174 The Sporting Dog 



what one would call a smooth gait, at least as 

 compared with real flyers. If Mr. H. C. Lowe 

 ever bred a dog with what the bench-show men 

 would call good shoulders, I never saw it. Yet 

 no other man has ever sent out as many winners 

 of the first flight. 



There are two cardinal questions in choosing 

 a shooting dog. One is the breed to be selected, 

 and the other is whether the specimen shall be a 

 male or female. As to the breed, the inquirer 

 would do better to learn for himself which he 

 likes best. For the young sportsman I should be 

 inclined to recommend the pointer or the Laver- 

 ack English setter. Either of these will do good 

 work with less of scientific handling than will in 

 most cases be required of the other strains and 

 breeds. The modern Laverack is generally 

 docile, responsive, and quick to begin pointing. 

 I have also seen many young amateurs who got 

 along well with Gordons. These dogs are usually 

 rather self-willed, but are not disposed to range 

 out of hand, and are generally very sure from the 

 first on single birds in heavy cover. Both the 

 Laverack and Gordon have the additional advan- 

 tage of carrying their pedigrees in their looks, and 

 impress all bystanders with the fact that they are 

 well bred. 



In picking a young puppy before weaning time, 

 I should advise the amateur to select the fattest 



