282 FAST RETRIEVERS AND BAD SHOTS 



very bold in water or thick cover, could carry even a 

 brown hare, and had a perfect temper. Such dogs can 

 be trained to do anything and everything by kindness. 

 Headstrong dogs at times require to be severely cor- 

 rected, but the system of tying up which I have advo- 

 cated is the extent of punishment which is ever neces- 

 sary. I consider that any dog that requires harsh 

 treatment is useless, and should be shot. 



Everyone nowadays, keepers as well as gentlemen, 

 insists on fast-working retrievers, and I am old enough 

 sportsman to be well aware that such dogs are especial 

 favourites with bad shots, inasmuch as they are able to 

 retrieve game be it ever so slightly wounded. 



Winged game, especially wild fowl, are far more 

 easily gathered by a slow, steady dog ; such a dog as is 

 able to thread his line through dozens of pheasants 

 without disturbing the whole beat, in the way a fast 

 dog tearing after a runner is bound to do. 



Some years ago I joined company with a friend in 

 taking a shooting near Beauly, N.B. My friend sent 

 for a deerhound which he knew well, at Achnasheen 

 Forest. The dog arrived by train on a Tuesday, and 

 on the Friday and Saturday did some tracking, but 

 after being fed on Sunday morning it disappeared and 

 was nowhere to be seen. For two days we heard 

 nothing of it, and came to the conclusion that some 

 poachers were making use of it ; but on the Wednes- 

 day we received a letter saying that it had returned 

 home on the Sunday night, having traversed a distance 

 of at least sixty miles. This is surely what is termed 

 'homing instinct' The dog had come by train, and 

 had never before been in that part of the country, and 

 must have crossed the hills, or it could never other- 



