THE FLAT-COATED RETRIEVER 
colour and shape; one of these I kept, and she proved a useful worker. 
There is an enormous amount of luck in breeding; alliances may be 
arranged which are perfect in theory, and then Nature steps in, and the 
result is — disappointing. For a time fortune favours particular kennels, 
all goes well, and then, in spite of every effort to retain them, her smiles 
are withdrawn. Two of the greatest of flat -coated retrievers had very 
narrow escapes, and in each case fortune was kind to his owners. Darenth, 
as a puppy, was so dangerously wounded out shooting that for a long time 
it was extremely doubtful whether he would recover; and Paul of River- 
side was condemned to a death usually reserved for worthless animals, 
only to be begged off by the kennel -man at the last minute. The number 
of men who breed and break their own dogs has greatly increased, and 
while we have enthusiastic supporters of the breed like Messrs Allen 
Shuter, G. H. and T. S. Elliot, Reginald Cooke, E. E. Turner, E. W. H. 
Blagg, Lewis Wigan, Beaumont Neilson and others, there is little fear that 
it will deteriorate either in work or looks in the future. 
In writing this article it has been my earnest desire to give credit 
where credit is due, and if I have inadvertently omitted the names of 
well-known men and dogs I trust that I may be pardoned. My warmest 
thanks are due to friends who have taken an infinite amount of trouble in 
supplying information which I hope may prove of interest to lovers of 
the breed. 
W. COAPE OATES. 
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