DOGS THAT DESPISE WOODCOCK 197 



woodcock common to many dogs not used to them. 

 Sometimes dogs will acquire a taste for hunting and 

 retrieving woodcock, and then make this a speciality. 

 A curious point in the case of the two terriers was 

 that one suddenly became very fond of the remains 

 of cooked woodcock, whether hungry or not, while the 

 other refused ever to look at them, even when pur- 

 posely kept on short commons by way of experiment. 

 It was a strange sight to see the appreciative dog 

 crunch up the frame of a woodcock, winding up 

 the performance by stowing away the head, bill 

 and all. 



The best retrievers usually refuse to pick up and 

 carry a woodcock, unless specially schooled to carry 

 anything from puppyhood. To train puppies to 

 fetch and carry things objectionable alike to their 

 sense of smell and touch, perhaps the best plan is 

 to teach them to retrieve well-filled tobacco-pouches. 

 They may be thrown long distances, and a dog will 

 never bite them at least, twice and so acquires a 

 perfect mouth. A retriever not trained in this way 

 will probably refuse to touch a woodcock, in spite of 

 every coaxing one, induced at last to pick up a wood- 

 cock, has been known to spit it out, turning up his lip 

 in contempt, and otherwise showing his intense scorn. 

 Now arid again a young and obedient retriever may 

 bring in woodcock at the first trial but with a look 

 of anything but relish. 



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