24 THE DOG j AND HOW TO BREAK HIM. 



clog of size, will produce excellent retrievers. 

 One of the best I ever saw was the offspring of 

 Newfoundland and mastiff. There is nothing 

 easierthan to make a perfect retriever if you com- 

 mence his lessons in time ; but the business be- 

 comes more difficult if delayed until the dog is 

 twelve months old. 



A retriever should never leave the heel, unless 

 ordered to do so ; but should be kept entirely to 

 his own business, which is to fetch a dead bird or 

 catch a wounded one. His hunting should never 

 extend further than this. You may have a 

 pointer, or a setter, or a spaniel retriever — hunt- 

 ing being their legitimate business ; but in this 

 case you may dispense with any other retriever 

 altogether. 



The first lesson for a young retriever may be 

 given in company with pointer or setter pups ; it 

 is merely to be taught to keep to the heel, and drop 

 on the firing of a gun or pistol. It must be first 

 ascertained whether he will carry ; but little doubt 

 need be entertained on this head, as I never yet 

 saw any dog haAdng a cross from the Newfoundland 

 that did not take to carrying naturally, and as if 

 by instinct. Sometimes it will happen, though not 

 often, that a young dog will bite his game too 

 hard; and this is an unfortunate circumstance. 

 If a rabbit skin be stuffed with hard straw, with 

 thorns intermixed, and used for him to fetch and 



