304 BREAKING AND ENTERING. 
in their search, so as to avoid all necessity for developing the “ fetch- 
and-carry ” quality which in thé genuine retriever is so valuable. 
But it is chiefly for wounded hares or running pheasants that such 
a retriever is required ; and as the former spoil a pointer or setter, 
and are sure to make him unsteady if he is allowed to hunt them, 
it is desirable to keep clear of the position altogether, while 
pheasants are so rarely killed to these dogs that their retrieval 
by them need not be considered. 
“The regular land retriever requires # much more careful educa- 
tion, inasmuch as he is wanted to abstain from hunting, and from 
his own especial duties, excepting when ordered to commence. 
The breed generally used is the cross of the Newfoundland with 
the setter or water-spaniel, but, as I have described at page 220, 
other breeds are equally useful. In educating these dogs they 
should be undertaken at a very early age, as it is almost impossible 
to ensure perfect obedience at a later period. The disposition to 
‘fetch and carry,” which is the essence of retrieving, is very, early 
developed in these dogs, and without it there is little chance of 
making a puppy perfect in his vocation. Young dogs of this breed 
will be seen carrying sticks about, and watching for their master 
to throw them, that they may fetch them to him. This fondness 
for the amusement should be encouraged to acertain extent, almost 
daily, but not so far as to tire and disgust the dog, and care should 
always be taken that he does not tear or bite the object which he 
has in charge. On no account should it be dragged from his 
mouth, but he should be ordered to drop it on the ground at the 
feet of his master, or to release it directly it is laid hold of. The 
conSequence of pulling anything out of the young retriever's mouth 
is that he becomes “hard bitten,” as it is called; and when he 
retrieves a wounded bird he makes his teeth meet, and mangles 
it so much that it is utterly useless. A dog which is not naturally 
inclined to retrieve may be made so by encouraging him to pull 
at a handkerchief or a stick; but such animals very seldom turn 
out well in this line, and it is far better to put them to some other 
task. As soon as the puppy has learnt to bring everything to his 
master when ordered, he may be taught to seek for trifling articles 
in long grass. or other covert, such as bushes, &c.; and when he 
succeeds in this, get some young rabbits which are hardly old 
