THE COCKING SPANIEL. 203 



small bodies of these active and indefatigable little ani- 

 mals is of the most indomitable, and it requires steadiness, 

 patience, firmness, equability of temper in the highest 

 degree, and at times severity, to break them into disci- 

 pline, and to keep them in it when broken. But this once 

 accomplished, they are all but perfection. 



" There can scarcely be a prettier object," says Mr. 

 Youatt in his admirable work on the dog, " than this little 

 creature, full of activity, and bustling in every direction, 

 with his tail erect ; and the moment he scents the bird 

 expressing his delight by the quivering of every limb, and 

 the low eager whimpering which the best breaking cannot 

 always subdue. Presently the bird springs, and then he 

 shrieks out his ecstasy, startling even the sportsman with 

 his sharp, shrill, and strangely expressive bark. 



" The most serious objection to the use of the cocker 

 is the difficulty of teaching him to distinguish his game 

 and confine himself within bounds ; for he will too often 

 flush every thing that comes within his reach. It is often 

 the practice to attach bells to his collar, that the sports- 

 man may know where he is ; " this precaution is far more 

 necessary with the pointer in covert " but there is an in- 

 convenience connected with this, that the noise of the bells 

 will often disturb and spring the game before the dog 

 comes fairly upon it. 



" Patience and perseverance, with a due mixture of 

 kindness and correction, will, however, accomplish a 

 great deal in the tuition of the well-bred spaniel. He 

 may at first hunt about after every bird that presents 

 itself, or chase the interdicted game ; if he be immediate- 



