198 The Sporting Dog 



excitable energy, the better I like him, but he must 

 have the latter requisite. A dog that just potters 

 through his work won't answer my purpose. I 

 should much prefer to have him flush occasionally. 

 I am a special admirer of a high head, style, and 

 speed. There is nothing I dislike more than to 

 see a dog get his nose to the ground and " wiggle 

 and fiddle " along until he has located his game. 



Ranging ground with judgment probably wins 

 me as quickly as anything else. I have known 

 dogs which were always within sight in close, 

 thick cover, working with energy and dash, but 

 the moment I would go to the open were off at 

 lightning speed, with no field too large for them. 

 This I call hunting to the gun ; and must acknowl- 

 edge that I am a crank on the subject. 



As to training, I want a dog absolutely steady 

 to shot and wing, backing at sight ; and the 

 promptness of his " bidability " appeals to me. I 

 do not require retrieving, but, of course, much 

 prefer it if it does not interfere with other more 

 important qualities. 



This amount of breaking is all I wish, and, in 

 my judgment, all that a dog can stand and still 

 retain those high natural qualities which I feel to 

 be so necessary. 



It is my opinion that I have shot over as many 

 overtrained dogs as dogs lacking education. 



Blood lines and field superiority are far ahead 



