177 



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 

 clog, and not unfrequently of the Scotch collie. 



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

 prominently forced upon people's notice, and that 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. 



M 



