142 BREAKING A BIRD DOG 
discussing this subject in unnecessary detail 
beyond the province of this book. Old dog 
men well know of it, and the new ones will 
simply have to take my word and avoid 
trouble as best they can from such meager 
advice as it is possible to give. Don't ever 
send your dog to any trainer until you are 
absolutely certain that he is thoroughly re¬ 
liable. Investigate him from every possible 
angle before risking such a valuable creature 
as a good bird dog in his hands. And never 
buy a dog unless you have proved absolutely 
that the reputation of the seller is above re¬ 
proach. Why, you can’t always count on 
getting even the correct stud service unless 
you accompany the dog and are yourself an 
eyewitness of the event. 
The silliest part of the whole business is 
that there isn’t even any manner of sense to 
it—not to mention its injustice from a moral 
standpoint. Crookedness is simply an evi¬ 
dence of ignorance. For who of us is in 
business for only a day! No one—whether 
he be in the dog business or the composing of 
ditties—can get anywhere unless he pleases 
his public. And what’s the use of trying to 
