Chapter I: Preface: To Fourth Edition

A FOURTH preface, Mr. Murray!!!

There are not sufficient materials, although there is some fresh matter, and undeniably, many excellent sketches, thanks to the clever artist F. W. KEYL, and the talented amateur John M----n, who, contrary to the advice of many friends, has determined that the sword shall be his profession rather than the pencil.

Well!--another party shall speak for me, and much surprised will he be to find the duty his words are performing; but they advocate so good a cause that I feel sure of his forgiveness. He writes in the third person, for we are perfect strangers to each other.

"Captain T----r has all his life been a most enthusiastic sportsman, but never broke a dog, until a year ago, when he happened to come across the Major-General's work on 'Dog-breaking.' Since then he has trained two _entirely_ on the system laid down in the book. People say they have never before seen dogs so well broken--certainly the owner never has."

"Always an ardent disciple of St. Hubert, Captain T----r is now still more so from the increased gratification he derives from the performance of animals trained entirely by himself."

Reader, why not give yourself a similar gratification?

W. N. H.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, DEVONPORT,

_December, 1864_.

PREFACE TO THIRD EDITION.

I cannot help congratulating my canine friends, (and may I not their masters also?), on the circulation of two large impressions of this work; for I trust that many of the suggestions therein offered have been adopted, and that their education has consequently been effected in a much shorter period, and with far less punishment, than that of their forefathers.

I have endeavoured in the present edition to render more complete the lessons respecting Setters and Pointers. I have added somewhat on the subject of Spaniels, Retrievers, and Bloodhounds. It has been my aim, also, to give a few useful hints regarding the rearing and preservation of Game; and I shall be disappointed if the youngest of my readers does not derive, from the perusal of what I have written, an assurance that he need not take the field wholly ignorant of all sporting matters, or without any knowledge of the best method of "handling arms."

W. N. H.

PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION.

When Colonel Hawker, who has been styled the "Emperor of Sportsmen," writes to me, (and kindly permits me to quote his words), "I perfectly agree with you in everything you have said, and I think your work should be preached in a series of lectures to every dog-breaker in the profession, as all these fellows are too fond of the whip, which hardens the animal they are instructing, and the use of their own tongues, which frighten away the birds you want to shoot," I feel some confidence in the correctness of what I have put forth. But there may be points that have not been noticed, and some things that require explanation, especially as regards Spaniels and Retrievers. In endeavouring to supply these deficiencies, I hope my additional prosing may not send the dog-breaker to sleep, instead of helping to make him more "wide-awake."

W. N. H.