A UTHOR S DOG BO SCO 271 



only perfect as a pointer, but he was one of the very- 

 best retrievers I ever owned or ever saw ; and when 

 covert-shooting on a bad-scenting day, no retriever 

 could equal him. He was the most jealous dog I ever 

 had, not only when working in company, but if he 

 chanced to be sent out to work for a stranger, he 

 would race up every covey for miles and never come 

 near the gun. When working for me, after his first 

 month's work, he never made a single mistake. I 

 have known many a rare good pointer, but I never 

 came across one to equal him. 



I always found that the great secret in producing 

 bold dogs was to put them out to walk as pups with 

 the same sporting tenants who took my hounds and 

 pointers, and to let them have a free run and unlimited 

 liberty. If dogs are so treated, and not left too long 

 under such conditions, their very wildness becomes a 

 valuable quality, and is a sign of mettle, and is easily 

 subdued. Puppies which have no dash of wildness 

 about them at seven months old, after being thus 

 allowed a free run, are invariably more difficult to train 

 than a high-couraged dog, and are frequently timid, 

 nervous animals, which can hardly be induced to stand 

 up to birds if there is any sudden noise, and are 

 very apt to become gun-shy. When young dogs are 

 nervous and ready to bolt at any noise, they require to 

 be very carefully treated, and should be taken out 

 every day on a slip, into a town, to the railway-station, 

 a few short trips in the train, anywhere where they can 

 get used to sounds and sights which they fear, and 

 carefully watched all the time, so that when they show 

 any signs of fear they can at once be petted and fed 

 with a piece of biscuit. It is also a good plan when 



