64 LEWISES AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



insure the desired influence, and avoid that which is undesirable. 

 Occasional breeders are more liable to select unsuitable mates than 

 regular breeders, because the former generally send to other men's 

 dogs, while the latter own individuals of both sexes, and have 

 abundant opportunity to study their peculiarities and mate them 

 accordingly. 



WHAT TO BREED FOR. 



As the object in breeding is the production of dogs of high 

 quality, the first step is to obtain a thorough knowledge of what 

 such quality consists in. In general, it may be said a first-class 

 dog will possess a form approaching as nearly as possible to per- 

 fection, field qualities of a high order, a strong character, and a fine 

 disposition. 



Perfection of form consists in truth to breed characteristics, and 

 the combination of bone and muscle in proportions which give the 

 greatest ability to stand work. By truth to breed characteristics 

 we mean that the dog must display the form peculiar to his breed, 

 whatever it may be, and must not show any approach to that of 

 others. For example, the Irish setter must not have a head like 

 the English setter, or the shorter legs of the latter. The pointer 

 must not return to the hound type, and the water-spaniel must not 

 have the woolly coat of the poodle. 



Field qualities consist in speed, endurance, style, stanchness, 

 keenness of scenting power, and love of hunting. Speed is neces- 

 sary to enable the dog to beat a wide expanse of country while the 

 sportsman walks over only a small portion of it, thus saving him 

 labor, and at the same time insuring the finding of all the game on 

 the range. The possession of speed does not necessarily incapacitate 

 the dog for the close range necessary in cover-shooting, as the pace 

 can be regulated in breaking, as we shall show under that head. 

 The endurance must be great or the dog will soon give way under 

 the strain of fast work, and by tiring become practically useless, 

 very possibly just when speed is most needed. This quality, there- 

 fore, cannot be too highly developed, and its. presence gives the dog 



