Ground Work 19 



you take him at close quarters and cut off his re- 

 treat, all of which is very demorahzing. Never 

 intercept a dog's line of retreat to his place of 

 refuge in time of alarm. We never hear of city 

 dogs being afraid of city noises, and it is because 

 they are left to themselves to settle the question of 

 sound in their own way. You let a half-grown 

 puppy go in the street and away from home, and 

 ten to one the first loud noise he hears will send him 

 back like a blue streak to his familiar quarters ; but 

 in a Httle while he will be as bold as the bravest. 

 At the same time it is my opinion that if there were 

 less inbreeding there would be very much less of 

 ffunshvness, though this is neither here nor there, 

 for inbreeding is the fashion, and fashion rules all 

 things great or small." 



"Breeding in and in is good for the blood, 

 But it plays the devil with the flesh." 



— Byron, 



