122 INSTINCT OF DOGS. 



INSTINCT OF DOGS. 



IT is often amusing to hear those who know little about the 

 subject describing the " almost reason" of the St Bernard's 

 dog, and not unfrequently of the Scotch " colley." 



It appears to me that the instinct of these animals is more 

 prominently forced upon their notice, and they do not take 

 the trouble to watch and discover it in the other species. 

 Sagacity is more equally distributed among the different 

 varieties of the dog than such casual observers are aware of ; 

 but it, of course, takes different directions,* according to the 

 temper, habits, and treatment of the animal. It would be a 

 waste of time so far to control the keen tempers of sporting 

 dogs, (by which I mean setters and pointers,) as to make 

 them perform the duties of a well-broke phlegmatic retriever. 

 The instinctive power may therefore appear greater in one 

 than the other ; but from the quiet easy temper of the re- 

 triever, it is much less difficult to develop and make use of 

 his instinct in that particular way: while the setter and 

 pointer, owing to their more active life and hunting pro- 

 pensities, may often pass unnoticed, even by their masters, 

 though, every time they are in the field, displaying as much 

 tact as the most cautious retriever. Their sagacity is never 

 thought of; and the only praise they get is, that they are 

 " excellent dogs," which means that they find plenty of 

 game. 



