§8 THE DOG ; AND HOW TO BREAK HIM. 



raged. If a retriever keeps to heel, he will, on 

 seeing his master fire at a bird, if it does not 

 immediately fall, soon learn to follow the bird 

 with his eye ; and in case it is supposed to be 

 killed, he will have less difficulty in retrieving 

 with the knowledge of the flight of the bird than 

 if he had to depend upon the sense of smelliug 

 alone. 



It is scarcely necessary to say anything about 

 retrieving from water, as dogs bred in the way I 

 have described are invariably fond of water ; nor 

 ean any dog be entitled to the name of a retriever 

 nnless he will take to swimming readily. I think 

 it scarcely necessary that he should dive ; though 

 he may be taught to do this : I never knew an 

 instance occur where diving was necessary. I 

 have, indeed, seen dogs put their heads under 

 •water when hunting the moor-hen, or ivater-hen 

 as it is called in some districts ; but it should be 

 distinctly understood that the proper and legiti- 

 mate business of a retriever is to hunt wounded or 

 dead, and not living game. 



There are three things necessary in a retriever's 

 education : — never to leave the heel unless ordered 

 to do SO; to remain stationary or drop on the 

 firing of the gun ; and to fetch to his master the 

 dead or wounded game. The only difficulty is to 

 make him doioa-charge. 



