THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
say that I have found them so, but the unsightliness of a light eye is un- 
deniable. The coat should be flat and of fine texture, and the tail not too 
long, and carried on a level with the back like that of a setter. 
Such, roughly speaking, are the generally accepted points of the flat- 
coated retriever. All the influence of shooting men — and it is great — should 
be brought to bear in the endeavour to insist on a system of judging, 
which recognizes as most important those points which are of use to the 
breed in carrying out the work for which it is intended. When this ideal 
state of affairs has been reached, we shall see medium -sized dogs, with 
good shoulders, long necks, short bodies, straight legs and good hocks, 
invariably receive the good marks they deserve in the show ring. Shows 
are doing admirable work, and it is a great mistake to decry their value. 
Gradually more and more dogs are being benched of a type fitted for work 
in the field, and it is being recognized that a good-looking dog, always 
provided that he is bred from working parents, has as good a chance, 
nay, a far better one, of proving efficient in the field than a specimen of 
commoner appearance and faulty conformation. The temperament of the 
flat-coated retriever is ideal; he is lovable, intelligent and obedient, both 
on and off the shooting field; he responds in a remarkable manner to any 
kindness or attention shown him, and the more you have him with you 
the better you like him; he is full of courage and a gentleman all over. 
I have frequently heard it asserted by men who do not know the breed that 
these dogs are soft, will not face briars, and are apt to shirk entering 
cold water in winter. Such has not been my experience. I have seen 
young flat -coated retrievers, when hunting the line of a wounded bird, 
go clean through a large heap of cut thorns without the slightest hesitation 
when it happens to be in the way, and I have rarely found it necessary 
to encourage even puppies to enter gorse or prickly cover when working. 
As regards water work, these dogs are quite first-rate, and enter water 
readily even in the most trying conditions; it may not be out of place to 
quote a couple of instances in support of my contention. I was out one 
very cold afternoon with a favourite flat -coated bitch. Queen by name, and 
had three ducks down, two of which were lively cripples, and one a dead 
bird. They had fallen into the River Trent, and, as it was during the month 
of January in the terrible winter of 1894-5, large blocks of ice were coming 
down the strong stream which was running at the time ; in addition to this 
there were fringes of ice more or less thick stretching out from each 
bank. The bitch gathered the first cripple, and also the dead bird, without 
260 
