108 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS.  [onap. xiv. 
CHAPTER XIV. 
Anecdotes and Instinct of Dogs—Anecdotes of Retriever—Shepherds’ Dogs 
—Sagacity — Dogs and Monkey—Bulldog — Anecdotes of Shooting a 
Stag—Treatment of Dogs. 
So much has been written, and so many anecdotes told, of the 
cleverness and instinct of dogs, that I am almost afraid to add 
anything more on the subject, lest I should be thought tedious. 
Nevertheless I cannot refrain from relating one or two incidents 
illustrating the instinct, almost amounting to reason, that some 
of my canine acquaintances have evinced, and which have fallen 
under my own notice. Different dogs are differently endowed in 
this respect, but much also depends on their education, manner 
of living, &e. The dog that lives with his master constantly, 
sleeping before his fire, instead of in the kennel, and hearing and 
seeing all that passes, learns, if at all quick-witted, to under- 
stand not only the meaning of what he sees going on, but also, 
frequently in the most wonderful manner, all that is talked of. 
I have a favourite retriever, a black water-spaniel, who for many 
vears has lived in the house, and been constantly with me; he 
uaderstands and notices evervthing that is said, if it at all relates 
to himself or to the sporting plans for the day: if at breakfast~ 
time I say, without addressing the dog himself, “Rover must 
stop at home to-day, I cannot take him out,” he never attempts 
to follow me; if, on the contrary, I say, however quietly, “I 
shall take Rover with me to-day,” the moment that breakfast is 
over he is all on the gue vive, following me wherever I go, evi- 
dently aware that he is to pe allowed to accompany me. When 
left at home, he sits on the step of the front door, looking out 
for my return, occasionally howling and barking in an ill- 
tempered kind of voice ; his great delight is going with me when 
I hunt the woods for roe and deer. I had some covers about 
five miles from the house, where we were accustomed to look 
for roe: we frequently made our plans over night while the dog 
