84 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



at least two seasons, and the practice has much to com- 

 mend it. Probably one sees better-trained retrievers at 

 covert shoots than elsewhere, because unless he is a 

 wise man the owner does not produce his worst on these 

 occasions, and possibly the temptation to run riot is not 

 so great. To make a really good retriever requires much 

 more time and patience than either pointer or setter. 

 Begin early, but be careful not to put so much work 

 on the animal as to produce the effect such as I have 

 already alluded to under " Over-training." 



Temperament. To be really successful with his 

 dogs, the trainer ought to study their character as he 

 would a human being. Like the "higher animal," he 

 has his peculiarities, which must be recognised, other- 

 wise a half-trained animal, or even failure, will be the 

 result. How often do we hear that So-and-so is a 

 " good man," but very severe with his clogs ? In every 

 litter you will find no two alike, and to mete out the 

 same treatment to all spells failure at once. The trainer 

 who recognises this early saves himself an incalculable 

 amount of trouble and produces better animals. 



Choice of Particular Breed 



It is unnecessary to give advice as to a choice of a 

 particular breed. Owners of pointers advance many 

 reasons on behalf of their favourites as against the 

 various breeds of setter, while the owners of the latter 

 are equally strong on the other side. While it may be 

 that on an exceptionally dry moor the shorter- coated 



