Beeton's book of poultry and domestic animals - Thurman Lodge ...

THE DOR.
game that has fa]len at a distance after being shot. Inlieight
the retriever measures from twenty to twenty-four inches, and
is powerfully built. Its colour is almost invariably black, and
its fur of a moderate length and curled. There are many breeds
of retrievers, but the most favourite are those derived either
from the Newfoundland dog and setter or from the waterspaniel
and terrier. A smaller retriever is produced by tho
beagle and terrier, and for stealth and quiet the smaller if
superior to the larger sort in wild-game shooting.
As the animal is not bom a retriever, but merely comes in its
puppyhood into its master's hands an intelligent dog of promising
parentage, some pains must be taken to teach it its
business. It must be taught, as its first lesson—how dreadfully
hard it must come to the uproarious httle puppy— never
to bark in business hours. Such an impropriety would disturb
the game in the neighbourhood, and be to the sportsman the
unlucky means of saving their lives. It must be taught not
to eat the game as soon as it finds it, but to bring it straight
to its master, and lay it at his feet. Being sent for a thing,^ it
must be charged with the errand over and over again tiU it
performs it, or it may be apt to infer that you are not very
particular about the recovery of your game, ^nd— especially if
it be tired—shape its behaviour accordingly.
THE POrNTBK.
« A moderately large head, wide rather than long, with a
high forehead and an intelligent eye of medium size. Muzzle