so much that it is quite useless. When- 

 ever a Dog is sent to fetch any object he must on no account be permitted to return 

 without it, as, if he should once do so, he will ever afterwards be liable to give up the 

 search as soon as he feels tired. 



There are many other little difficulties in the training of the Retriever, some of them 

 incidental to the Dog, simply because it is a Dog, and others belonging to the character 

 of the individual animal. One great point to gain is, to make the Dog understand that 

 the birds which he delights in fetching are killed by the gun and not by himself. 

 Until he fully understands this lesson he is apt to dart off in chase of a bird as soon 

 as he sees it, or perceives its scent, and to chase it until it is out of sight, just as we 

 may see puppies chasing sparrows half over a field, barking at them as if they were to 

 be caught as easily as if they were so many mice. 



The smaller Retriever is produced by a cross of the terrier with the beagle, and in 

 many points is superior to the large black Retriever. Should a large animal be re- 

 quired, the pointer is employed in the cross instead of the beagle. 



They are very quiet Dogs, and when on their quest do not make so much noise as 

 the larger Retrievers, so that they are especially useful when the game is wild. The 

 kind of terrier which is employed in the crossing depends on the caprice of the breeder, 

 some persons preferring the smooth English Dog, and others the rough Scotch terrier. 

 Being small Dogs they can be kept in the house, and become very companionable, so 

 that when they go to their regular work they feel more love and respect for their master 

 than would have been the case if they had been kept in a kennel, or sent to a cottage 

 on board-wages. 



Spaniels can be taught to retrieve, and will perform their task nearly as well as a 

 Retriever itself. A thoroughly well-taught Dog is almost invaluable to the sportsman, 

 and will command a large price. According to " Stonehenge," a well-instructed 

 Clumber spaniel is worth thirty or forty guineas. If possible, the animal should in 

 every case be taught by the peTson who intends to use him in the field, as neither the 

 Dog nor its master can learn each other's ways without some experience, and without 

 this knowledge neither can work well, or feel sure of the co-operation of the other. 



These animals are also valuable for retrieving, because, like the smaller Retrievers, 

 they are capable of sharing the house with their master, and are therefore more 

 amenable to his authority, and more likely to follow out his wishes, than if their 

 intercourse were restricted to the hunting-field. The peculiar and very unpleasant 

 odor of the skin, which is found to exist in almost every kind of Dog, can be removed by 

 careful and periodical washing a practice which the animal soon learns to appreciate. 

 There is, however, a drawback to the companionship of the Dog, in the parasitic in- 

 sects with which it is generally infested, and which are too tenacious of life to be destroyed 

 by immersion in water, or too strong to be dislodged by ordinary mechanical means. 



The only methed by which these disagreeable pests can be destroyed is by a rapidly 

 acting poison, which kills them before they can retreat from its action. Such poisonous 

 substances are too often dangerous to the Dog as well as to its parasites, and may 

 seriously injure the animal instead of conferring any benefit upon it. Preparations of 

 mercury are frequently used for this purpose, but are dangerous remedies for the reason 

 above given, and are, moreover, rather tedious of application, requiring a careful rubbing 



