WALLIS OF DCISHM THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID VARIOUS RETRIEVERS. CROSS BETWEEN WATER SPANIEL AND NEWFOUNDLAND DOG BETWEEN WATER SPANIEL AND SETTER DOG BETWEEN SETTER AND NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. DOG BREAKING. THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS, CERTAIN, AND EASY METHOD, WHETHER GREAT EXCELLEXCE OR ONLY MEDIOCRITY BE REQUIRED, WITH ODDS AND ENDS FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE DOG AND GUN. BY MAJOR-GENEKAL W. N. HUTCHINSON, LATE COLONEL GRENADIER GUARDS. FOURTH EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED. NEAR WALTHAM ABBEY. Stf*. LONDON : JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1865. c/ LONDON B. CLAY, SON, AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS, BREAD STREET HILL. 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 enthu- " siastic sportsman, but never broke a dog, until a year 358870 vi PREFACE. " 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 grati- " fication he derives from the performance of animals " trained entirely by himself." Eeader, why not give yourself a similar gratification ? W. K H. GOVERNMENT HOUSE, DEVONPORT, December, 1864. PBEFACE TO THIED 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 ren- der more complete the lessons respecting Setters and Pointers. I have added somewhat on the subject of Spaniels, Eetrievers, 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 viii PREFACE. disappointed if the youngest of my readers does not derive, from the perusal of what I have written, aii assurance that he need not take the field wholly ignorant of all sporting matters, or without any know- ledge of the best method of "handling arms." W. K H. PEEFACE TO SECOND EDITION. WHEN Colonel Hawker, who lias 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 Ee- trievers. 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. K H. PEEFACE NO PEEFACE. (FOR FIRST EDITION.) MY respected Publisher has suggested that a Preface may be expected. His opinion on such a subject ought to be law ; but as I fear my readers may think that I have already sufficiently bored them, I will beg them, in Irish fashion, to refer any formalist, who considers a Preface necessary, to the conclusion of the work, where a statement will be found of the motive which induced me to write. W. K H. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGK PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. QUALIFICATIONS, IN BREAKER, IN DOG 1 CHAPTER II. INITIATORY LESSONS WITHIN DOORS. SHOOTING PONIES ... 9 CHAPTER III. INITIATORY LESSONS CONTINUED. SPANIELS 20 CHAPTER IV. LESSONS IN "FETCHING." RETRIEVERS - 57 CHAPTER V. INITIATORY LESSONS OUT OF DOORS. TRICKS 76 CHAPTER VI. FIRST LESSON IN SEPTEMBER COMMENCED. RANGING .... 99 CHAPTER VII. FIRST LESSONS IN SEPTEMBER CONTINUED. CAUTION. NATURE'S MYSTERIOUS INFLUENCES 111 xii CONTENTS. CHAPTER VIII. PAGE FIRST LESSON IN SEPTEMBER CONTINUED. CUNNING OF AGE. RANGE OF FROM TWO TO SIX DOGS 129 CHAPTER IX. FIRST LESSON IN SEFl'EMBER CONTINUED. " POINT " NOT RELIN- QUISHED FOR "DOWN CHARGE" 150 CHAPTER X. FIRST LESSON IN SEPTEMBER CONTINUED. ASSISTANT. VERMIN 165 CHAPTER XI. FIRST LESSON IN SEPTEMBER CONCLUDED. BAR. LEG STRAP. SPIKE-COLLAR 176 CHAPTER XII. SHOOTING HARES. COURAGE IMPARTED. "BACKING" TAUGHT 194 CHAPTER XIII. HINTS TO PURCHASERS. PRICE OF DOGS. SHEEP KILLING . . 210 CHAPTER XIV. A REST BEYOND "HALF-WAY HOUSE." ANECDOTES OF DOGS ON SERVICE AT HOME 230 CHAPTER XV. ANECDOTES OF DOGS ON SERVICE ABROAD. RUSSIAN SETTERS . 249 CHAPTER XVI. DISTINGUISHING WHISTLES. "BACKING" THE GUN. RETREAT FROM AND RESUMPTION OF POINT. RANGE UNACCOMPANIED BY GUN. HEADING RUNNING BIRDS. 278 CONTENTS. xiii CHAPTER XVII. PACK SETTER TO RETRIEVE. BLOODHOUNDS. RETRIEVERS TO " BEAT." WOUNDED WILD-FOWL RETRIEVED BEFORE THE KILLED . . 294 CHAPTER XVIII. BECKFORD. ST. JOHN. CONDITION. INOCULATION. VACCINA- TION. CONCLUSION 307 POSTSCRIPT : MR. L G*S LETTER . 322 APPENDIX : COVERS, SHOOTING, LOADING 328 TRAPPING. OWL AS DECOY. HEN HARRIER. KEEPER'S VER- MIN-DOGS. STOATS 331 REARING PHEASANTS. CANTELO. PHEASANTRIES. MR. KNOX 335 SETTERS. POACHERS. KEEPERS. NETTING PARTRIDGES. BLOODHOUNDS. NIGHT-DOGS 344 INDEX, in which the figures refer to the numbers of the paragraphs, and not to the pages 349 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. VARIOUS EETRIEVERS Frontispiece. SCENE NEAR WALTHAM ABBEY, 1st Sept. 1847 . . Title-page, r OLD-FASHIONED ENGLISH SETTER, EETRIEVERS, ONE A CROSS WITH BLOODHOUND. (Lesson VIII. Par. 141) . . . . Page 25 THE CHECK 'HOLD HARD!' 30 A FOUR-LEGGED WHIPPER-IN 33 CLUMBERS. (Lesson III. Par. 141) 43 WILD SPANIELS. (Lesson XII. Par. 141) 47 IRISH WATER SPANIEL. (Lesson I. Par. 141) 53 INCLINED TO 'EAT' 77- BROACHING A BARREL 84 DEAF TO THE VOICE OF PERSUASION 90- A SOLICITOR 91- EEPLETE WITH GOOD THINGS 95 - BACKING THE GUN AGAINST THE BIRD 117 SAFELY MOORED, 'STEM' AND 'STERN' 121 "STIFF BY THE TAINTED GALE WITH OPEN NOSE OUTSTRETCHED AND FINELY SENSIBLE" ....... 124 ~~ A DOG-FISH 125 "SMALL, ACTIVE POINTER." (Lesson IX. Par. 141) ... 131 "SHORT-LEGGED STRONG-LOINED SUSSEX SPANIEL." (Lesson XV. Par. 141) 137 xvi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE " DUKE OF GORDON'S BLACK AND TAN SETTERS." (Lesson XIV. Par. 141) 141 LARGE HEAVY POINTER. (Lesson X. Pars. 141 and 266) . . 157 CARRYING A POINT, AND CARRYING A POINTER 173 - THE FIRST COURSE 197 - FASHIONABLE (ENGLISH) SETTER, AND OLD-FASHIONED POINTER. (Lesson XIII. Par. 141) . . . 215 IRISH RED SETTER. (Lesson II. Par. 141) 221 SCENE FROM 'CRIPPLE-GAIT.' 'GAME' TO THE LAST . . . 237 DOMINI AND ' DOMTNOS ' . . 245- THE MIGHTY KING , . . . 254 COOL AS A CUCUMBER 255 A REGULAR BORE 259 THERE ARE BOUNDS TO SPORT . . . 263 WARM GREETING OF A GREAT 'BORE' . ... . . . . 266-- INVITATION TO A ' WHITE-BAIT ' DINNER . 267 BRINGING HOME THE BRUSH 269 SCENE ON THE ' THLEW-EE-CHOH-DEZETH ' 272 RUSSIAN SETTER. (Lesson XI. Pars. 141 and 266) .... 275 TELL ME MY HEART (HART) IF THIS BE LOVE 283 DIVISION OF PROPERTY 297 "EXAMPLE BETTER THAN PRECEPT" 303 PORTRAIT OF BRISK 321^ 'FouL' FEEDING. . 336_ A WELL-TRAINED BLOODHOUND . 345^ The Frontispiece, Vignette Title, and the Lessons, are designed and drawn on Wood by F. W. KEYL. See 4th Preface. DOG-BREAKING. CHAPTER I. PRELIMINAEY OBSERVATIONS. QUALIFICATIONS, IN BREAKER, IN DOG. 1. Dog-breaking an Art easily acquired. 2. Most expeditious Mode of imparting every Degree of Education, Time bestowed determines Grade of Education. In note, Col. Hawker's opinion. 3. Sportsmen recommended to break in their own Dogs. 4. Men of property too easily satisfied with badly-broken Dogs. Keepers have no Excuse for Dogs being badly broken. 5. Great Experience in Dog-breaking, or Excellence in Shooting, not necessary. Dispositions of Dogs vary. 6. What is required in an Instructor. 7. Early in a Season any Dog will answer, a good one necessary afterwards. Hallooing, rating Dogs, and loud whistling spoil Sport. In note, Age and choice of birds. Several shots fired from Stooks at Grouse without alarming them. American Partridges and our Pheasants killed while at roost. 8. What a well-broken Dog ought to do. 9. Severity reprobated. 10. Astley's Method of teaching his Horses. 11. Fran- coni's Cirque National de Paris. 12. Initiatory Lessons recommended to be given when alone with Dog given fasting. 13. Success promised if rules be followed. Advantages of an expeditious Education. September shooting not sacrificed. 1. DOG-BREAKING, so far from being a mystery, is an art easily acquired when it is commenced and continued on rational principles. 2. I think you will be convinced of this if you will have the patience to follow me, whilst I endeavour to explain what, I am satisfied, is the most certain and rapid method of breaking in your dogs, whether you require great proficiency in them, or are contented with an inferior education. No quicker system has yet been devised, however humble the education may be. The education in fact, of the peasant, and that of the future double-first collegian, begins and proceeds on the same B 2 ART EASILY ACQUIRED. [CH. r. principle. You know your own circumstances, and you must yourself determine what time you choose to devote to tuition ; and, as a consequence, the degree of excel- lence to which you aspire. I can only assure you of my firm conviction, that no other means will enable you to gain your object so quickly ; and I speak with a confidence derived from long experience in many parts of the world, on a subject that was, for several years, my great hobby.* 3. Every writer is presumed to take some interest in his reader ; I therefore feel privileged to address you as a friend, and will commence my lecture by strongly recommending, that, if your occupations will allow it, you take earnestly and heartily to educating your dogs yourself. If you possess temper and some judgment, and will implicity attend to my advice, I will go bail for your success ; and much as you may now love shooting, you will then like it infinitely more. Try the plan I recommend, and I will guarantee that the Pointer or Setter pup which I will, for example sake, suppose to be now in your 'kennel, shall' be ~a better dog by the end of next season (I mean a more killing dog) than pro- bably any you ever yet shot over. 4. Possibly; you will urge, that you are unable to spare the time which I consider necessary for giving him a high education, (brief as that time is, compared with the many, many months wasted in the tedious methods usually employed), and that you must, perforce, * It may be satisfactory to others Hutchinson's valuable work on to know the opinion of so unde- 'Dog-breaking' has appeared. It niable an authority as Colonel is a perfect vade mecum for both Hawker. The Colonel, in the Sportsmen and Keeper, and I Tenth Edition of his invaluable have great pleasure in giving a Book on Shooting, writes, . ^page cordial welcome to a work which 285) "Since the publication of so ably supplies my own defi- the last edition, Lieutenant-Col. ciencies." CH. i.] KEQUISITES IN AN INSTRUCTOR. 3 content yourself with humbler qualifications. Be it so. I can only condole with you, for in your case this may be partly true ; mind I only say partly true. But how a man of property, who keeps a regular gamekeeper, can be satisfied with the disorderly, disobedient troop, to which he often shoots, I cannot understand. Where the gamekeeper is permitted to accompany his master in the field, and hunt the dogs himself, there can be no valid excuse for the deficiency in their education. The deficiency must arise either from the incapacity, or from the idleness of the keeper. 5. Unlike most other arts, dog-breaking does not require much experience ; but such a knowledge of dogs, as will enable you to discriminate between their dif- ferent tempers and dispositions (I had almost said cha- racters) and they vary greatly is very advantageous. Some require constant encouragement ; some you must never beat ; whilst, to gain the required ascendancy over others, the whip must be occasionally employed. Nor is it necessary that the instructor should be a very good shot ; which probably is a more fortunate circumstance for me than for you. It should even be received as a principle that birds ought to be now and then missed to young dogs, lest some day, if your nerves happen to be out of order, or a cockney companion be harmlessly blazing away, your dog take it into his head and heels to run home in disgust, as I have seen a bitch, called Countess, do more than once, in Haddingtonshire. 6. The chief requisites in a breaker are : Firstly, command of temper, that he may never be betrayed into giving one unnecessary blow, for, with dogs as with horses, no work is so well done as that which is done cheerfully ; secondly, consistency, that in the exhilara- tion of his spirits, or in his eagerness to secure a bird, B 2 4 HALLOOING SPOILS SPORT. [CH. i. he may not permit a fault to pass unreproved (I do not say unpunished) which at a less exciting moment he would have noticed and that, on the other hand, he may not correct a dog the more harshly, because the shot has been missed, or the game lost ; and lastly, the exercise of a little reflection, to enable him to judge what meaning an unreasoning animal is likely to attach to every word and sign, nay to every look. 7. With the coarsest tackle, and worst flies, trout can be taken in unflogged waters, while it requires much science, and the finest gut, to kill persecuted fish. It is the same in shooting. With almost any sporting-dog, game can be killed early in the season, when the birds lie like stones, and the dog can get within a few yards of them ; but you will require one highly broken, to obtain many shots when they are wild. Then any in- cautious approach of the dog, or any noise, would flush the game, and your own experience will tell you that nothing so soon puts birds on the run, and makes them so ready to take flight, as the sound of the human voice, especially now-a-days, when farmers generally prefer the scythe to the sickle, and clean husbandry, large fields, and trim narrow hedges, (affording no shelter from wet) have forced the partridge a short-winged* bird * Rounded, too, at the extremi- for the table. Hold an old and ties the outer feathers not being a young bird by their under the longest a formation adverse beaks between your fore-finger to rapid flight. The extreme outer and thumb, and you will soon see feather of young birds is pointed, how little, comparatively, the old and, until late in the season, ac- beak yields to the weight. This companies soft quills, weak brown rule applies equally to grouse, the beaks, and yellow legs. These legs of which birds when young (beaks and legs) become grey on are not much feathered, but late maturity, or rather of the bluish in the season it is difficult to de- hue of London milk and the termine their age. Yet a know- quills get white and hard facts ing hand will find a difference, the which should be attended to by old birds' legs will still be the those who are making a selection more feathered of the two ; and CH. i.] HALLOOING SPOILS SPORT. 5 unwillingly to seek protection (when arrived at maturity) in ready flight rather than in concealment. Even the report of a gun does not so much alarm them as the command, " Toho," or "Down charge/' * usually, too, as if to make matters worse, hallooed to the extent of the breaker's lungs. There are anglers who recommend silence as conducive to success, and there are no expe- rienced sportsmen who do not acknowledge its great value in shooting. Eate or beat a dog at one end of a field, and the birds at the other will lift their heads, become uneasy, and be ready to take wing the moment you get near them. " Penn," in his clever maxims on Angling and Chess, observes to this effect, " if you wish to see the fish, do not let him see you ;" and with respect to shooting, we may as truly say, " if you wish birds to hear your gun, do not let them hear your voice." Even a loud whistle disturbs them. Mr. 1 of C e says, a gamekeeper's motto ought to be, " No whistling its feet will be more worn and which come from the hills to feed ; extended. If you spread open the and, curious to say, several shots wing of any game bird, you will are often obtained before the pack find the upper part (near the second takes wing. The first few reports joint) more or less bare. The less frequently no more alarm them, that part is covered with feathers than to make the most cautious of the younger is the bird. the number jump up to look A* poulterer once told me that around, when, observing nothing at the end of the season he judged that ought to intimidate them, much of the age of birds by the they recommence feeding. By appearance of their heads. commencing with the undermost " Ware " sunken eyes, and birds, the Americans sometimes tainted or discoloured vents they shoot in daylight all the Par- have been too long out of the tridges (as they erroneously call kitchen. them) roosting on a tree ; and * The following facts are strong poachers in this country, by evidences of the correctness of this making a similar selection, often assertion. Late in the season far kill at night (using diminished more grouse than ought to be are charges) several Pheasants before shot by "gunners," to use an Ame- those that are on the topmost rican expression, " true sports- branches fly away. A strong breeze men " 1 can hardly term them much favours the poacher by who conceal themselves in large diminishing the chance of the stooks of grain, to fire at the birds birds much hearing him. 6 WHAT A DOG OUGHT TO DO. [OH. i. no whipping no noise, when master goes out for sport." 8. These observations lead unavoidably to the in- ference, that no dog can be considered perfectly broken, that does not make his point when first he feels assured of the presence of game, and remain stationary where he makes it, until urged on by you to draw nearer that does not, as a matter of course, lie down without any word of command the moment you have fired, and after- wards perseveringly seek for the dead bird in the direc- tion you may point out, and all this without your once having occasion to speak, more than to say in a low voice, " Find," when he gets near the dead bird, as will be hereafter explained. Moreover, it must be obvious that he risks leaving game behind him if he does not hunt every part of a field, and, on the other hand, that he wastes your time and his strength, if he travel twice over the same ground, nay, over any ground which his powers of scent have already reached. Of course, I am now speaking of a dog . hunted without a companion to share his labours. 9. You may say, "How is all this, which sounds so well in theory, to be obtained in practice without great severity ? " Believe me, with severity it never can be attained. If flogging would. make a dog perfect, few would be found unbroken in England or Scotland, and scarcely one in Ireland. 10. Astley's method was to give each horse his pre- paratory lessons alone, and when there was no noise or anything to divert his attention from his instructor. If the horse was interrupted during the lesson, or his attention in any way withdrawn, he was dismissed for that day. When perfect in certain lessons by himself, he was associated with other horses, whose education CH. i.] ASTLEY AND FKANCONI. 7 was further advanced. And it was the practice of that great master to reward his horses with slices of carrot or apple when they performed well. 11. Mons. A. Franconi in a similar manner rewards his horses. One evening I was in such a position, at a performance of the Cirque National de Paris, that I could clearly see, during the Lutte des Voliigeurs, that the broad-backed horse held for the men to jump over was continually coaxed with small slices of carrots to remain stationary, whilst receiving their hard thumps as they sprang upon him. I could not make out why the horse was sniffing and apparently nibbling at the chest of the man standing in front of him with a rein in each hand to keep his tail towards the spring-board, until I remarked that a second man, placed in the rear of the other, every now and then, slily passed his hand under his neighbour's arm to give the horse a small piece of carrot. .12. Astley may give us a useful hint in our far easier task of dog-breaking. .We see that he endeavoured by kindness and patience to make the horse thoroughly comprehend the meaning of certain words and signals before he allowed him any companion. So ought you, by what may be termed " initiatory lessons," to make your young dog perfectly understand the meaning of certain words and signs, before you hunt him in the company of another dog nay, before you hunt him at all; and, in pursuance of Astley's plan, you ought to give these lessons when you are alone with the dog, and his attention is not likely to be withdrawn to other matters. Give them, also, when he is fasting, as his faculties will then be clearer, and he will be more eager to obtain any rewards of biscuit or other food. 13. Be assured, that by a consistent adherence to the simple rules which I will explain, you can obtain the perfection I have described, (8) with more ease and ex- pedition than you probably imagine to be practicable ; and, if you will zealously follow my advice, I promise, that, instead of having to give up your shooting in 8 QUICK TRAINING. [CH. i. September, (for I am supposing you to be in England) while you break in your pup, you shall then be able to take him into the field, provided he is tolerably well bred and well disposed, perfectly obedient, and, except that he will not have a well-confirmed, judicious range, almost perfectly made ; at least so far made, that he will only commit such faults, as naturally arise from want of experience. Let me remmd you also, that the keep of dogs is expensive, and supplies an argument for making them earn their bread by hunting to a useful purpose, as soon as they are of an age to work without injury to their constitution. Time, moreover, is valuable to us all, or most of us fancy it is. Surely, then, that system of education is best which imparts the most expeditiously the required degree of knowledge. CHAPTER II. INITIATORY LESSONS WITHIN DOORS. SHOOTING PONIES. 14. One Instructor better than two. 15. Age at winch Education commences. In-door breaking for hours, better than Out-door for weeks, 16. To obey all necessary Words of Command and all Signals before shown Game. 17. Un- reasonableness of not always giving Initiatory Lessons leads to Punishment thence to Blinking. 18. Dog to be your constant Companion, not another's. 19, 21, 22. Instruct when alone with him. Initiatory Lessons in his Whistle in " Dead" " Toho " "On" 20. All Commands and Whistling to be given in a low Tone. 23 to 26. Lessons in "Drop" Head between fore-legs Setters crouch more than Pointers. 24. Slovenly to employ right arm both for "Drop" and "Toho." 27. Lessons in "Down-charge" Taught at Pigeon- match Rewards taken from Hand. 28. Cavalry Horses fed at discharge of Pistol Same plan pursued with Dogs. 29. Dog unusually timid to be coupled to another. 30. Lessons at Feeding Time, with Checkcords. 31. Obedience of Hounds contrasted with that of most Pointers and Setters. 32. Shooting Ponies how broken in. 33. Horse's rushing at his Fences cured Pony anchored. 14. IT is seldom of any advantage to a dog to have more than one instructor. The methods of teaching may be the same ; but there will be a difference in the tone of voice and in the manner, that will more or less puzzle the learner, and retard rather than advance his education. If, therefore, you resolve to break in your dog, do it entirely yourself : let no one interfere with you. 15. As a general rule, let his education begin when he is about six or seven months old,* (although I allow * But from his very infancy four months old being made quite you ought not to have allowed au fait to the preliminary drill him to be disobedient. You should here recommended. This early have made him know which he exercise of their intelligence and will do nearly intuitively that a observation must have benefited whip can punish him, though he them. The questionable point is ought never to have suffered from the unnecessary consumption of it. I have heard of pups only the instructor's time. 10 USE OF INITIATORY LESSONS. [CH. n. that some dogs are more precocious than others, and bitches always more forward than dogs,) but it ought to be nearly completed before he is shown a bird (132). A quarter of an hour's daily in-door training called by the Germans " house-breaking " for three or four weeks will effect more than a month's constant hunting without preliminary tuition. 16. Never take your young dog out of doors for in- struction, until he has learned, to know and obey the several words of command which you intend to give him in the field, and is well acquainted with all the signs which you will have occasion to make to him with your arms. These are what may be called the initiatory lessons. 17. Think a moment, and you will see the importance of this preliminary instruction, though rarely imparted. Why should it be imagined, that at the precise moment when a young dog is enraptured with the first sniff of game, he is, by some mysterious unaccountable instinct, to understand the meaning of the word " Tpho ?" Why should he not conceive it to be a word of .encourage- ment to rush in upon the game, as he probably longs to do ; especially if it should be a partridge fluttering before him, in the sagacious endeavour to lure him from her brood, or a hare enticingly cantering off from under his nose ? There are breakers who would correct him for not intuitively comprehending and obeying the " Toho," roared out with stentorian lungs ; though, it is obvious, the youngster, from having had no pre- vious instruction, could have no better reason for understanding its import, than the watch-dog chained up in yonder farm-yard. Again he hears the word "Toho" again followed by another licking, accom- panied perhaps by the long lecture, " 'Ware springing CH. IL] DOG YOUR COMPANION. 11 birds, will you ? " The word " Toho " then begins to assume a most awful character ; he naturally connects it with the finding of game, and not understanding a syllable of the lecture, lest he should a third time hear it, and get a third drubbing, he judges it most prudent, (unless he is a dog of very high courage) when next aware of the presence of birds, to come in to heel ; and thus he commences to be a blinker, thanks to the sagacity and intelligence of his tutor. I do not speak of all professional dog-breakers, far from it. Many are fully sensible that comprehension of orders must neces- sarily precede all but accidental obedience. I am only thinking of some whom it has been my misfortune to see, and who haye many a time made my blood boil at their brutal usage of a fine high-couraged young dog. Men who had a strong arm and hard heart to punish, but no temper and no head to instruct. 18. So long as you are a bachelor, you can make a companion of your dog, without incurring the danger of his being spoiled by your wife and children ; (the more, by-the-bye, he is your own companion and no other person's the better) and it is a fact, though . you may smile at the assertion, that all the initiatory lessons can be, and can best be, inculcated in your own break- fast-room. 19. Follow Astley's plan. Let no one be present to distract the dog's attention. Call him to you by the whistle you propose always using in the field. Tie a slight cord a few yards long to his collar. Throw him a small piece of toast or meat, saying, at the time, "Dead, dead/' Do this several times, chucking it into different parts of the room, and let him eat what he finds. Then throw a piece (always as you do so saying, "Dead"), and the moment he gets close to it, check 12 "LEAD." "TOHO." "OK" [CH. n. him by jerking the cord, at the same time saying, " Toho," and lifting up your right arm almost perpen- dicularly. By pressing on the cord with your foot, you can restrain him as long as you please. Do not let him take what you have thrown, until you give him the encouraging word, " On," accompanied by a forward movement of the right arm and hand, some- what similar to the swing of an under-hand bowler at cricket. 20. Let all your commands be given in a low voice. Consider that in the field, where you are anxious not to alarm the birds unnecessarily, your words must reach your dogs' ears more or less softened by distance, and, if their influence depends on loudness, they will have the least effect at the very moment when you wish them to have the most. For the same reason, in the initiatory lessons, be careful not to whistle loudly.* 21. After a few trials with the checkcord, you will find yourself enabled, without touching it, and merely by using the word " Toho," to prevent his seizing the toast (or meat), until you say " On," or give him the forward signal. When he gets yet more perfect in his lesson, raising your right arm only, without employing your voice, will be sufficient, especially if you have gradually accustomed him to hear you speak less and less loudly. If he draw towards the bread before he has obtained leave, jerk the cord, and drag him lack to the spot from which he stirred. He is not to quit it until you order him, occupy yourself as you may. Move about, and occasionally go from him, as far as you can, before you give the command " On." This * It may be fancy, but I have other birds regarded the sports- imagined that coveys hatched near man's whistle, railway stations have less than CH. ii.J "DROP." "DOWN CHARGE." 13 will make him less unwilling hereafter to continue steady at his point while you are taking a circuit to head him, and so get wild birds between him and your gun, (265, 284.) The signal for his advancing, when you are facing him, is the " beckon" (see 37). 22. At odd times let him take the bread the moment you throw it, that his eagerness to rush forward to seize it may be continued, only to be instantly restrained at your command. 23. Your left arm raised perpendicularly, in a similar manner, should make the young dog lie down. Call out " Drop," when so holding up the left hand, and press him down with the other until he assumes a crouching position. If you study beauty of attitude, his fore-legs ought to be extended, and his head rest between them. Make him lie well down, occasionally walking round and round him, gradually increasing the size of the circle your eyes on his. Do not let him raise himself to a sitting posture. If you do, he will have the greater inclination hereafter to move about : especially when you want to catch him, in order to chide or correct him. A halt is all you require for the " Toho," and you would prefer his standing to his point, rather than his lying down,* as you then would run less risk of losing sight of him in cover, heather, or high turnips, &c. Setters, however, naturally crouch so much more than Pointers, that you will often not be able to prevent their " falling " when they are close to game. Indeed, I have heard some sportsmen argue in favour of a dog's drop- ping, "that it rested him." An advantage, in my * This is one reason for giving chance of being cowed in learning initiatory lessons in the "Toho" the "Drop." If the latter were before the "Drop." Another is taught first, he might confound that the dog may acquire the the " Toho " with it. ''Toho" before he has run the 14 "TOHO." "DROP." [CH. ii. opinion, in no way commensurate with the incon- venience that often attends the practice. 24 If you are satisfied with teaching him in a slovenly manner, you can employ your right arm both for the " Toho " and " Drop ; " but that is not quite cor- rect, for the former is a natural stop, (being the pause to determine exactly where the game is lying, pre- paratory to rushing in to seize it,) which you prolong by art,* whilst the other is wholly opposed to nature. The one affords him great delight, especially when, from experience, he has well learned its object : the latter is always irksome. Nevertheless, it must be firmly esta- blished. It is the triumph of your art. It insures future obedience. But it cannot be effectually taught without creating more or less awe, and it should create awe. It is obvious, therefore, that it must be advan- tageous to make a distinction between the two signals, especially with a timid dog, for he will not then be so likely to blink on seeing you raise your right hand, when he is drawing upon game. Nevertheless, there are breakers so unreasonable as not only to make that one signal, but the one word "Drop" (or rather "Down") answer both for the order to point, and the order to crouch ! How can such tuition serve to enlarge a dog's ideas ? 25. To perfect him in the " Down," that dimcult part of his education, dimcult, because it is unnatural, practise it in your walks. At very uncertain, unex- pected times catch his eye, (having previously stealthily taken hold of the checkcord a long, light one,) or whistle to call his attention, and then hold up your left * I know of a young man's cording to the method just recom- readmg the first edition of this mended. He succeeded perfectly, book, and taking it into his head Some Terriers have been made to teach his Terrier to point ac- very useful for cover shooting. CH. ii.] USE OF CHECKCOED. 15 arm. If he does not instantly drop, jerk the checkcord violently, and, as before, drag him back to the exact spot where he should have crouched down. Admit of no compromise. You must have implicit, unhesitating, instant, obedience. When you quit him, he must not be allowed to crawl an inch after you. If he attempt it, drive a spike into the ground, and attach the end of the checkcord to it, allowing the line to be slack ; then leave him quickly, and on his running after you he will be brought up with a sudden jerk. So much the better: it will slightly alarm him. As before, take him back to the precise place he quitted, do this invariably, though he may have scarcely moved. There make him again "Drop" always observing to jerk the cord at the moment you give the command. After a few trials of this tethering, (say less than a dozen) he will be certain to lie down steadily, until you give the proper order or a signal (21), let you run away, or do what you may to excite him to move. One great advantage of frequently repeating this lesson, and thus teaching it thoroughly, is, that your dog will hereafter always feel, more or less, in subjection, whenever the cord is fastened to his collar. He must be brought to instantly obey the signal, even at the extreme limit of his beat. 26. Most probably he will not at first rise when he is desired. There is no harm in that, a due sense of the inutility of non-compliance with the order to " Drop," and a wholesome dread of the attendant penalty, will be advantageous. Go up to him, pat him, and lead him for some paces, "making much of him," as they say in the cavalry. Dogs which are over-headstrong and resolute, can only be brought under satisfactory com- mand by this lesson being indelibly implanted, and I think a master before he allows the keeper to take a 16 PUPPIES AT PIGEON MATCH. [CH. n. pup into the field to show him game, should insist upon having ocular demonstration that he is perfect in the "Drop." 27. When he is well confirmed in this all-important lesson, obeying implicitly, yet cheerfully, you may, whilst he is lying down, (in order to teach him the " down charge,") go through the motions of loading, on no account permitting him to stir until you give him the forward signal, or say " On." After a few times you may fire off a copper cap, and then a little powder, but be very careful not to alarm him. Until your dog is quite reconciled to the report of a gun, never take him up to any one who may be firing. I have, however, known of puppies being familiarized to the sound, by being at first kept at a considerable distance from the party firing, and then gradually, and by slow degrees brought nearer. This can easily be managed at a rifle or pigeon match, and the companionship of a made-dog would much expedite .matters. Whenever, in the les- sons, your young dog has behaved steadily and well, give him a reward. Do not throw it to him ; let him take it from your hands. It will assist in making him tender-mouthed, and in attaching him to you. 28. In some cavalry regiments in India, the feeding- time is denoted by the firing off of a pistol. This soon changes a young horse's first dread of the report into eager, joyous, expectation. You might, if you did not dislike the trouble, in a similar manner, soon make your pup regard the report of a gun as the gratifying sum- mons to his dinner, but coupled with the understanding that, as a preliminary step, he is to crouch the instant he hears the sound. After a little perseverance you would so well succeed, that you would not be obliged even to raise your hand. If habituated to wait patiently rn. ii.] LESSONS AT FEEDING TIME. 17 at the " drop/' however hungry he may be, before he is permitted to taste his food, it is reasonable to think he will remain at the " down charge," yet more patiently before he is allowed to "seek dead." 29. If your pupil be unusually timid, and you cannot banish his alarm on hearing the gun, couple him to another dog which has 110- such foolish fears, and will steadily " down charge." The confidence of the one, will impart confidence to the other. Fear and joy are feel- ings yet more contagious in animals than in man. It is the visible, joyous animation of the old horses, that so quickly reconciles the cavalry colt to the sound of the " feeding-pistol." 30. A keeper who had several dogs to break, would find the advantage of pursuing the cavalry plan just noticed. Indeed, he might extend it still further, by having his principal in-door drill at feeding-time, and by enforcing, but in minuter details, that kennel disci- pline which has brought many a pack of hounds to marvellous obedience.* He should place the food in different parts of the yard. He should have a short checkcord on all his pupils ; and, after going slowly through the motions of loading, (the dogs having regu- larly "down-charged" on the report of the gun,) he should call each separately by name, and by signals of the hand send them successively to different, but desig- nated feeding-troughs. He might then call a dog to him, which had commenced eating, and, after a short abstinence, make him go to another trough. He might bring two to his heels and make them change troughs, and so vary the lesson, that, in a short time, with the * There is often such a simila- struck, who for the first time sees rity in the names of hounds, that them go to their meals, one by a person cannot but be much one as they are called. C 18 SHOOTING PONIES. [CH. n. aid of the checkcords, he would have them under such complete command, that they would afterwards give him comparatively but little trouble in the field. As they became more and more submissive, he would gradually retire further and further, so as, at length, to have his orders obeyed, when at a considerable distance from his pupils. The small portion of time these lessons would occupy, compared with their valuable results, should warn him most forcibly not to neglect them. 31. All keepers will acknowledge that, excepting a systematic beat, there is nothing more difficult to teach a Pointer or Setter than to refrain from " pursuing Hare." They will concede that there is a natural tendency in the breed to stand at game ; and, as a necessary consequence, they must admit that they would have far more trouble in weaning a young foxhound from the habit, whose every instinct urges him to chase. And yet these keepers may daily see not merely one hound, but a whole pack in the highest condition, full of energy and spirits, drawing a cover alive with Hares, not one of which a single dog will even look at. Should not this fact convince a keeper, that if he is often obliged to speak loudly to the brace of dogs he calls broken, there must be something radically wrong in his management '? Is he satisfied that he began their education sufficiently early, and that he has been uniformly consistent since its commencement ? 32. If you have to break in a shooting pony, you must adopt some such plan as that named in 27 and 28 to make him steady. Your object will be never to alarm him, and gradually to render him fond of the sound of the gun. To effect this, you will keep the pistol, or whatever arms you use, for a long time out of his sight. Commence by burning but little powder, and fire * at some distance from him. Always give him a slice of carrot or apple immediately after he hears the report, and, if you act judiciously and patiently, he will soon love the sound. You may then fire in his presence (turning your back upon him, as if he were not a party in any way concerned), and, by degrees, approach nearer and nearer ; but do not go quite into his stall, that would make him shrink or start, and you wish to banish all nervousness ; the least precipitation would undo you ; therefore begin in the stable, with only using a copper cap. Need I caution you against firing if near any straw ? 33. Confidence being fully established, pursue the same plan when you ride the pony. Again commence with a copper cap, only * It would expedite matters you remained near the pony to much if the groom did this while feed him, or vice versd. CH. ii.] RUSHING AT FENCES. 19 by slow degrees coming to the full charge. As before, always reward him after every discharge, and also at the moment when you pull up and throw the reins on his neck. If he finds he gets slices of carrot when he stands stock-still, he will soon become so anxious to be stationary that you will have to ride with spurs to keep him to his work. By such means you could get him to lead over fences and stand on the other side until you remount. Many years ago I had in Ireland a chestnut which did not belie his colour, for I purchased him far below his value on account of his great im- petuosity with hounds. He had a sad habit of rushing at his leaps, but riding him in a smooth snaffle, and often giving him slices of carrot, gradually cured his impatience, and he ultimately became very gentle and pleasant. A naval officer, well known to a friend of mine, finding he could not by other means make his pony stand when the dogs pointed, used, sailor like, to anchor the animal by " heaving overboard " (as he expressed it) a heavy weight to which a line from the curb-bit was attached. The weight was carried in one of the holster pipes, in the other was invariably stowed away a liberal allowance of " Grog and Prog." CHAPTER III. INITIATOKY LESSONS CONTINUED. SPANIELS. .'{4, 35. Initiatory Lessons in "Dead" and "Seek," continued. 36. In Signals to hunt to the "right" u left" " forward." 37. In the "Beckon." Woodcock Shooting in America. 38. In looking to you for instructions. 39. In "Care." 40. Always give a reward. 41. In "Up." saves using Puzzle-peg. 42. Dog to carry Nose high. 43. Initiatory Lesson in "Footing" a Scent. 44. In "Heel." 45. In "Gone" or "Away." 46. In "Fence" or "Ware-fence." 47. "No" a better word than " Ware. " 48. Accustomed to couples. 49. Initiatory Lessons in-doors with a Companion when one "drops" the other to "drop." 50. Makes "Backing" quickly understood. 51. Initiatory Lessons with a Companion in the Fields. 52. Initiatory Lessons save Time make Dogs fond of hunting. 53. Checkcord described. Wildest Dogs possess most energy. 54. Advantages of Checkcord explained Spaniels broken in by it. 55. Lad to act as Whipper-in. 56. Retriever that acted as Whipper-in. 57. Jealousy made him act the part. Might be taught to Retriever. 58. Instead of " down charge" coming to "heel." 59. As Puppies kept close to you, not to "self-hunt" "broke" from hare. 60. Blacksmith straps Horse's Leg above Hock Dog's similarly confined Shot- belt round the necks of wildest. 61. Hunted in Gorse. 62. Age when shown Game. Example of good Spaniels advantageous. 63. Perfected in "Drop" taught to " seek dead" to "fetch" entered at Hedge-rows and lightest Covers. Bells to Collars. 64. To hunt further side of Hedge. 65. How Sportsmen may aid Keeper. In note, Covers for Pheasants. Hints to Tyros on Shooting and Loading (See Appendix). 66. Experienced Spaniels slacken Pace on Game. 67. Difficult to work young ones in Silence. 68. Spaniels that Pointed. 69. Game first accustomed to, most liked. 70. Principal requisites in Spaniels. 71. The signal "to point with finger." 72. Following Cockers a Young Man's work. 73. Education differs in different Teams. 74. One and a half couple of large Spaniels sufficient. One of the Team to retrieve. 75. Clumbers pro- curing more Shots in Turnips than Pointers. 76. Lord P n's highly-broken Team. 77. Of small Cockers three couple a Team. What constitutes Perfec- tion. 78. Retriever with Team. Duke of Newcastle's Keepers. 79. Some Teams allowed to hunt Flick. 80. Rabbits shot to a Team in Gorse. Shooting to Beagles described 81. Markers necessary with wild Spaniels. 82. Cover beat with wildest Dogs before shot in. Woodcocks. 83. Old Sportsmen prefer mute Spaniels. 84. Babblers bestinsome Countries. Cock-shooting in Albania. 85. Hog and deer in ditto. 86. Glorious month's sport in the Morea. 87. Handy old Setters capital in light cover. Attention necessary when first entered. 88. C' e r s Pointers as good in cover as on the stubble. 89. Pointer that ran to opposite side of Thicket to flush Game towards Gun. 90. Water Spaniels, how broken. 91. Shepherd's Forward Signal best for Water Re- trievers. 92. Wild Fowl reconnoitred with Telescope. 93. Qualities required in Water Retriever. In note, Poachers in Snow. Beast or man of one uniform colour easily detected. 94. Ducks emit a tolerable scent " Flint" and Mr. C e's Setter. 95. Steady Spaniels in Rice Lakes. 34. WHEN your young dog is tolerably well advanced in the lessons which you have been advised to practise, CH. in.] "DEAD." "SEEK." SIGNALS. 21 hide a piece of bread or biscuit. Say " Dead, dead." Call him to you. (44.) Let him remain by you for nearly a minute or two. Then say " Find," or " Seek." Accompany him in his search. By your actions and gestures make him fancy you are yourself looking about for something, for dogs are observing, one might say, imitative, creatures.* Stoop and move your right hand to and fro near the ground. Contrive that he shall come upon the bread, and reward him by permitting him to eat it. 35. After a little time (a few days I mean), he will show the greatest eagerness on your saying, at any un- expected moment, " Dead." He will connect the word with the idea that there is something very desirable concealed near him, and he will be all impatience to be off and find it ; but make him first come to you, (for reason, see 269.) Keep him half a minute. Then say " Find," and, without your accompanying him, he will search for what you have previously hidden. Always let him be encouraged to perseverance by discovering something acceptable. 36. Unseen by him, place the rewards (one at a time), in different parts of the room, under the rug or carpet, and more frequently on a chair, a table, or a low shelf. He will be at a loss in what part of the room to search. Assist him by a motion of your arm and hand. A wave of the right arm and hand to the right, will soon show him that he is to hunt to the right, as he will find there. The corresponding w r ave of the left hand and arm to the left, will explain to him, that he is to make * "Imitative creatures!" who will be surprised to see how quickly can doubt it ? If you make an old the young one will learn the trick, dog perform a trick several times especially if he has seen that the in the sight of a young one who old dog was always rewarded for is watching the proceedings, you his obedience. 22 LOOKING FOR INSTRUCTIONS. [CH. in. a cast to the left. The underhand bowler's swing of the right hand and arm, will show that he is to hunt in a forward direction.* Your occasionally throwing the delicacy (in the direction you wish him to take), whilst waving your hand, will aid in making him comprehend the signal. You may have noticed how well, by watch- ing the action of a boy's arm, his little cur judges towards what point to run for the expected stone. 37. When the hidden object is near you, but between you and the dog, make him come towards you to seek for it, beckoning him with your right hand. When he is at a distance at the "Drop," if you are accustomed to recompense him for good behaviour, you can employ this signal to make him rise and run towards you for his reward, (and, according to my judgment, he should always join you after the " down charge," 271). By these means you will thus familiarise him with a very useful signal ; for that signal will cause him to approach you in the field, when you have made a circuit to head him at his point (knowing that birds will then be lying somewhere between you and him), and want him to draw nearer to the birds and you, to show you exactly where they are. This some may call a superfluous re- finement, but I hope you will consider it a very killing accomplishment, and being easily taught, it were a pity to neglect it. When a Setter is employed in cock- shooting, the advantage of using this signal is very * Obedience to all such signals day retrieving, as instanced in will hereafter be taught out of 277, it will be your aim to get doors at gradually increased dis- him not to seek immediately, but tances : and to confirm him in the to watch your signals, until by habit of sniffing high in the air obeying them you will have placed (41) for whatever you may then him close to where the object lies, hide, put the bread or meat on a at which precise moment you will stick or bush, but never in a hedge say energetically "Find," and (175). With the view to his some cease making any further signs. CH. in.] BECKON. "CARE." 23 apparent. While the dog is steadily pointing, it enables the sportsman to look for a favourable opening/ and, when he has posted himself to his satisfaction, to sign to the Setter (or if out of sight tell him), to advance and flush the bird : when, should the sportsman have selected his position with judgment, he will generally get a shot. I have seen this method very successfully adopted in America, where the forests are usually so dense that cocks are only found on the outskirts in the underwood. 38. After a little time he will regularly look to you for directions. Encourage him to do so ; it will make him hereafter, when he is in the field, desirous of hunt- ing under your eye, and induce him to look to you, in a similar manner, for instructions in what direction he is to search for game. Observe how a child watches its mother's eye ; so will a dog watch yours, when he be- comes interested in your movements, and finds that you frequently notice him. 39. Occasionally, when he approaches any of the spots where the bread lies hidden, say " Care," and slightly raise your right hand. He will quickly con- sider this word, or signal, as an intimation that he is near the object of his search. 40. Never deceive him in any of these words and signs, and never disappoint him of the expected reward. Praise and caress him for good conduct; rate him for bad. Make it a rule throughout the whole course of his education, out of doors as fully as within, to act upon this system. You will find that caresses and sub- stantial rewards are far greater incentives to exertion than any fears of punishment. 41. Your pup having become a tolerable proficient in these lessons, you may beneficially extend them by 24 "UP." NOSE CARRIED HIGH. [en. in. employing the word " Up," as a command that he is to sniff high in the air to find the hidden bread or meat, lying, say on a shelf, or on the back of a sofa. He will-, comparatively speaking, be some time in acquiring a knowledge of the meaning of the word, and many would probably term it an over-refinement in canine education ; but I must own I think you will act judiciously, if you teach it perfectly in the initiatory lessons ; for the word " Up," if well understood, will frequently save your putting on the puzzle-peg. For this you would be obliged to employ, should your dog prove disobedient and be acquiring the execrable habit of " raking " as it is termed, instead of searching for the delicious effluvia with his nose carried high in the air. Colonel Hawker much recommends the puzzle-peg, but I confess I would not fetter the dog by using it, unless compelled by his hereditary propensity to hunt-foot. . 42. Whenever birds can be sought for in the wind, the dog should thus hunt the field (and the higher he carries his nose the better), for, independently of the far greater chance of finding them, they will allow the dog to come much nearer, than when he approaches them by the foot : but of this more anon. (185, 186.) 43. Setters and Pointers naturally hunt with their noses sufficiently close to the ground, they want ele- vating rather than depressing. Notwithstanding, you will do well to show your pupil a few times out of doors, how to work out a scent, by dragging a piece of bread unperceived by him down wind through grass, and then letting him " foot " it out. Try him for a few yards at first ; you can gradually increase the length of the drag. You must not, however, practise this initiatory lesson too frequently, lest you give him the wretched custom of pottering. OLD FASHIONED ENGLISH SETTER, RETRIEVERS, ONE A CROSS WITH BLOODHOUND. HEEL. "A backward low wave of the right hand." Par. 44. CH. in.] "HEEL." "GONE." 27 44. The word " Heel/' and a backward low wave of the right hand and arm to the rear, (the reverse of the underhand cricket-bowler's swing,) will, after a few times, bring the dog close behind you. Keep him there a while and pat him, but do not otherwise reward him. The object of the order was to.jnake him instantly give up hunting, and come to your heels. This signal cannot be substituted for the " beckon." The one is an order always obeyed with reluctance (being a command to leave off hunting), whereas the " beckon " is merely an instruction in what direction to beat, and will be at- tended to with delight. The signal "heel," however, when given immediately after loading, is an exception ; for the instructions about " Dead," in xi. of paragraph 171, will show that without your speaking, it may be made to impart the gratifying intelligence of your having killed. See also 277. 45. To teach him to attach a meaning to the word " Gone," or " Away," or " Flown," * (select which you will, but do not ring the changes,) you may now rub a piece of meat (if you have no one but your servant to scold you) in some place where the dog is accustomed frequently to find, and when he is sniffing at the place say "Gone," or "Away." This he will, after some trials, perceive to be an intimation that it is of no use to continue hunting for it. 46. You will greatly facilitate his acquiring the meaning of the command "Fence," or "Ware fence," if. from time to time, as he is quitting the room through the open door or garden window, you restrain him by calling out that word. * The least comprehensive and cal grammarian, understands it logical of the expressions, yet one to apply to " fur " as well as often used. A dog being no criti- " feather." 28 "WARE FENCE." [CH. in. 47. Whenever, indeed, you wish him to desist from doing anything, call out "Ware," (pronounced "W^ar"), as it will expedite his hereafter understanding the terms, " Ware sheep," " Ware chase," and " Ware lark." The last expression to be used when he is wasting his time upon the scent of .anything but game a fault best cured by plenty of birds being killed to him. However, the simple word " No," omitting " Chase " or " Fence," might be substituted advantageously for " Ware." All you want him to do is to desist from a wrong action. That sharp sound, and when necessary it can be clearly thundered out, cannot be misunderstood. 48. That your young dog may not hereafter resist the couples, yoke him occasionally to a stronger dog, and for the sake of peace, and in the name of all that is gallant, let it be to the one of the other sex who appears to be the greatest favourite. 49. When he is thus far advanced in his education, and tolerably obedient, which he will soon become if you are consistent, and patient, yet strict, you can, in further pursuance of Astley's plan, associate him in his lessons with a companion. Should you be breaking in another youngster, (though one at a time you will probably find quite enough, especially if it be your laudable wish to give him hereafter a well-confirmed scientific range,) they can now be brought together for instruction. You must expect to witness the same jealousy which they would exhibit on the stubble. Both will be anxious to hunt for the bread, and in restraining them alternately from so doing, you exact the obedience which you will require hereafter in the field, when in their natural eagerness they will endea- vour, unless you properly control them, to take the point of birds from one another; or, in their rivalry, CH. in.] ACCUSTOMED TO COUPLES. 29 run over the taint of a wounded bird, instead of col- lectedly and perseverinoiy working out the scent. You can throw a bit of toast and make them " Toho " it, and then let the dog you name take it. In the same way you can let each alternately search for a hidden piece, after both have come up to you, on your saying "Dead." I would also advise you to accustom each dog to " drop," without any command from you-, the moment he sees that the other is down. 50. Those lessons will almost ensure their hereafter instantly obeying, and nearly instantly comprehending the object of the signal to " back " any dog which may be pointing game. 51. When you take out two youngsters for exercise, while they are romping about, suddenly call one into " heel." After a time again send him off on his gambols. Whistle to catch the eye of the other, and signal to him to join you. By working them thus alternately, while they are fresh and full of spirits, you will habituate them to implicit obedience. When the birds are wild, and you are anxious to send a basket of game to a friend, it is very satisfactory to be able merely by a sign, without uttering a word, to bring the other dogs into " heel," leaving the ground to the careful favourite. Teach the present lesson well, and you go far towards attaining the desired result. 52. I trust you will not object to the minutiae of these initiatory lessons, and fancy you have not time to attend to them. By teaching them well, you will gain time, much time, and the time that is of most value to you as a sportsman ; for when your dog is regularly hunting to your gun, his every faculty ought to be solely devoted to finding birds, and his undisturbed intellects exclu- sively given to aid you in bagging . them, instead of 30 CHECKCORD DESCRIBED. [CH. ITT. being bewildered by an endeavour to comprehend novel signals or words of command. I put it to you as a sportsman, whether he will not have the more delight and ardour in hunting, the more he feels that he under- stands your instructions? and, further, I ask you, whether he will not be the more sensitively alive to the faintest indication of a haunt, and more readily follow it up to a sure find, if he be unembarrassed by any anxiety to make out what you mean, and be in no way alarmed at the consequences of not almost instinctively understanding your wishes ? 53. In all these lessons, and those which follow in the field, the checkcord will wonderfully assist you THE CHECK 'HOLD HARD!' Indeed, it may be regarded as the instructor's right hand. It can be employed so mildly as not to inti- midate the most gentle, and it can, without the aid of CH. in.] SPANIELS BROKEN IN. 31 any whip, be used with such severity, or, I should rather say, perseverance, as to conquer the most wild and headstrong, and these are sure to be dogs of the greatest travel and endurance. The cord may be from ten to twenty-five * yards long, according to the animal's dis- position, and may be gradually shortened as he gets more and more under command. Even when it is first employed you can put on a shorter cord, if you perceive that he is becoming tired. In thick stubble, especially if cut with a sickle, the drag will be greater, far greater than when the cord glides over heather. The cord may be of the thickness of what some call strong lay-cord, but made of twelve threads. Sailors would know it by the name of log-line or cod-line. To save the end from fraying it can be whipped with thread, which is better than tying a knot because it is thus less likely to be- come entangled. 55. Hunted with such a cord, the most indomitable dog, when he is perfectly obedient to the " drop" is nearly as amenable to command, as if the end of the line were in the breaker's hand. By no other means can SPANIELS be quickly broken in. The general object of the trainer is to restrain them from ranging at a distance likely to spring game out of gun-shot, and to make them perfect to the " down charge." If one of these high-spirited animals will not range close when called to by whistle * With a resolute, reckless, thinner the cord the more readily dashing dog you may advan- does it become entangled, as a tageously employ a thinner cord rule, a checkcord cannot be too of double that length, whereas, firmly twisted, a soft one quickly the shortest line will sometimes gets knotted and troublesome, prevent a timid animal from (See note to 262.) ranging freely. By-the-bye, the 32 FOUR-LEGGED WHIPPER-IN. [CH. in. or name, the breaker gets hold of the cord and jerks it ; this makes the dog come in a few paces ; another jerk or two makes him approach closer, and then the breaker, by himself retiring with his face towards the spaniel, calling out his name (or whistling), and occasionally jerking the cord, makes him quite submissive, and more disposed to obey on future occasions. 55. In training a large team it is of much advantage to the keeper to have a lad to rate, and, when necessary, give the skirters a taste of the lash, in short, to act as whipper-in. The keeper need not then carry a whip, or at least often use it, which will make his spaniels all the more willing to hunt close to him. 56. Lord A r's head gamekeeper was singularly aided : he possessed a four-legged whipper-in. A few years ago while Mr. D s (M.P. for a South Eastern County) was with a shooting party at his Lordship's, the keeper brought into the field a brace of powerful retrievers, and a team of spaniels, among which were two that had never been shot over. On the first phea- sant being killed, all the old spaniels dropped to shot, but one of the young ones rushed forward and mouthed the bird. The person who had fired ran on to save it, but the keeper called aloud, and requested him not to move. The man then made a signal to one of the retrievers to go. He did so instantly, but, instead of meddling with the bird, he seized the spaniel, lifted him up, and shook him well. The moment the pup could escape, he came howling to the " heels " of the keeper, and lay down among his companions. The keeper then confessed that a couple of the spaniels had never been shot to, but he confidently assured the sportsmen, they would see before the day was over, that the pups behaved fully as steadily as the old dogs, and explained to the A FOUR-LEGGED WHIPPER-IN. Par. 56. CH. in.] RETRIEVER MADE BREAKER. 35 party, how the retriever did all the disagreeable work, and indeed, nearly relieved him of every trouble in breaking in the youngsters. On the next few shots this novel schoolmaster was again deputed to show his pupils that he would not allow his special duties as a retriever to be interfered with. Both the young dogs, having been thus well chastised, became more careful, made only partial rushes to the front, when a recollection of their punishment, and a dread of their four-footed tutor brought them slinking back to their older companions. As the keeper had averred, they soon learned their lesson completely, gave up all thoughts of chasing after shot, and quietly crouched down with the other dogs. 57. I can easily imagine that it was a feeling of jealousy, which first prompted the retriever to thrash some spaniel who was endeavouring to carry off a bird, and that the clever keeper encouraged him in doing so, instantly perceiving the value of such assistance. It is worth a consideration whether it would not be advisable to train the retriever employed with a team to give this assistance. A dog of a quarrelsome disposition could be taught, by your urging him, to seize any spaniel who might be mouthing a bird, in the same manner you would set on a young terrier to fly at a rat. 58. Doubtless it is the highest training to teach a team to " down-charge," but most breakers make their spaniels come into " heel," or rather gather close around them, (by the word " round ") whenever a gun is dis- charged. This plan, though so injudicious in the case of pointers or setters, is but little objectionable in the case of spaniels, for spaniels in their small sweep in- wards, are not likely to spring game while the guns are unloaded. It certainly possesses this merit, that it is D2 36 SPANIELS BROKEN IN. [CH. in. readily taught to puppies, (with the aid of a whipper-in) by the trainer's giving them some delicacy on their rejoining him. It may be urged, too, that the method much removes any necessity for noise in calling to a dog, whereas, with a team trained to the "down- charge," however highly broken, it will occasionally happen that the keeper (or assistant) has to rate some excited skirter for not instantly " dropping." Moreover, in thick cover an infraction of the irksome rule to " down charge " may sometimes escape detection, which might lead to future acts of insubordination. The lamented Prince Albert's team of Clumbers " down- charge," but the greatest attention could be given, and was given to them. They were admirably broken, and I might add, were shot over by a first-rate hand. 59. When exercising young spaniels it is a good plan to habituate them, even as puppies, never to stray further from you than about twenty yards. With them, even more than with other kinds of dogs trained for the gun, great pains should be taken to prevent their having the opportunity of " self-hunting." If it is wished to break from hare, the method to be followed is mentioned in 334, &c., for with spaniels as with setters (or pointers) it is always advisable to drag them back to the spot from which they started in pursuit. 60. Occasionally you may see a country blacksmith, when preparing to shoe the hind-legs of a cart-horse that appears disposed to make a disagreeable use of his heels, twist the long hair at the end of his tail, raise the foot that is to be shod, pass the twisted hair round the leg immediately above the hock, and by these means press the tendon close to the bone. The tail assists in retaining the leg in position, and thus for the time the limb is rendered powerless. Acting much upon this CH. in.] HUNTED IN GOKSE. 37 coercive principle, but discarding the aid of the tail, some breakers slightly confine a hind-leg of their most unruly spaniels with a soft bandage, shifting it from one leg to the other about every hour. Possibly a loop of vulcanized india-rubber, being elastic, would best answer the purpose. Restrained in this manner a dog is less likely to tumble about, and become injured, than if one of his fore-legs had been passed through his collar. Other breakers when hunting many couples together, fasten a belt with a few pounds of shot round the necks of the wildest. But the sooner such adjuncts to disci- pline can be safely discarded the better ; for " brushing " a close cover is severe work. Gorse is the most trying. Its prickles are so numerous and fine, that the ears and eyes of every spaniel hunted in it ought to be separately examined on returning home, and well bathed in warm water. Their eyes are peculiarly liable to be injured, by iust and gravel from their hunting so close to the ground. 61. To give young spaniels sufficient courage to face the most entangled cover, a judicious trainer will occa- sionally introduce them to thick brakes, or gorse, early in the morning, or in the evening, when the noise of his approach will have made the pheasants feeding in the neighbourhood, run far into it for shelter. The effluvia of the birds will then so excite the young dogs, especially if cheered with good companionship, (which always creates emulation,) that they will utterly disregard the pricks and scratches of the strongest furze. 62. If the time of year will permit it, they should be shown game when about nine or ten months old. At a more advanced age they would be less amenable to con- trol. Happily the example of a riotous pup will not be so detrimental to the discipline of the rest of the team, as the example of an ill-conducted companion would be 38 EXPERIENCED SPANIELS. [CH. in. to a pointer (or setter), for the influence of thoroughly steady spaniels makes the pup curtail his range sooner than might be expected. Finding that he is not fol- lowed by his associates he soon rejoins them. 63. A judicious breaker will regard perfection in the " drop" (23 to 26) as the main-spring of his educational system. He will teach his young spaniels to " seek dead," (34, 35, 43) where directed by signs of the hand. He will instruct them in "fetching," (109, 107, &c.) with the view to some of them hereafter retrieving. He will accustom them to hunt hedge-rows, and light open copses, because always under his eye, before taking them into closer cover. Nor until they are under some command, and well weaned from noticing vermin and small birds, will he allow them to enter gorse or strong thickets, and then he will never neglect (though pro- bably he will have used them before) to attach bells of different sounds to the collars of his several pupils (one to each), so that his ear may at all times detect any truant straying beyond bounds, and thus enable him to rate the delinquent by name. In this manner, he establishes the useful feeling elsewhere spoken of (383), that whether he be within or out of sight, he is equally aware of every impropriety that is committed. 64. Young spaniels, when they have been steadily broken in not to hunt too far ahead on the instructor's ' side of the hedge, may be permitted to beat on the other; and this when only one person is shooting, is generally their most useful position, for they are thus more likely to drive the game towards the gun. 65. If a keeper is hunting the team, while you and a friend are beating narrow belts or strips of wood,* should * The printer finds tins note on long that he will place it in an covers, shooting, and loading, so Appendix. CH. in.] DIFFICULT TO BREAK. 39 you and lie be placed, as is usual, on the outside, a little ahead of the keeper (one to his right, the other to his left), you would much aid him in preventing the young spaniels from ranging wildly, were you to turn your face towards him whenever you saw any of them getting too far in advance, for they will watch the guns as much as they will him. They should never range further than thirty yards from the gun. 66. Among spaniels the great advantage of age and experience is more apparent than in partridge-dogs. A young spaniel cannot keep to a pheasant's tail like an old one. He may push the bird for forty or fifty yards if judiciously managed. After that he is almost sure from impatience, either to lose it, or rush in and flush out of shot, whereas an old cocker, who has had much game shot over him, is frequently knowing enough to slacken his pace, instead of increasing it, when he first touches on birds, apparently quite sensible that he ought to give the gun time to approach, before he presses to a flush. 67. Even good spaniels, however well bred, if they have not had great experience, generally road too fast. Undeniably they are difficult animals to educate, and it requires much watchfulness, perseverance, and attention at an early age, so to break in a team of young ones that they shall keep within gun range, without your being compelled to halloo or whistle to them. But some few are yet more highly trained. 68. Mr. N n, when in France, had a lively, in- telligent, liver and white cocker, which would work busily all day long within gun-shot ; and which pos- sessed the singular accomplishment of steadily pointing- all game that lay well, and of not rushing in until the sportsman had come close to him. But this is a case of 40 TRUE NOSES. COVEE SHOOTING. [CH. m. high breaking more curious than useful, for spaniels are essentially springers, not pointers, and the little animal must frequently have been lost siglrUof in cover. The Messrs. W e, alluded to in 551, had also a cocker that regularly pointed. Our grandfathers used to apply the term springers solely to large spaniels, never to the Duke of Marlborough's small breed, which was greatly prized. 69. A dog is generally most attached to that descrip- tion of sport, and soonest recognises the scent of that game, to which he has principally been accustomed in youth. He will through life hunt most diligently where he first had the delight of often finding. The utility therefore is obvious of introducing spaniels at an early age to close covers and hedge-rows, and setters and pointers to heather and stubble. 70. In spaniels, feathered sterns and long ears are much admired, but obviously the latter must suffer in thick underwood. The chief requisite in all kinds of spaniels, is, that they be good finders, and have noses so true that they will never overrun a scent. Should they do so when footing an old cock pheasant, the chances are, that he will double back on the exact line by which he came. They should be high-mettled, as regardless of the severest weather as of the most punishing cover, and ever ready to spring into the closest thicket the moment a pointed finger gives the command. 71. A comprehension of the signal made by the finger, (which is far neater than the raising of the hand described in 34, but not so quickly understood) might with advantage be imparted to all dogs trained for the gun, in order to make them hunt close exactly where directed. It is usually taught by pointing with the fore- finger of the right hand to pieces of biscuit, previously CH. in.] COVER SHOOTING. 41 concealed, near easily recognised tufts of grass, weeds, &c. It is beautiful to see how correctly, promptly, yet quietly, some spaniels will work in every direction thus indicated. 72. Breasting a strong cover with cockers, is more suited to young, than to old men. The gun must follow rapidly, and stick close when a dog is on the road of feather. A shot will then infallibly be obtained, if a good dog be at work ; for the more closely a bird is pressed, the hotter gets the scent. If a pheasant found in thick cover on marshy ground near water, a locality they much like in hot weather, is not closely pushed, he will so twist, and turn, and double upon old tracks, that none but the most experienced dogs will be able to stick to him. 73. The preceding observations respecting spaniels apply to all descriptions employed on land-service, whether of the strong kind, the Sussex breed and the Clumber, or the smallest cockers, Blenheims and King Charles'.* But whether they are to be trained not to hunt flick,f (the most difficult part of their tuition, and in which there is generally most failure), and whether they shall be bred to give tongue, or run mute, will depend much upon the nature of the country to be hunted, and yet more upon the taste of the proprietor. * These fetch immense fancy of the scent. In strong high tur- prices when well shaped, black nips, he is employed with much and tan, without a single white advantage to spring the partridge, hair, and long eared. But this He creeps under, where a larger breed is nearly useless to the dog would be constantly jumping, sportsman, whereas the Blenheim T For the benefit of those is a lively diligent little fellow in who have the good fortune, or light cover, and from his diminu- the bad fortune, as the case may tive size threads his way through be, of always living within the low thick brushwood more readily sound of Bow bells, " Flick," be than might at first be imagined, it observed, is a synonym for being incited to great perseverance " Fur," thereby meaning Hare, or by a most enthusiastic enjoyment Rabbit. 42 BELLS IN COVER. [CH. in. Xo fixed rules can be given for a sport that varies so much as cover- shooting. 74. Of the large kind, most sportsmen will think a couple and a half a sufficient number to hunt at a time. Certainly one of them should retrieve : and they ought to be well broken in not to notice flick. These dogs are most esteemed when they run mute. If they do, they must be hunted with bells in very thick cover ; but the less bells are employed the better, for the tinkling sound, in a greater or smaller degree, annoys all game. Such dogs, when good, are very valuable. 75. I once shot over a team of Clumber spaniels belonging to Mr. D z. The breed (the Duke of Newcastle's, taking their name from one of his seats), are mostly white with a little lemon colour, have large sensible heads, thick, short legs, silky coats, carry their sterns low, and hunt perfectly mute. The team kept within twenty or twenty-five yards of the keeper, were trained to acknow- ledge Eabbits, as weli as all kinds of game ; and in the country Mr. D z wt s then shooting over afforded capital sport. One of the spaniels was taught to retrieve. He would follow to any dis- tance, and seldom failed to bring. A regular retriever was, however, generally taken out with them. Mr. D z told me that they required very judicious management, and encouragement rather than severity, as undue whipping soon made them timid. They are of a delicate constitution. He rather surprised me by saying that his spaniels from working quietly and ranging close, (therefore, alarming the birds less,) procured him far more shots in turnips than his pointers ; and he had three that looked of the right sort. He explained matters, however, by telling me, that it was his practice to make a circuit round the outskirts of a turnip or potato field before hunting the inner parts. This of course greatly tended to prevent the birds breaking (401). A juvenile sportsman would rejoice in the services of the spaniels, for many a rabbit would they procure for him without the aid of powder and shot. 76. When Colonel M , who died in Syria, was stationed with his troop of Horse Artillery at Pontefract, he was asked to shoot partridges at Lord P n's seat in Yorkshire. On meeting the gamekeeper, according to appointment, he found him surrounded by a team of Clumber spaniels. Colonel M , in some surprise at seeing no setters or pointers, remarked that he had expected some partridge shooting. " I know it," answered the man, " and I hope to show you some sport." To the inquiry why one of the spaniels was muzzled, the keeper said that his master had threatened to shoot it should it again give tongue, and, as it possessed a par- CLUMBERS. All the Clumbers dropped instantly." Par. 76. CH. in.] TEAM OF COCKER?. 45 ticularly fine nose, he (the keeper) was anxious not to lose it. They walked on, and soon the man told M to be prepared, as the spaniels were feathering. A covey rose. The Colonel, who was a good shot, killed right and left. All the Clumbers dropped instantly. When he was reloading, the keeper begged him to say which of the dogs should retrieve the game. M pointed to a broad-headed dog lying in the middle, when the keeper directed by name the spaniel so favoured to be off. It quickly fetched one of the birds. The keeper then asked M to choose some other dog to bring the remaining bird a runner. He did so, and the animal he selected to act as retriever, performed the duty very cleverly ; the rest of the team remaining quite still, until its return. The Colonel had capital sport, killing nearly twenty brace, and the dogs behaved beautifully throughout the day. When afterwards relating the circumstances, he observed that, although an old sports- man, he had seldom been so gratified, as it was a novel scene to him, who had not been accustomed to shoot over spaniels. 77. Of small cockers, three couples appear ample to form a team. Some teams of small springers greatly exceed this number, and many sportsmen shoot over more than a couple and a half of the larger spaniels ; but it is a question whether, in the generality of cases, the gun would not benefit by the number being dimi- nished rather than increased. The smaller in number the team, the greater is the necessity that none of them should stick too close to "heel." The difficulty is to make them hunt far enough, and yet not too far. At least one of the number should retrieve well. If they give tongue, it ought to be in an intelligible mariner ; softly, when they first come on the haunt of a cock, but making the cover ring again with their joyous melody, when once the bird is flushed. A first-rate cocker will never deceive by opening upon an old haunt, nor yet find the gun unprepared by delaying to give due warning before he flushes the bird. When cocks are abundant, some teams are broken, not only to avoid flick, but actually not to notice a pheasant, or anything beside woodcock. Hardly any price would tempt a real lover 46 STRENGTH OF TEAM. [OH. in. of cock-shooting, in a cocking country, to part with such a team. Hawker terms the sport, " the fox-hunting of shooting." Some sportsmen kill water-hens to young spaniels to practise them in forcing their way through entangled covers, and get them well in hand and steady against the all-important cocking season. 78. When a regular retriever can be constantly em- ployed with spaniels, of course it will be unnecessary to make any of them fetch game, (certainly never to lift any thing which falls out of bounds), though all the team should be taught to " seek dead." This is the plan pursued by the Duke of Newcastle's keepers, and ob- viously it is the soundest and easiest practice, for it must always be more or less difficult to make a spaniel keep within his usual hunting limits, who is occasionally encouraged to pursue wounded game, at his best pace, to a considerable distance. 79. Other teams are broken no more than to keep within range, being allowed to hunt all kinds of game, and also rabbits ; they, however, are restricted from pursuing wounded flick further than fifty or sixty yards. Where rabbits are abundant, and outlying, a team thus broken affords lively sport, nothing escapes them. 80. In the large woods that traverse parts of Kent and Sussex, a kind of hunting-shooting is followed, that affords more fun, where there are plenty of rabbits and but few burrows, than might at first be imagined. The dogs employed are the smallest beagles that can be obtained. The little creatures stick to a hare, rabbit, or wounded pheasant with greater pertinacity than most spaniels, probably because they (the beagles) are slower, and hunt so low. Three or four couples make most animating music in the woodlands, and procure many shots, but they awfully disturb game. Mr. D z has gorse covers through which openings or rides are cut. He shoots rabbits in them to a team of beagles trained not to notice hare. The burrows are ferreted the preceding day, and regularly stopped. The sport is excellent and most animating. Plenty of snap shots. An old buck rabbit once or twice hunted becomes extremely cun- ning. He is soon on the move, and will work round beyond the dogs, so as to double back upon the ground already hunted. WILD SPANIELS. Par. 81 OH. in.] HUNTING-SHOOTING. 49 81. Wild spaniels, though they may show you most cock, will get you fewest shots, unless you have well- placed markers. There are sportsmen who like to take out one steady dog to range close to them, and a couple of wild ones to hunt on the flanks, one on each side, expressly that the latter may put up birds for the markers to take note of. 82. Mr. n, who is devoted to shooting, acts upon this system, but upon a more enlarged scale. Having previously posted his markers, he has each cover, immediately before he shoots it, well hunted by the wildest of the dogs : he then takes a steady animal to the several spots pointed out, and is thus enabled to kill annually thrice as many cock as any other man in the country. The aptness of this bird, when a second time flushed, to return (397) to its old haunt, and when again put up to take wing in the direction of its first flight, much tends to its destruction. 83. An old sportsman knows mute spaniels to be most killing ; a young one may prefer those which give tongue, (if true from the beginning owning nothing but game,) because, though undeniably greater disturbers of a cover, they are more cheerful and animating. The superiority of the former is, however, apparent on a still calm day, when the least noise will make the game steal away long before the gun gets within shot. But it is not so in all countries. 84. Wild as is the woodcock with us after it has recovered from its fatiguing migratory flight, and been a few times disturbed, there is not, perhaps, naturally, so tame a game-bird, and one more difficult to flush in close cover where rarely alarmed. Officers quartered at Corfu frequently cross in the morning to the Albanian coast, a two hours' sail or pull, and return the same evening, having bagged from fifty to sixty couples to half-a-dozen good guns. Their boat is directed to meet them at some head-land, towards which they shoot. An attendant to carry the game, and a relay of ammunition, &c., is told off to each sportsman, and he of the party ' who best knows the country, is chosen captain for the day, and walks in the centre of the line, the rest conforming to his move- ments. There is generally an agreement to halt for a minute, but not a second more, to allow a man to look for any cock he may have knocked over ; therefore the possessor of a first-rate retriever is an E 50 COVERS. [CH, in. envied character. The strength and density of the bush occa- sionally there encountered, is more than we in England can imagine : and in such situations, experience has shown the sportsmen the superiority of spaniels which give tongue. On hearing the warning cheerful music, the line halts for a few seconds, as, notwithstanding all the noise, some little time may pass before the cock is sprung, for he is frequently so protected by a wall of impervious thicket, (though sure to have a clear opening overhead for unimpeded flight) that the keenest dogs cannot immediately get at him. 85. Although the country abounds with deer and boar, it is almost needless to observe, that the cock-shooters are too noisy a party often to bag such noble game, unless some ambitious and bold man (for being alone he risks having a long barrel covertly pointed at him^ take up a favourable position far in advance. Captain Best, a fellow-student of mine, about a dozen years ago, gives a spirited account of this shooting, in his entertaining book, entitled " Ex- cursions in Albania." 86. In the northern part of the Morea, about twenty-five miles* from Patras (near Ali Tchelepi, a dilapidated monastery inhabited by only three monks n^ar Monolada, and Pera Metochi), Mr. n and Captaim B y, between the 14th of January, 1843, and the llth oi' the following month (both days inclusive), killed 862 woodcocks, 11 hares, 11 duck, and 11 snipe. Not bad sport ! 87. In very thick covers it is obvious, the height of setters being greatly against them, that spaniels are far preferable : but in light covers, and when the leaves are off the trees, handy old setters (if white, all the better) that will readily confine themselves to a restricted range, and will flush their game when ordered fiv. and vn. of 141 and 284) afford quite as much sport, if not more. Setters do not, to the same degree, alarm birds ; and there is, also, this advantage, that they can be employed on all occasions, excepting in low gorse or the closest thickets, whereas spaniels, from their contracted " beat," are nearly useless in the open when game is scarce. You will be prepared, when first you hunt a setter in cover, to sacrifice much of your sport. There must be noise ; for it is essential to make him at once thoroughly understand the very different " beat " required of him, and this can only be effected by constantly checking and rating him, whenever he rages beyond the prescribed OH. in.] WATER SPANIELS. 51 limits. He should hunt slowly and carefully to the right and left, and never be much in advance of the guns. In a short time he will comprehend matters, if you are so forbearing and judicious as invariably to call him away from every point made the least out of bounds. A less severe test of your consistency will not suffice. The few first days will either make or mar him as a cover-dog. You must naturally expect that hunting him much in cover, will injure his range in the open, and make him too fond of hedge-rows. 88. But there is a man in Yorkshire, who will not willingly admit this. C e, Sir George A e's gamekeeper, and a good one he is, for he has a particularly difficult country to protect, one intersected with "rights of way" in every direction, makes his pointers as freely hunt the cover as the open. You never lose them, for they are sure to make their appearance when they think they have given you ample time to go to them if you choose. This cover work does not the least unsteady them, but it is right to state, that C is an unusually good breaker, and works his dogs with singular temper and patience. They are very attached to him, and appear to listen anxiously to what he says when he talks to them, which, I own, he does more than I recommend. 89. Pointers, however, are manifestly out of place in strong cover, though an unusually high-couraged one may occasionally be found, who will dash forward in defiance of pricks and scratches ; but it is not fair to expect it. Jn a very light cover I have often shot over one belonging to a relation of mine, which was so clever, that when I came close to her as she was pointing, she would frequently run round to the other side of the thicket, and then rush in to drive the game towards me. This killing plan had in no way been taught her ; she adopted it solely of her own sagacity. Having been much hunted in cover when young, she was so fond of it (69) as to be, comparatively speaking, quite unserviceable on the stubbles. WATER SPANIELS, (on WATER RETRIEVERS.) 90. A young water spaniel might, with advantage, occasionally be indulged with a duck-hunt in warm weather. It would tend to make him quick in the water, and observant. The finishing lessons might E2 52 WATER SPANIELS. [CH. in. conclude with your shooting the bird and obliging him to retrieve it. He should be made handy to your sig- nals (iv. to vn. and x. of 141), so as to hunt the fens and marshes, and " seek dead " exactly where you may wish. 91. This obedience to the hand is particularly re- quired ; for when the spaniel is swimming he is on a level with the bird, and therefore is not so likely to see it, especially if there is a ripple on the water, as you are, who probably may be standing many feet above him on the shore. As you may frequently, while he is retrieving, have occasion to direct his movements when at a considerable distance from him, you probably would find it more advantageous to teach him the for- ward signal used by shepherds (143), than the one described in iv. of 141. 92. A water spaniel should also be taught to fetch (96, 98, 106 to 109), be accustomed to follow quietly close to your heels, be broken in, not to the "down charge" (27), but to the "drop" (23 to 26), the instant you signal to him, while you are noiselessly stalking the wild-fowl previously reconnoitered, with the aid of your Dollond, from some neighbouring height; nor should he stir a limb, however long he and you may have to await, ensconced behind a favouring bush, the right moment for the destructive raking discharge of your first barrel, to be followed by the less murderous, but still effective flying shot. On hearing the report, it is his duty to dash instantly into the water, and secure the slain as rapidly as possible. 93. A really good water retriever is a scarce and valuable animal. He should be neither white nor black, because the colours are too conspicuous, especially the IRISH WATER SPANIEL. Our good Irish friend." Par. 9f. CH. in.] WILD-RICE LAKES. 55 former, (a hint by-the-bye for your own costume) ;* he should be perfectly mute ; of a patient disposition, though active in the pursuit of birds ; of so hardy a constitution as not to mind the severest cold, therefore no coddling while he is young near a fire, and possess what many are deficient in, viz., a good nose : conse- quently, a cross that will improve his nose, yet not decrease his steadiness, is the great desideratum in breeding. He should swim rapidly, for wild-fowl that are only winged, will frequently escape from the quick- est dog, if they have plenty of sea-room and deep water. (See also 113, 553, 567.) 94. Wild-fowl emit a stronger scent than is, I believe, generally supposed. At Mr. G r's, in Surrey, Mr. L g was shooting one day last season, when his pointer " Flint " drew for some time towards the river, and brought the sportsmen to the stump of an old tree. They could see nothing, and thought the dog must be standing at a moorhen ; but on one of the beaters trying with a stick, out flew a mallard like a shot from a gun. As Mr. L g levelled his tubes, it is unnecessary to observe that it fell ; but probably it would have been lost had not " Flint," when encouraged, jumped into the water and brought the bird to land. A Mr. C e, living near Edinburgh, whom I have the pleasure of knowing, has a white setter that is a capital hand at finding ducks, and sets them steadily. 95. In the wild-rice lakes, as they are commonly called, of America, a brace of highly-trained spaniels will sometimes, on a windy day, afford you magnificent * But when the moors are can escape from their enemies by covered with snow, poachers, who speed, are mostly of one colour, emerge in bands from the mines, On the .contrary, the tiger kind, often put a shirt over their clothes, snakes, and all that lie in wait and manage to approach grouse at for, and seize their prey by stealth, a time when a fair sportsman can- wear a garment of many colours, not get a shot ; but this is the so do the smaller animals and most only occasion on which one uni- birds, which are saved from cap- form colour could be advantageous, ture by the inability of their foes A mass of any single colour always to distinguish them from the sur- catches, and arrests the eye. Na- rounding foliage or herbage. The ture tells us this ; animals that uniform of our rifle corps is too browse, elephants, buffaloes, and much of one hue.] large deer, as well as those which 56 DUCK SHOOTING. [CH. in. sport. The cover is so good that, if it is not often beaten, the birds will frequently get up singly, or only a couple at a time. The dogs should keep swimming about within gun-shot, while you are slowly and silently paddling, or probably poling your canoe through the most likely spots. Eelays of spaniels are requisite, for it is fatiguing work. If, by any rare chance, you are- situated where you can get much of this delightful shooting, and you are an enthusiast in training, it may be worth your while to consider whether there would not be an advantage in making the dogs perfect in the " down charge," as they would then cease swimming the instant you fired. But this long digression about spaniels has led us away from your pup, which we assumed (3) to be a pointer or setter, very unlike our good Irish friend, well represented in the last en- graving. CHAPTER IV. LESSONS IX "FETCHING.'-RETRIEVERS. 96. Lessons in "fetching" recommended. 97. Dog not taught to retrieve bringing dead Bird he had found. 98. Taught to deliver into your hand ; never pick up a Bird yourself; Dog which often lost winged Birds she had lifted. -99. Colonel T y. 100. Retriever killing one Bird in order to carry two. 101. " Fan's" sagaciously bringing to firm ground Bird that had fallen in a swamp. 102. "Dove's" spontaneously fetching one from RiTer, though not accustomed to retrieve. 103. Retrievers taught to carry something soft ; injudiciousness of employing a stone. 104. How encouraged to plunge into Water; evil of deceiving a Dog instanced. 105. Diving, how taught. 106. "Fetching" taught with a Pincushion: with a Bunch of Keys. 107. Made to deliver instantly. 108. Practised to carry things of the size and weight of a Hare. 109. " Fetching," how taught at commencement. - 110. Brace of Setters taught with an old bone. 111. "Fetching" often taught unskilfully. 112. Regular Retrievers taught to fetch Birds: to "foot" Rabbits and Winged Game. 113. Retriever observes when a Bird is struck: a quality particularly useful in a Water Retriever. 1 14. Pigeons and small Birds shot to Retrievers. 115. Injudiciousness of aiding a young Dog when Retrieving ; makes him rely on Gun rather than his own Nose. 11(5. Fatigue of carrying Hare tempts young Retriever to drop it ; taught to deliver quickly by rewards of hard boiled liver. -117. If he taste blood, put on Wire Snaffle; how made. US. Retriever how taught to pursue faster: should commence to "road" slowly, but '-follow up" rapidly. 119. Why Land Retrievers should "down charge." 120. Some Retrievers may "run on shot," but those for sale should " down charge." 121. Fine retrieving instanced in "Ben." 122. Anecdote showing his great sagacity. 123. Benefit derived from a Seton; another instance of "Ben's" superior retrieving qualities. 124. With "Ben's" good nose, certain advantage of "down charge." 125. Re- trievers not to be of a heavy build, yet strong and thick-coated. 126. Cross between a Newfoundland and Setter makes best Retriever ; the real Newfound- land described. 127. Cross from heavy Setter best Retriever. 128. Most Dogs can be taught more or less to Retrieve. 129. Young Retriever to lift Woodcock and Landrail. 130. Retrievers never to kill Rats; lift vermin, or wounded Herons, &<:. 96. THOUGH you may not wish your young pointer (or setter) to perform the duties of a regular retriever, (536) still you would do well to teach him, whilst he is a puppy, to fetch and deliver into your hand anything soft you may occasionally throw for him, or leave be- hind you in some place where he will have observed you deposit it, while he is following at your heels. In 58 DOG FETCHING BIRD. [CH. iv. a little time you can drop something without letting him see you, and afterwards send him back for it. A dog thus made, who is your intimate companion, be- comes so conversant with every article of your apparel, and with whatever you usually carry about you, that, should you accidentally drop anything, the observant animal will be almost certain to recover it. On re- ceiving your order to be " off and find " he will accu- rately retrace your footsteps for miles and miles, dili- gently hunting every yard of the ground. Of course, the distances to which you at first send your dog will be inconsiderable, and you should carefully avoid perse- vering too long at a time, lest he get sick of the lesson. Indeed, in all his lessons, as well in-doors as out, but particularly in this, let it be your aim to leave off at a moment when he has performed entirely to your satisfaction ; that you may part the best of friends, and that the last impression made by the lesson may be pleasing as well as correct, from a grateful recollection of the caresses which he has received. In wild-duck shooting you may be in situations where you would be very glad if the dog would bring your bird ; and when it is an active runner in cover, I fear you will be more anxious than I could wish (322) that the dog should " fetch." It is probable that he will thus assist you if he be practised as I have just advised ; and such in- struction may lead, years hence, to his occasionally bringing you some dead bird which he may come across, and which you otherwise might have imagined you had missed, for its scent might be too cold, and consequently too changed, for the dog to have thought of regularly pointing it. 97. When I was a boy, I recollect seeing such an instance in Kent. As a great treat, I was permitted (but merely as a spectator) CH. iv.] DELIVER INTO HAND. 59 to accompany a first-rate shot, Mr. C h, who was trying a gun he thought of purchasing for his keeper. The dogs soon came upon a covey. He killed with his first barrel, but apparently missed with his second. He found fault with the gun for not shooting strongly ; and I well remember impertinently fancying, but I dared not say so, that perhaps he was as much to blame as the gun. Soon after- wards, to our mutual surprise, we saw one of the dogs trotting up with a bird, still warm, in its mouth ; thus tacitly reproving me for not having done justice to Mr. C h's unerring eye and steady hand. 98. Mark my having said, " deliver into your hand," that your young dog may not be satisfied with only dropping, within your sight, any bird he may lift, and so, perhaps, leave it on the other side of a trout stream, as I have seen dogs do more than once, in spite of every persuasion and entreaty. "With a young dog, who retrieves, never pick up a bird yourself, however close it may fall to you. Invariably, make him either deliver it into your hand or lay it at your feet. The former is by far the better plan. If the dog has at one moment to drop the bird at ymir will, he is likely to fancy him- self privileged to drop it at another time for his own convenience. In other respects, too, the former is the safest method. I have a bitch now in my recollection, who frequently lost her master slightly winged birds, (which she had admirably recovered} by dropping them too soon on hearing the report of a gun, or coming on other game, for off they ran, and fairly escaped, it being impracticable, by any encouragement, to induce her to seek for a bird she had once lifted. 99. This error, I mean that of allowing a wounded bird to regain its liberty, was once beautifully avoided by a pretty black retriever, belonging to Colonel T y, a good sportsman and pleasant com- panion, who, not long since, told me the circumstance ; and I am glad to be able, on such authority, to relate an anecdote evincing so much reflection and judgment, for I know not by what other terms to characterise the dog's sagacity. 100. Colonel T y's avocations constantly take him from his neat bachelor's cottage in Kent, to travel abroad. Shooting in 60 COLONEL T Y'S VENUS.- FAN. [CH. iv. Hungary he once knocked down two partridges at a shot, one was killed outright, the other only slightly wounded. " Venus " soon hit off the trail of the latter, quickly overtook, it, and, while carrying it to her master, came upon the dead bird. She stopped, evidently greatly puzzled ; and, after one or two trials, finding she could not take it up without permitting the escape of the winged bird, she considered a moment, then, deliberately murdered it, by giving it a severe crunch, and afterwards brought away both together. It is due to the lady to observe that she is naturally as tender- mouthed as her name would imply her to be tender-hearted, and that this is the only known instance of her ever having wilfully injured any game. 101. Sometimes a dog's sagacity will induce him, however little taught, to assist you in your hour of need ; but you must not trust to this. An intimate friend of mine, shooting in Ireland to a pointer-bitch that was totally unaccustomed to fetch and carry, but well instructed to seek for a dead bird, killed a snipe. It fell in soft, boggy ground, where he could not get at it to pick it up. After some vain efforts to approach it, he hied on the bitch, who was still steadily " pointing dead," with " Fetch it, Fan ; fetch it." The bitch seemed for a moment puzzled at such an unusual proceeding, and looked round, inquisitively, once or twice, as if to say, " What can you mean ? " Suddenly, my friend's dilemma seemed to flash upon her. She walked on, took the bird, quite gently, in her mouth, and carried it to where the ground was firm ; but not one inch further would she bring it, despite all the encouragement of her master, who now wished to make her constantly retrieve. This was the first and last bird she ever lifted. 102. " Dove," a white setter, belonging to a near relation of mine, (the left-hand dog in the engraving illustrating 540, is considered extremely like her,) did, spontaneously, that which " Fan " only consented to do after much entreaty. My relation, shooting on the banks of the Forth, killed a partridge that was flying across the river. As he had no retriever with him he almost regretted having fired ; but, to his surprise, " Dove " volunteered jumping into the water ; made her way to the bird with a sort of steamboat paddle action, for I verily believe it was the first time she had attempted to swim, seized it, and, returning with it to the shore, deposited it safely on the bank. She never had retrieved before, and is not par- ticularly good at "seeking dead." 102. I observed it was something soft which you should teach your dog to fetch. Probably you have seen a retriever taught to seek and bring a stone, upon which, in a delicate manner, the tutor has spit. Does it not stand to reason that the stone must have tended to give his pupil a hard mouth ? And what may, later CH. iv.] TAUGHT TO "FETCH." 61 in life, cause him much misery in dashing at a bound- ing stone, he may split a tooth. Dogs of an advanced age suffer more in their mouths than most of us suspect. 104. Should your pup be unwilling to enter water, 011 no account push him in, under the mistaken idea that it will reconcile him to the element, it will but augment his fears (320). Eather, on a warm day, throw some biscuit for him, when he is hungry, close to the edge of the bank, where it is so shallow as merely to require his wading. Chuck the next piece a little further off, and, by degrees, increase the distance until he gets beyond his depth, and finds that nature has given him useful swimming pow r ers. On no occasion will the example of another dog more assist you. Your youngster's diving can never be of service ; therefore throw in only what will float. Otherwise he might have a plunge for nothing, and so be discouraged ; and evidently it should be your constant aim to avoid doing anything likely to shake his confidence in the judi- ciousness of your orders. A person I know, taught a dog many good tricks, among others, to extinguish the papers thrown upon the ground that had served to light cigars. A booby of a fellow, very wittily, took in the dog, once, by chucking a red-hot coal to him. " A burnt child," says the old adage, " dreads the fire :" so does a burnt dog : and, of course, no subsequent encouragement would induce him, ever again, to approach a lighted paper. 105. If you ever have occasion to teach a dog to dive and retrieve, first accustom him, on land, to fetch some- thing heavy, of a conspicuous colour. When he brings it eagerly, commence your diving lesson by throwing it into the shallowest parts of the stream. Only by slow degrees get to deep water, and let your lessons be very short. Never chuck in a stone. The chances are twenty to one that there are several at the bottom not very dissimilar, and the young dog ought not to be subjected 62 BROUGHT TO LIFT WEIGHTS. [on. iv. to the temptation of picking up one of them in lieu of that he was sent for. Should he on any occasion do so, neither scold nor caress him ; quietly take what he "brings, lay it at your feet, to show him that you want it not, and endeavour to make him renew his search for what you threw in ; do this by signs, and by encouragement with your voice, rather than by chucking stones in the right direction, lest he should seek for them instead of search- ing for what you originally sent him. 106. Some teachers make a young dog fetch a round pin-cushion, or a cork ball, in which needles are ju- diciously buried ; nor is it a bad plan, and there need be no cruelty in it, if well managed. At least it can only be cruel once, for a dog's recollection of his suffer- ings will prevent his picking up the offending object a second time. Others, after he is well drilled into " fetching," and takes pleasure in it, will make him bring a bunch of keys. There are few things a dog is less willing to lift. Most probably they gave him some severe rebuffs when first heedlessly snatching at them ; and the caution thereby induced tends to give him a careful, tender mouth. A fencing master, I knew in France, had a spaniel, singularly enough for a French- man, called " Waterloo," that would take up the smallest needle. 107. When your dog has picked up what you desired, endeavour to make him run to you quickly. Many who teach a dog to fetch, praise and encourage him while he is bringing what he was sent after. Clearly this is an error. It induces the dog to loiter and play with it. He thinks he is lauded for having it in his mouth and carrying it about. Eeserve your encomiums and caresses until he has delivered it. (see 153.) If you walk away, the fear of your leaving him, will induce him to hurry OIL iv.] TAUGHT TO "FETCH." 63 after you. Let a dog retrieve ever so carelessly, still, while on the move, he will rarely drop a bird. 108. Dogs that retrieve should be gradually brought to lift heavy, flexible things, and such as require a large grasp, that they may not be quite unprepared for the weight and size of a hare ; otherwise they may be in- clined to drag it along by a slight hold of the skin, instead of balancing it across their mouths. Thus ca- pacious jaws are obviously an advantage in retrievers. The French gamekeepers, many of whom are capital hands at making a retriever (excepting that they do not teach the "down-charge"), stuff a hare or rabbit skin with straw, and when the dog has learned to fetch it with eagerness, they progressively increase its weight by burying larger and larger pieces of wood in the middle of the straw: and to add to the difficulty of carrying it, they often throw it to the other side of a hedge or thick copse. If the dog shows any tendency to a hard mouth they mix thorns with the straw. 109. I ought to have mentioned sooner, that you should commence teaching a puppy to "fetch," by shaking your glove (or anything soft) at him, and en- couraging him to seize and drag it from you. Then throw it a yard or two off, gradually increasing the distance, and the moment he delivers it to you, give him something palatable. It is easier to teach a dog to retrieve as a puppy than when he is older. From teeth- ing his gums are in a state of slight irritation, and it gives him pleasure to employ his teeth and gums. Should you, contrary to every reasonable expectation, from his having no inclination to romp or play with the glove, not be able to persuade him to pick it up, put it between his teeth, force him to grasp it by tightly .pressing his jaws together, speaking all the while im- 64 TAUGHT TO "CAKRY." [en. iv. pressively to him, scold him if he is obstinate and refuses to take hold of the glove. After a little time retire a few paces, keeping one hand under his mouth (to prevent his dropping the glove), while you lead or drag him with the other. When you halt, be sure not to take the glove immediately from him, oblige him to continue holding it for at least a minute, (lest he should learn to relinquish his grip too soon) before you make him yield at the command " give ; " then bestow a reward. Should he drop it before he is ordered to deliver it, replace it in his mouth, and again retreat some steps before ordering him to "give." He will soon follow with it at your heels. If you have suf- ficient perseverance you can thus make him earn all his daily food. Hunger will soon perfect him in the lesson. Observe that there are four distinct stages in this trick of carrying, the first, making the dog grasp and retain, the second, inducing him to bring, following' at your heels, the third, teaching him not to quit his hold when you stop, the fourth, getting him to deliver into your hands on your order. The great advantage of a sporting dog's acquiring this trick, is, that it accustoms him to deliver into your hands / and it often happens that you must thus teach a dog to " carry '' as a pre- parative to teaching him to " fetch." It certainly will be judicious in you to do so, if the dog is a lively, riotous animal ; for the act of carrying the glove (or stick, &c.) quietly at your heels will sober him, and make him less likely to run off with it instead of de- livering it when you are teaching him to fetch. As soon as he brings the glove tolerably well, try him with a short stick. You will wish him not to seize the end of it, lest he should learn to "drag" instead of to " carry." Therefore fix pegs or wires into holes drilled rn. iv.] LAND RETRIEVER, 65 at right angles to each other at the extremities of the stick. He will then only grasp it near the middle. 110. On one occasion I had a brace of setters to instruct, which had come to me perfectly untaught, at far too advanced an age to make their education an easy task ; they had also been harshly treated, and were consequently shy and timid. This obliged me to proceed with much caution and gentleness. I soon won their con- fidence, I may say, their affections ; but I could not persuade them to play with my glove, nor to lift anything I threw before them. I was hesitating how to act, when I saw one of them find an old dry bone and bear it off in triumph. I encouraged him in carrying it, threw it several times for him, and when he was tired of the fun, I brought the old bone home as a valuable prize. Next day I tied a string to it, I frequently chucked it to a short distance, and when the dog had seized it I dragged it towards me, generally turning my back to the dog. As soon as I regained it, I made him attach a value to its being in my hands, by employing it as a plate on which to offer him some delicacy. In a few days I could dispense with the string, and I soon ventured to substitute for the bone the string rolled up as a ball ; afterwards I employed a stick. Ulti- mately the dog fetched very promptly. His companion also took up the trick from the force of good example. (See note to 34.) 111. I have dwelt thus long on "carrying" and "fetching," because they are frequently taught so injudiciously, that the result is a complete failure. 112. This drill should be further extended if a EEGULAR LAND RETRIEVER be your pupil. Throw dead birds of any kind for him to bring (of course one at a time), being on the alert to check him whenever he grips them too severely. If he persists in disfiguring them, pass a few blunted knitting needles through them at right angles to one another. When he fetches with a tender mouth, you will be able to follow up this method of training still further by letting him "road" (or "foot," as it is often termed) a rabbit in high stubble, one (or both, if a strong buck) of whose hind legs you will have previously bandaged in the manner described in 60. Be careful not to let him see you turn it out, lest he watch your proceedings and endeavour to " hunt by eye." Indeed, it might be 66 LAND RETRIEVER. [en. iv. better to employ another person to turn it out. Keep clear of woods for some time : the cross scents would puzzle him. If by any chance you have a winged pheasant or partridge, let him retrieve it. You will not, I presume, at the commencement select a morning when there is a dry cold wind from the north-east, but probably you will wish to conclude his initiatory lessons on days which you judge to possess least scent. The more he has been practised as described in 43, the better will he work ; for he cannot keep his nose too perse veringly close to the ground. With reference to the instructions in that paragraph I will here remark, that before you let the dog stoop to hunt, you should have placed him by signal (35) near the spot from which you had begun dragging the bread. In paragraph 277 an instance is given of the manner in which a dog who retrieves should be put upon a scent ; and why that mode is adopted is explained in 271. 113. It is quite astonishing how well an old dog that retrieves knows when a bird is struck. He instantly detects any hesitation or uncertainty of movement, and for a length of time will watch its flight with the utmost eagerness, and, steadily keeping his eye on it, will, as surely as yourself, mark its fall. To induce a young dog to become thus observant, always let him perceive that you watch a wounded bird with great eagerness ; his imitative instinct will soon lead him to do the same. This faculty of observation is particularly serviceable in a water retriever. It enables him to swim direct to the crippled bird, and, besides the saving of time, the less he is in the water in severe weather, the less likely is he to suffer from rheumatism. 114. As an initiatory lesson in making him observant of the flight and fall of birds, place a few pigeons (or CH. iv.] WATCHES FLIGHT OF BIRDS. 67 other birds) during his absence, each in a hole covered with a tile. Afterwards come upon these spots ap- parently unexpected!}^ and, kicking away the tiles, (or, what is better, dragging them off by a previously adjusted string,) shoot the birds for him to bring ; it being clearly understood that he has been previously tutored into having no dread of the gun. As he will have been taught to search where bidden (iv. to vui. of 141), nothing now remains but to take him out on a regular campaign, when the fascinating scent of game will infallibly make him search (I do not say deliver) with great eagerness. When once he then touches upon a scent, leave him entirely to himself, not a word, not a sign. Possibly his nose may not be able to follow the bird, but it is certain that yours cannot. Occasionally you may be able to help an old retriever (544), but rarely, if ever, a young one. Your interference, nay, probably your mere presence, would so excite him as to make him overrun the scent. Remain, therefore, quietly where you are, until he rejoins you. 115. When we see a winged pheasant racing off, most of us are too apt to assist a young dog, forgetting that we thereby teach him, instead of devoting his whole attention to work out the scent, to turn to us for aid 011 occasions when it may be impossible to give it. When a dog is hunting for birds, he should frequently look to the gun for signals, but when he is on them, he should trust to nothing but his own scenting faculties. 116. If, from a judicious education, a retriever pup has had a delight in " fetching " rapidly, it is not likely he will loiter on the way to mouth his birds ; but the fatigue of carrying a hare a considerable distance may, perhaps, induce a young dog to drop it in order to take a moment's rest. There is a risk that when doing so F 2 68 BIT FOR BLOOD-SUCKER. [CH. iv. he may be tempted to lick the blood, and, finding it palatable, be led to maul the carcase. You see, there- fore, the judiciousness of employing every means in your power to ensure his feeling anxious to deliver quickly, and I know not what plan will answer better, though it sounds sadly unsentimental, than to have some pieces of hard boiled liver* at hand to bestow upon him the moment he surrenders his game, until he is thoroughly confirmed in an expeditious delivery. Never give him a piece, however diligently he may have searched, unless he succeed in bringing. When you leave off these rewards do so gradually. The invariable bestowal of such dainties during, at least, the retriever's first season, will prevent his ever dropping a bird on hearing the report of a gun (as many do), in order to search for the later killed game. 117. Should a young retriever evince any wish to assist the cook by plucking out the feathers of a bird ; or from natural vice or mismanagement before he came into your possession,! show any predisposition to taste blood, take about two feet (dependent upon the size of the dog's head) of iron wire, say the one- eighth of an inch in diameter, sufficiently flexible for you, but not for him, to bend. Shape this much into the form of the letter U, supposing the extremities to be joined by a straight line. Place the straight part in the dog's mouth, and passing the other over his head and ears, retain it in position by a light throat lash passed through a turn in the wire, as here roughly repre- * A drier and cleaner article of gnawing hare or rabbit-skins than you may suppose, and which thrown aside by a slovenly cook, can be carried not inconveniently it will not be unnatural in him, in a Mackintosh, or oil-skin bag, when he is hungry, to wish to a toilet sponge bag. appropriate to himself the hide, t If a retriever has the op- if not the interior of the animals portunity, while prowling about, he is lifting. CH. iv.] THE "DOWN CHARGE." 69 sented. The flexibility of the wire will enable you to adjust it with ease to the shape of his head. When in the kennel he ought to be occasionally thus bitted, that he may not fret when he is first hunted with it. It will not injure his teeth or much annoy him, if it lies on his grinders a little behind the tushes. 118. Sometimes a retriever, notwithstanding every encouragement, will not pursue a winged bird with sufficient rapidity. In this case associate him for a few days with a quicker dog, whose example will to a cer- tainty animate him and increase his pace. It is true that when he is striving to hit off a scent he cannot work too patiently and perseveringly ; but, on the other hand, the moment he is satisfied he is on it, he cannot follow too rapidly. A winged bird when closely pressed, seems, through nervousness, to emit an increasing stream of scent ; therefore, though it may sound paradoxical, the retriever's accelerated pace then makes him (his nose being close to the ground) the less likely to overrun it ; and the faster he pursues the less ground must he disturb, for the shorter will be the chase. 119. Retrievers are generally taught to rush in, the instant a bird falls. This plan, like most other things, has its advocates and its opponents. I confess to being one of the latter, for I cannot believe that in the long run it is the best way to fill the bag. I think it certain that more game is lost by birds being flushed while the guns are unloaded,* than could be lost from the scent cooling during the short period the dog remains at the " down charge." Unquestionably some retrievers have * This reasoning obviously does the day," where the sportsmen ot apply to the retrievers em- do not condescend to charge their ployed in those battues where own guns, but are constantly sup- rapid slaughter is " the order of plied with relays of loaded arms. 70 iHE "DOWN CHARGE." [CH. iv. so good a nose, that the delay would not lead to their missing any wounded game, however slightly struck (123) ; and the delay has this great advantage, that it helps to keep the retriever under proper subjection, and diminishes his anxiety to rush to every part of the line where a gun may be fired, instead of remaining quietly at his master's heels until signaled to take up the scent. Morever, a retriever, by neglecting the " down charge," sets an example to the pointers or setters who may be his companions, which it is always more or less difficult to prevent the dogs, if young, from following. But I once shot over a retriever which I could hardly wish not to have "run on shot." On a bird being hit he started off with the greatest impetuosity, kept his eye immoveably fixed on its flight, and possessed such speed, that a winged bird scarcely touched the ground ere it was pinned. He would, too, often seize a slightly injured hare before it had acquired its best pace. The pursuit so soon terminated, that possibly less game escaped being fired at, than if the retriever had not stirred until the guns were reloaded. On a miss he was never allowed indeed appeared little inclined to quit "heel." Of course a trainer's trouble is decreased by not breaking to the " down charge/' which may induce some to recommend the plan; though it is to be ob- served, that this class of dogs is more easily than any other perfected in it, because the breaker nearly always possesses the power of treading upon or seizing the checkcord the instant a bird is sprung. 120. The nature of your shooting will much influence you in deciding which of the two methods to adopt ; but should you select the one which the generality of good sportsmen consider to be most according to rule, and to possess the greatest beauty, viz., the " down CH. iv.] MR. K G'S "BEX." 71 charge/' rather lose any bird, however valuable, so long as your retriever remains young, than put him on the " foot " a second before you have reloaded. Undoubtedly it ought to be taught to every dog broken for sale, as the purchaser can always dispense with it should he judge it unnecessary : it can soon be untaught. It is clear that not "quitting heel" until ordered, is tantamount to the regular " down charge," but I think the last is the easiest to enforce constantly. It is the more decided step. 121. Mr. K- -g (mentioned in 231) had a famous retriever whose build, close curly hair, and aquatic propensities, showed his close affinity to the water spaniel, though doubtless there was some strain of the Landsman. He retrieved with singular zeal and per- tinacity. Indeed his superiority over all competitors in his neigh- bourhood, was so generally admitted, that his master was hardly ever asked to shoot at any place, without a special invitation being sent to " Ben." When beating a cover, there was a constant cafl for " Ben." No merely winged pheasant fell to the ground, and no hare went off wounded but there was heard, " Ben, Ben." On one occasion, when K g was posted at the extremity of the line, the dog was called away so often that his master got annoyed, and declared that the animal should attend to no one but himself. Soon there was a double shot, and, of course, the usual vociferations for " Ben," but he was ordered to keep close. Louder and louder were the cries for u Ben," but all in vain, he obediently followed only his master's orders. At length when the cover was beaten through, K g inquired into the cause of the hubbub. Young B k told him, in no kind humour, that his churlishness in retaining the dog had lost them a fine hare. " If," said K g, " you are certain you wounded it, and can put me on the exact spot where it was when you fired, I will bet you 5 that 'Ben' shall find her." B k observed that he knew perfectly the precise place, having carefully marked it with a stick, but added, that he much doubted the possibility of the dog's picking up the scent, as more than half an hour had since elapsed. K g, however, stuck to his offer. They went back and found some pile, which proved that the hare had been struck. The dog was put on the trail. He at once took it, but was so long away, (perhaps twenty minutes,) that they thought it best to search for him. They found him almost imme- diately, lying down with the hare alongside of him. His tongue was hanging out of his mouth, and he showed other symptoms of great distress. Evidently he had brought the hare from a con- siderable distance. 72 BEN'S REFLECTIONS. [CH. IT. 122. "Ben" had numerous excellent qualities, but his greatest admirers, and few dogs had so many, were obliged to admit, that he was of a quarrelsome, pugnacious disposition. It unluckily hap- pened that he had taken a great dislike to a large cubbish young retriever belonging to the aforesaid Mr. B k, who often shot with K g ; and I am sorry to say none of " Ben's " prejudices were removed by the kindly fellowship and good feeling usually engendered by association in field-sports. The day's work generally commenced by " Ben's " making a rush at his big awkward com- panion, and overturning him. After this feat, upon which he evidently greatly plumed himself, he would proceed to business. It happened that one of the sportsmen once knocked over a pheasant which fell outside the hedge surrounding the copse they were beating. It proved to be a runner ; " Ben," however, soon got hold of it, and was carrying it to his master in the cover, when up came the other dog wishing to assist. " Ben's " anger was roused, he was anxious to punish such intrusive interference but how to manage it was the question, for if he put down the winged bird it would run into the wood, where there might be much trouble in recovering it. Quick as thought, off ran " Ben" to the middle of the large ploughed field, there he dropped the bird, then dashed at his lumbering rival, quickly gave him a thrashing, and afterwards started in pursuit of the pheasant, which he managed to overtake before it regained the copse. If that was not refiection it was something very like it. 123. One more anecdote of poor " Ben." I say " poor," because he died prematurely from a swelling under the throat which might, in all probability, have been cured, had a long seton been run through it, or rather under the adjacent skin, a mode of treatment attended with the happiest results in the case of another dog attacked in a similar manner in the same kennel. " Ben " and an old setter were K g's only canine attendants when he was once pheasant shooting with a friend on some steep banks. K g was at the bottom, his friend on the top. A cock pheasant was sprung and winged by the latter. The bird not being immediately found, there was the usual cry for " Ben." " Go along," said K g. Away went the dog, who soon took up the scent and dashed off, but had not gone many yards before he started a hare ; K g had soon an opening to fire, and wounded it. " Ben " pursued it, urged on by his master, who felt sure the dog would be able to retrieve the pheasant afterwards. The hare was viewed scrambling up the bank. " Ben " soon appeared in sight and caught it. K g's friend much abused poor " Ben " for quitting one scent for another. "Do not put yourself out of humour," said K g ; "you don't know the dog, wait till he comes back, and if he does not then get the bird, blame me." Having allowed " Ben " a little breathing time, K g took him to the place where the bird fell. The dog quickly hit off the scent. K g, now perfectly satisfied that all was right, made his friend sit down. In little more than a quarter of an hour " Ben" came back with the bird CH. iv.] THE TRUE NEWFOUNDLAND. 73 alive in his mouth, it having no other wound that could be perceived than on the pinion of one wing. 124. With such a nose as "Ben's" could there have been any harm in his being taught to " down charge," and might there not have been much good (119) ? You see that owing to his having put up the hare while K g's friend was loading, it might have escaped, had it, as is usually the case, at once taken to the hills. 125. Large retrievers are less apt to mouth their game than small ones : but very heavy dogs are not desirable, for they soon tire. And yet a certain medium is neces- sary, for they ought to have sufficient strength to carry a hare with ease through a thicket, when balanced in their jaws, and be able to jump a fence with her. They should run mute. And they should be thick coated : unless they are so, I do not say long coated, they cannot be expected to dash into close cover, or plunge into water after a duck or snipe when the thermometer is near zero. 126. From education there are good retrievers of many breeds, but it is usually allowed that, as a general rule, the best land retrievers are bred from a cross between the setter and the New- foundland, or the strong spaniel and the Newfoundland. I do not mean the heavy Labrador, whose weight and bulk is valued because it adds to his power of draught, nor the Newfoundland, increased in size at Halifax and St. John's to suit the taste of the English purchaser, but the far slighter dog reared by the settlers on the coast, a dog that is quite as fond of water as of land, and which in almost the severest part of a North American winter will remain on the edge of a rock for hours together, watching intently for any- thing the passing waves may carry near him. Such a dog is highly prized. Without his aid the farmer would secure but few of the many wild ducks he shoots at certain seasons of the year. The patience with which he waits for a shot on the top of a high cliff' (until the numerous flock sail leisurely underneath) would be fruit- less, did not his noble dog fearlessly plunge in from the greatest height, and successfully bring the slain to shore. 127. Probably a cross from the heavy, large-headed setter, who, though so wanting in pace, has an exquisite nose ; and the true Newfoundland, makes the best retriever. Nose is the first deside- ratum. A breaker may doubt which of his pointers or setters possesses the greatest olfactory powers, but a short trial tells him. which of his retrievers has the finest nose. 74 RETRIEVE WOODCOCK. [en. iv. ] 28. Making a first-rate retriever is a work of time, but his being thoroughly grounded in the required initiatory lessons facilitates matters surprisingly. In- deed after having been taught the "drop" (23, 25, 26) to "fetch" (107 to 109) and "seek dead" in the precise direction he is ordered (xi. of 141), almost any kind of dog can be made to retrieve. The better his nose is, the better of course he will retrieve. Sagacity, good temper, quickness of comprehension, a teachable disposition, and all cultivated qualities, are almost as visibly transmitted to offspring as shape and action ; therefore the stronger a dog's hereditary instincts lead him to retrieve, the less will be the instructor's trouble ; and the more obedient he is made to the signals of the hand, the more readily will he be put upon a scent. Dogs that are by nature quick rangers do not take instinctively to retrieving. They have not naturally sufficient patience to work out a feeble scent. They are apt to overrun it. A really good retriever will pursue a wounded bird or hare as accurately as a bloodhound will a deer or man ; and if he is put on a false scent, I mean a scent of uninjured flick or feather, he will not follow it beyond a few steps : experience will have shown him the inutility of so doing. (545.) 129. Avail yourself of the first opportunity to make a young retriever lift a woodcock, lest in after life, from its novel scent, he decline touching it, as many dogs have done to the great annoyance of their masters. Ditto, with the delicate landrail. 130. The directions given about " fetching," led me to talk of retrievers ; and having touched upon the subject, I thought it right not to quit it, until I had offered the best advice in my power. I have but one more recommendation to add before I return to your CH. TV.] NO RAT-HUNTING. 75 setter (or pointer) pup : carefully guard a young re- triever (indeed any dog bred for the gun) from being ever allowed to join in a rat-hunt. Eat-hunting would tend to destroy his tenderness of mouth, nay possibly make him mangle his game. But this is not all. It has often gradually led good dogs to decline lifting hares or rabbits, apparently regarding them more in the light of vermin than of game. Some dogs, however, that are not bad retrievers, are capital ratters, but they are ex- ceptions to the general rule. Indeed, you should never permit your dog to retrieve any kind of ground or winged vermin. If the creature were only wounded it might turn upon him. He in self-defence would give it a grip, and he might thus be led to follow the practice on less pardonable occasions. Eemember, that a winged bittern or heron might peck out his eye. CHAPTER V. INITIATORY LESSONS OUT OF DOORS. TRICKS. 131. Lessons in Country Walks. 132. "Instruction in quartering;" hunted where least likely to find Game ; taught while young. In note, Bitch shot over when seven months old. -133. If unreasonably long before taking to hunting, the remedy. 134. Utility of Initiatory Lessons; taught without punishing. 135. Self-confidence of timid Dogs increased. 136. The more Dogs learn, the more readily they learn. 137. Two superior Dogs better than half-a-dozen of the ordinary sort ; Action of Dogs ; their Feet ; Loins ; dash of Foxhound gives endurance ; cross with Bull hunts with nose too low ; Reliefs desirable ; best Dog reserved for evening. 138. Immense sums spent in shooting, yet begrudged for superior Dogs. 139. Memorandum, never to ride through gate with gun athwart-ship ; instance of Dog's behaving admirably the first day shown Game. 140. Proves the value of Initiatory Lessons. 141. Summary of knowledge imparted by them. 142. Why to signal with right Hand. 143. Obedience of Shepherd's Dogs to Signals. 144. One Word only of command ; dogs attend to the general Sound, not to the several Words. 145. Names of Dogs not to end in "O ;" to be easily called ; to be dissimilar. 146. " Drop" better word of com- mand than "Down;" use words of command least likely to be employed by others ; when purchasing a Dog, ascertain what words he is accustomed to. 147 to 149. Ladies have no control over Dogs ; the reason. 150. They possess patience and temper: could teach any Tricks; Dogs how taught to fag at Cricket. 151. Newfoundland carrying off lady's Parasol for a Bun. 152. He was a Physiognomist. 153. Method of teaching "carrying," greatly differs from method of teaching "fetching." 154. Tricks exhibited with effect. 155 to 157. Instanced at Tonbridge Wells. 1^8, 159. Instanced at Gibraltar; Game of Draughts. 160, 161. Elephant shown off. 162. Bewilderment of Keeper of Menagerie. 163. Ladies' Pets too pampered ; Shepherd's Collies. 164. Kind- ness without petting. 165, 166. Instance of bad Habit cured by perseverance. Ladies breaking in Dogs for the gun. In note, Whale fishing at Bermuda. 167. Dog's Affections; always gained by first attentions: win his love, that he may exert himself to please. Dog sleeping on poacher's clothes. 169. Esqui. maux Dogs ; Esquimaux Women. 131. As I before observed, you can practise most of the initiatory lessons in your country walks. Always put something alluring in your pocket to reward your pupil for prompt obedience. Do not take him out un- necessarily in bad weather. On no account let him amuse himself by scraping acquaintance with every idle cur he meets on the way ; nor permit him to gambol . V.J BUSINESS IN HAND. 77 about the lanes. Let him understand by your manner that there is business in hand. Never let him enter a INCLINED TO 'RAT.' field before you. Always keep him at your heels, until you give him the order to be off. You will find him dis- posed to presume and encroach. According to the old adage, " Give him an inch, and he will take an ell," He will be endeavouring to lead rather than to follow, and, should he fancy himself unobserved, he will most per- severingly steal inch upon inch in advance. Be ever on the watch, ready to check the beginning of every act of disobedience. Implicit obedience in trifles will insure it in things of more importance but see par. 345. 132. For some time, but the period is uncertain, say from his being eight months old until double that 78 INSTRUCTION IN QUARTERING. [CH. v. age,* he will merely gallop and frisk about, and pro- bably will take diligently to persecuting butterflies. Let him choose what he likes. Don't think that he will prize small beer, when he can get champagne. He will leave off noticing inferior articles as he becomes conversant with the taste of game. It is now your main object to get him to hunt ; no matter what, so that he is not per- petually running to "heel." And the more timid he is, the more you must let him chase, and amuse himself as his fancy dictates. When you see that he is really occupying himself with more serious hunting, eagerly searching for small birds, especially larks, you must begin instructing him how to quarter his ground to the greatest advantage, under your constant direction. Should any one join you, or anything occur likely to prevent your giving him your strictest attention, on no account permit him to range, keep him to "heel" until you are quite prepared to watch and control all his move- ments. Hunt him where he is least likely to find game, for he will take to quartering his ground far more regu- larly, under your guidance, where his attention is least distracted by any scent. The taint of partridge would be almost sure to make him deviate from the true line on which you are anxious he should work. Labour now diligently, if possible daily, though not for many hours a day ; for be assured, a good method of ranging can only be implanted when he is young : but be discreet, if he be naturally timid, you may make him afraid to leave your heel the worst of faults. 133. Should your pup be so long before taking to * I once had a pointer pup could not have been hunted for whose dam was broken in (after more than an hour or two at a time, u fashion) and regularly shot to She ought not to have been taken when seven months old. With- to the field for regular use until out injury to her constitution, she fully a year old. CH. v.] GAIN AFFECTION. 79 hunting that your patience becomes exhausted, let an old dog accompany you a few times. When lie finds birds, gradually bring the young one upon them from leeward, and let him spring them. Encourage him to sniff the ground they have quitted, and allow him to run riot on the haunt. After that enjoyment, the example of the old dog will most likely soon make him range, and employ his nose in seeking a repetition of what has afforded him such unexpected delight. If it does not, and the old dog is steady and good-humoured enough to bear the annoyance cheerfully, couple the young one to him. Before this he should have learned to work kindly in couples (48) . But I am getting on too fast, and swerving from the track I had marked for myself. By-and-by I will tell you how I think you should instruct your youngster to quarter his ground to the best advantage. (173, &cv) 134. Common sense shows that you ought not to correct your dog for disobedience, unless you are certain that he knows his fault. Now you will see that the initiatory lessons I recomnieiid r must give him that knowledge, for they explain to him the meaning of almost all the signs and words of command you will have to employ when shooting. That knowledge, too, is imparted by a system of rewards, not punishments. Your object is not to break his spirit, but his self-will. With his obedience you gain his affection. The greatest hardship admissible, in this early stage of his education, is a strong jerk of the checkcord, and a sound rating, given, wlien necessary, in the loudest tone and sternest manner ; and it is singular how soon he will discrimi- nate between the reproving term "bad" (to which he will sensitively attach a feeling of shame), and the encouraging word " good," expressions that will here- 80 FURTHER KNOWLEDGE READILY GAINED. [CH. v. after have a powerful influence over him, especially if he be of a gentle, timid disposition. 135. In educating such a dog, and there are many of the kind, likely to turn out well, if they are judiciously managed, often possessing noses so exquisite (perhaps I ought to say cautious), as nearly to make up for their general want of constitution and powers of endurance : it is satisfactory to think that all these lessons can be inculcated without in the slightest degree depressing his spirit. On the contrary, increasing observation and in- telligence will gradually banish his shyness and distrust of his own powers ; for he will be sensible that he is becoming more and more capable of comprehending your wishes, and therefore less likely to err and be punished (347). 136. I fear you may imagine that I am attributing too much reasoning power to him. You would not think so if you had broken in two or three dogs. What makes dog-teaching, if not very attractive, at least not labo- rious, is the fact that the more you impart to a dog, the more readily will he gain further knowledge. After teaching a poodle or a terrier a few tricks, you will be surprised to see with what increasing facility he will acquire each successive accomplishment. It is this circumstance which, I think, should induce you not to regard as chimerical the perfection of which I purpose to speak by-and-by, under the head of " refinements in breaking." Indeed I only adopt this distinction in deference to what I cannot but consider popular preju- dice ; for I well know many will regard such accom- plishments as altogether superfluous. It is sad to think that an art which might easily be made much more perfect, is allowed, almost by universal sufferance, to stop short just at the point where excellence is within grasp. CH. v.] ESQUIMAUX DOGS. 81 137. Far more dogs would be well-broken, if men would but keep half the number they usually possess. The owner of many dogs cannot shoot often enough over them to give tliem great experience. Is it that some youngsters are fond of the eclat of a large kennel ? That can hardly be, or ought not to be ; for clearly it would be more sportsmanlike to pride themselves upon the rare qualities of a few highly-trained animals. A lover of the trigger might be excused an occasional boast, if made with an approach to truth, that he shot over the best-broken dogs in the county. I say seriously, that if I had a considerable bet upon the quantity of game that I was to kill in a season, I had much rather possess two perfectly educated dogs than half-a-dozen commonly called broken ; and even if I gave fifty or sixty guineas for the brace, it would be more economical than to purchase twice as many of the everyday sort ; for, to say nothing of the tax-gatherer, consider what would be the saving at the end of a very few years between the keep of two, and of four or five dogs. I suspect the difference would soon repay the large price paid for the highly-educated favourites. Oh ! yes. I anticipate what you would say ; but, keen sportsman as I am, I own I have not time or inclination to shoot oftener than three or four out of the six working- days of the week, and I suspect not many men have, except just at the beginning of a season. Moreover, in reference to what I fancy are your thoughts respecting the insufficiency of two, I must premise that they are to be good-hearted dogs, good feeders after work, probably of the sort whose exuberant animal spirits, untiring energies, and rapture at inhaling the exciting perfume of game, have led them to run riot in many a lawless chase ; who have consequently used up more than their fair share of the breaker's checkcord, and consumed an undue portion of his time. They must not be those whose constitutions have been injured in their growth by excessive work ; for dogs vary as much as horses in the quantity of labour they are able to perform, both from diversity of natural capabilities, and from the greater or less care bestowed upon them while pro- gressing towards maturity. The Esquimaux, who from anxious observation must be a competent judge, his very existence de- pending upon the powers and endurance of his dogs, not^ only occasionally crosses them with the wolf (the progeny is prolific) to increase their strength and hardiness, I do not say sagacity, but he is so impressed with the necessity of not overtasking them until they have attained their full stamina and vigour, that although he breaks them into harness before they are quite a twelvemonth old, when their immediate services would be convenient, he yet abstains from putting them to severe labour until they are nearly three years of age. My supposed dogs must, too, have as united a gallop as a good hunter, and have small, round, hard feet ; for this I hold to be a more certain test of endurance in the field, than any other point 82 GOOD DOGS ULTIMATELY CHEAPEST. [en. v. that you can name. Rest assured, that the worst Joined dogs with good feet * are capable of more fatigue in stubble or heather, than the most muscular and best loined, with fleshy " understandings." The most enduring pointers I have ever seen hunted, had more or less of the strain of the fox-hound ; but doubtless they were pro- portionately hard to break, for their hereditary bias on one side of the house must have given them an inclination to chase and carry their heads low. I have shot over a cross with the bull-dog. The animal showed great courage, perseverance, and nose, but he hunted with his head so near the ground, that he hit off no game unless he came upon its run. The strongest heather could not have cured such a sad carriage. It would be quite unreasonable to expect that dogs so bred (from either fox- hound or bull-dog), would have acted like Mr. M t's, (see 280) the first day they were shown game. Remember also that I do not expect to lose any shots from the birds being scared by my being forced to call or whistle to the dogs, and that I confidently hope to shoot more coolly and collectedly, from not being worried and annoyed by their misconduct ; I allow, how- ever, that in any open country more than two dogs are desirable ; and I especially admit, that whenever I might have the good luck to get away to the moors, I should be unwilling to start with no more than a brace ; but even in this' case, as I should hope for better society than my own, have I not a right to calculate upon the probable contingent to be brought by my friend ? and if his turned out superior to mine, we should always reserve his for our evening's beat, which ought to be the best feeding ground, and towards which it would be our endeavour throughout the day to drive the birds ; for, unlike the partridge, the later it is, early in the season, the better grouse lie. Many dogs are desirable, not that they may be hunted together, but that they may be hunted in reliefs. But some possess so much power and bottom, that their owners need seldom think about reliefs in partridge-shooting. 138. In enlarging a kennel, it ought always to be remembered, that the companionship of one disorderly cur nominally cheap, but in reality dear, soon leads astray the better disposed. Men who spare no expense in preserving their grounds, in rearing and feeding birds, &c. will often be found to begrudge a few extra pounds in the purchase of a dog, however good. This appears odd, but it is too true. If they would but sum up the rent they pay for the right of shooting, (or what is the same thing, its value, if they choose to let it), the wages of men, the cost of breeding game, taxes, and all * I often shoot over a setter soon brings her round for another bitch (belonging to one of my half day's brilliant work. Unless relations) that has capital feet, a dog is particularly light in body, but is very defective across the bad feet quickly scald upon heath loins. She is extremely fast, and or stubble, and they are longer a brilliant performer for half a getting round, than is a bad loined day; but she then shuts up com- dog in recovering from a day's pletely. A little rest, however, fatigue. BROACHIKG A BARREL. The extremities of the gun caught the side-posts." Par. 139. CH. v.] IRELAND GROUSE-SHOOTING. 85 other attendant expenses, they would find that they wreck them- selves at last for comparatively a trifle. 139. I am, however, wandering from our immediate subject. Let us return to the lecture, and consider how much knowledge your pupil will have acquired by these preliminary instructions. We shall find that, with the exception of a systematically confirmed range, really little remains to be learned, save what his almost un- aided instinct will tell him. I will give you an instance of what I mean in the conduct of a young pointer I saw shot over the first day he was ever shown game. You know that in Ireland grouse-shooting does not com- mence before the 2()th of August, a date far more judicious than ours. I well remember that day at Clonmel in the year 1828. Long before any glimmering of light, one of our party had fractured the stock of a favourite double barrel, by carelessly letting it hang across his body at the moment a skittish cob he was riding rushed through a narrow gateway. The extremities of the gun caught the side-posts, and if it had not given way, he must have parted com- pany with his nag. I believe we each made a memorandum, never whilst riding through a gate to let our guns get athwart-ship. The morning turned out so dreadfully wet that, after remaining for hours in a hovel at the foot of the Galtee Mountains, we were forced to return home. The following day we made a fresh start. Being sadly in want of dogs, we took out a young pointer who had never seen a bird, but was tolerably au fait in the initiatory lessons which I have described. In a short time he began to hunt, made several points in the course of the day, and though every thing was strange to him, (for it was the first time he had been associated in the field with other dogs, nay, almost the first time of his being hunted at all,) yet, from his comprehension of the several orders that he received, and perfect obedience, he acquitted himself so creditably, that he was allowed, not only to be one of the best, but nearly the very best broken dog of the party. Indeed, the sportsmen who accom- panied the owner (for three guns shot together a mal-arrangement attributable to accidental circumstances, not choice) could hardly be persuaded that the dog had not been shot over the latter end of the preceding season. 140. I name this instance, and I can vouch for its truth, not as an example to be followed, for it was most injudicious to have so soon taken out the youngster with companions, but to prove to you how much you can effect by initiatory instruction ; indeed, afterwards, 86 RULES KNOWN. [CH. v. you will have little else to do than teach and confirm your dog in a judicious range, his own sagacity and increasing experience will be his principal guides, for, consider how much you will have taught him. 141. He will know i. That he is to pay attention to his whistle, the whistle that you design always to use to him. I mean that, when he hears one low blast on his whistle he is to look to you for orders, but not necessarily run towards you, unless he is out of sight, or you continue whistling (19). n. That " Toho," or the right arm raised nearly per- pendicularly, means that he is to stand still (19 to 22). in. That " Drop," or the left arm raised nearly perpen- dicularly, or the report of a gun, means that he is to crouch down with his head close to the ground, between his feet, however far off he may be ranging. Greater relaxation in the position may be permitted after he has been a little time shot over (23 to 27). IV. That "On," (the short word for " hie-on ",) or the forward underhand swing of the right hand, signifies that he is to advance in a forward direction (the direction in which you are waving). This signal is very useful. It implies that you want the dog to hunt ahead of you. You em- ploy it also when you are alongside of him at his point, and are desirous of urging him to follow up the running bird or birds, and press to a rise. If he push on too eagerly, you restrain him by slightly raising the right hand xn. of this paragraph (19 to 22). v. That a wave of the right* arm and hand (the arm CH. v.] RULES KNOWN. 87 being fully extended and well to the right) from left to right, means that he is to hunt to the right. Some men wave the left hand across the body from left to right, as a direction to the dog to hunt to the right ; but that signal is not so apparent at a distance as the one I have described (36). VI. That a wave of the left arm from right to left (the arm being fully extended and well to the left), means that he is to hunt to the left (36). vii. That the "Beckon," the wave of the right hand towards you, indicates that he is to hunt towards you (37). See also 71. viii. That the word " Heel," or a wave of the right hand to the rear (the reverse of the underhand cricket- bowler's swing), implies that he is to give up hunting, and go directly close to your heels (44). ix. That "Fence" means that he is not to leave the place where you are. After being so checked a few times when he is endeavouring to quit the field, he will understand the word to be an order not to "break fence" (46, 47). x. That "Find," or "Seek," means that he is to search for something which he will have great gratification in discovering. When he is in the field he will quickly understand this to be game (34, 35). xi. That " Dead " (which it would be well to accom- pany with the signal to " Heel ") means that there is something not far off, which he would have great satisfaction in finding. On hearing it, he will come to you, and await your signals instructing him in what direction he is to hunt for it. When, by signals, you have put him as near as you can upon the spot where you think 88 SHEPHERD'S DOG. [CH. v. the bird has fallen, you will say, " Find ; " for, until you say that word, he ought to be more occupied in attending to your signals than in searching for the bird. When you have shot a good many birds to him, if he is within sight, in order to work more silently, omit saying " Dead," only signal to him to go to "Heel" (19, 34, 35, 44). XII. That " Care " means that he is near that for which he is hunting. This word, used with the right hand slightly raised (the signal for the " Toho," only not exhibited nearly so energetically), will soon make him comprehend that game is near him, and that he is therefore to hunt cautiously. You will use it when your young dog is racing too fast among turnips or potatoes (39). xni. That "Up" means that he is to sniff' with his nose high in the air for that of which he is in search (41). XIV. That "Away" (or "Gone," or "Flown") is an indication that the thing for which he was hunt- ing, and of which he smells the taint, is no longer there. This word is not to be used in the field until your young dog has gained some experience (45). XV. That "Ware" (pronounced "War") is a general order to desist from whatever he may be doing. " No " is perhaps a better word : it can be pro- nounced more distinctly and energetically. If the command is occasionally accompanied with the cracking of your whip, its meaning will soon be understood (47). xvi. He will also know the distinction between the chiding term " Bad " and the encouraging word CH. v.] NAMES DISSIMILAR IN SOUND. 89 " Good ; " and, moreover, be sensible, from your look and manner, whether you are pleased or angry with him. Dogs, like children, are phy- siognomists (40, end of 134). 142. You will perceive that you are advised to use the right hand more than the left. This is only because the left hand is so generally employed in carrying the gun. 143. By often and uniformly employing the signals I have named, you will find it more easy to place your pupil, and make him hunt exactly where you wish, than you may at first suppose. In an open country the movements of sheep are entirely controlled by dogs ; and if you never have had the opportunity of observing it, you would be no less surprised than interested at witnessing with what accuracy a shepherd, standing on a hill side, can, by the motions of his hand and arm, direct his dog to distant points in the valley below. If you could see it, you would be satisfied it was not by harsh means that he obtained such willing, cheerful obedience. His signals to the right, left, and inwards, are very similar to those just described. He, however, instructs his dog to go further ahead, by using his hand and arm as in the action of throwing, but keeping an open palm towards the animal (the arm raised high) : a signal undenia- bly more visible at a distance than the one named in iv. of 141, though not generally so well suited to the sportsman. 144. You will also observe, that when the voice is employed (and this should be done only when the clog will not obey your signals), I have recommended you to make use of but one word. Why should you say, "Come to heel," "Ware breaking fence," "Have a care?" If you speak in sentences, you may at times uncon- sciously vary the words of the sentence, or the emphasis on any word ; and as it is only by the sound that you should expect a dog to be guided, the more defined and distinct in sound the several commands are, the better. 145. This consideration leads to the remark that, as, by nearly universal consent, "Toho" is the word em- ployed to tell a dog to point, the old rule is clearly a judicious one, never to call him " Ponto," " Sancho," or DROP" BETTER THAN "DOWN." [CH. V. by any name ending in " o." Always, too, choose one that can be hallooed in a sharp, loud, high key. You will find the advantage of this whenever you lose your dog, and happen not to have a whistle. Observe, also, if you have several dogs, to let their names be dis- similar in sound. 146. I have suggested your employing the word " Drop," instead of the usual word " Down," because it is less likely to be uttered by any one on whom the dog might jump or fawn ; for, on principle, I strongly object to any order being given which is not strictly enforced. It begets in a dog, as much as in the nobler animal who walks on two legs, habits of inattention to words of command, and ultimately makes greater severity neces- DEAF TO THE VOICE OF PERSUASION. Par. 148. sary. If I felt certain I should never wish to part with a dog I was instructing, I should carry this principle so CH. v.] A SOLICITOR. far as to frame a novel vocabulary, and never use any word I thought he would be likely to hear from others, By the bye, whenever you purchase a dog, it would be advisable to ascertain what words of command, and what signals he has been accustomed to. 147. The fair sex, though possessing unbounded and most proper influence over us, notoriously have but little control over their canine favourites. This, however, solely arises from their seldom enforcing obedience to the orders which they give them. 148. If a lady takes a dog out for a walk, she keeps constantly calling to it, lest it should go astray and be lost. The result is, that ere long, the dog pays not the slightest attention to her, his own sagacity telling him that he need not trouble himself to watch her, as she will be sure to look after him. But she can plead a charming authority for her weakness, Charles Lamb who felt obliged to follow wherever " Dash " chose to lead ; for " Dash " soon found out that he might take what liberties he pleased with " Elia." 149. There is also a varying in the manner, tone of voice, and words of command, which generally prevents the success of ladies in teaching a four-footed pet any tricks beyond the art of begging. A SOLICITOR. This feat they accomplish because they cannot well deviate from the beaten path. They naturally hold the animal in a proper position while they say, " Beg ; beg, sir, beg ; " and do not give him the reward until he has obeyed orders more or less satisfactorily. 150. Honesty compels us to give them credit for more temper and patience than fall to the lot of the sterner sex ; and if they would but pursue one steady, uniform, consistent plan, they might (sitting in a begging attitude not being naturally an agreeable 92 PARASOL EXCHANGED FOR BUN. [CH. v. position for a dog) quite as easily teach him to dance, hold a pipe in his mouth, stand up in a corner, give the right or left paw, shut the door, pull the bell rope, leap over a parasol, or drag forth his napkin, and spread it as a table-cloth at dinner-time,* &c. ; and, by following the method elsewhere explained (96, 107, 109,) seldom lose anything in their walks, as their faithful companion would almost invariably be on the alert to pick up and carry to them whatever they might drop. It is in this manner that dogs are sometimes made very useful assistants at cricket. A golf-ball maker at St. Andrew's, A n R n, employs his dog yet more usefully at least more profitably. He has taught the animal to search the links by himself for balls, and to take home all he finds. Until the introduction of the universally applied gutta percha, the price of golf-balls was two shillings each. It may, therefore, be easily imagined that the diligent little fellow paid liberally for his board and lodging. But the trick of carrying has been made as serviceable to the dog as to his master. 151. A cousin of one of my brother officers, Colonel A n, was taking a walk in the year '49, at Tonbridge Wells, when a strange Newfoundland made a snatch at the parasol she held loosely in her hand, and quietly carried it off. His jaunty air and wagging tail plainly told, as he marched along, that he was much pleased at his feat. The lady civilly requested him to restore it. This he declined, but in so gracious a manner, that she essayed, though ineffectually, to drag it from him. She therefore laughingly, albeit unwillingly, was constrained to follow her property rather than abandon it alto- gether. The dog kept ahead, constantly looking round to see if she followed, and was evidently greatly pleased at perceiving that she continued to favour him with her company. At length, he stepped into a confectioner's, where the lady renewed her attempts to obtain possession of her property ; but as the Newfoundland would not resign it, she applied to the shopman for assistance, who said that it was an old trick of the dog's to get a bun ; that if she would give him one, he would immediately return the stolen goods. She cheerfully did so, and the dog as willingly made the exchange. 152. I'll be bound the intelligent animal was no mean observer of countenances, and that he had satisfied himself, by a previous scrutiny, as to the probability of his delinquencies being forgiven. 153. "Carrying" is a pretty occasionally, as we see, a useful trick, but it does not further any sporting- object. "Carrying" and " fetching " are essentially * A trick that historical research worthy son of the " Dearest- of- probably would show to have been men," as he used to be called by devised in a conclave of house- his fond mistress, who, I need not maids, and which was constantly say, had no children of her own performed by one of ray oldest on whom to lavish her caresses, acquaintances, "Little-brush," a CH. v.] TRICKS ABLY PERFORMED. 9 different. The object chiefly sought in the latter is to make the dog deliver expeditiously (IQ1\ in the former, to make him carry perseveringly for miles and miles. To inculcate carrying, always make him suppose that you greatly regard what is confided to his charge. Many a good carrier is spoiled by children picking up any stick and giving it to him. He has the sense to know that it is valueless, and when he is tired of the fun, he drops it unrebvked, and, after a time, is supplied with another. If you practise a pup in carrying a stick, show more discretion than to let it be so long that it must jar against his teeth by trailing on the ground, or hitting the walls. 154. Being on the subject of tricks, as several ladies have done me the unexpected but highly appreciated honour of reading what I have said respecting their four-footed attendants, I think it as well to observe, should they be tempted to teach a favourite any accomplishments, that these should be practised occasionally, or they may be forgotten, (all the sooner, like more serious studies, the more easily they were acquired ;) and that the exhibition of them might be made much more effective and striking by a little exer- cise, on the ladies' part, of the address and tact with which Dame Nature has so liberally endowed them. 155. Quite a sensation was created many years ago, at Tonbridge Wells, by the Hon. C. D s, who possessed a dog which had been taught by a former master, for very unlawful purposes, to fetch, when ordered, any article to which his owner had slily directed the animal's attention. 156. The gentleman was walking up and down the crowded Pantiles, listening to the public band, and playing the agreeable to a titled lady, whom he subsequently married ; when, bowing to some passing acquaintance, he casually observed, " How badly my hat has been brushed ! " at the same time giving the private signal to the dog, who instantly ran off to one of the adjacent toy-shops, and brought away the hat-brush which his master had pointed out to him about a quarter of an hour before. 157. As Mr. D s kept his own counsel, the lady and many of their friends, as well as the pursuing shopman, fancied the dog had sufficient intelligence to understand what had been said, and had, from his own sagacity, volunteered fetching what he conceived was required. 158. The barrack-rooms at Gibraltar used not to be furnished with bells. An officer of the Artillery, quartered on the Rock 94 ELEPHANT'S TRICKS. while I was there, and, by the bye, so good a player at draughts, that he used to aver and his unusual skill seemed to prove the correctness of the assertion that, if he had the first move, he could win to a certainty, was accustomed to summon his servant by sending his dog for him. On getting the signal, away the Maltese poodle would go, not much impeded by closed doors in that hot climate, and, by a bark, inform the man that he was wanted. 159. The daily routine of a quiet bachelor's life is so unvaried in those barracks, that the servant could generally guess w r hat was required ; and visitors were often surprised at hearing the officer (Major F e) say to his dog, " Tell John to bring my sword and cap," or " the breakfast," &c. and still more surprised at seeing that such orders were punctually obeyed. 160. But for exhibiting tricks with effect doubtless my old warm- hearted friend K g, (elsewhere mentioned 450,) bears off the palm. He brought two young elephants to England from Ceylon ; one he secured when it was a mere baby, and would not quit the side of its dam after he had shot her. The other was about seven feet high. He had taught them several tricks before they em- barked, and during the long voyage home, passed on deck, they had learned many others from the sailors, and, when needed, would usefully help in giving " a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together." 161. General B g having spoken to the Duchess of Y k about the little animals, she happened to say she would like to possess the smallest ; of course K g was too gallant a man not to send it at once to Oatlands. George the Fourth heard of the other ; and on some of his staff mentioning that it would be acceptable to His Majesty, it went to the Pavilion at Brighton. It was kept there until they were tired of it, when it was transferred to the Tower. Hearing of its being there, K~ -g one morning went into the menagerie. An officer of the Guards, on duty at the Tower, was at the moment seeing the animals with a party of ladies ; K g was in a hurry, and inquired where the elephant was, saying he had come expressly to have a look at him and nothing else. The officer very good-humouredly observed that it mattered not what beasts they saw first, so the party adjourned to the elephant. K g urged the keeper to go into the den to show him off, but the man said the animal had so recently arrived there that he was afraid. K g offered to go in. The man refused leave, stating it was more than his situation was worth to permit it. K g pressed to be allowed. The officer warmly urged the keeper to comply, * as the gentleman felt so confident," and the keeper wavering, K g, without saying another word, squeezed himself through the massive oak bars, went up boldly to the elephant, put his hand on his shoulder as he use I to do in old days ; the sagacious brute at once obeyed the signal and lay down, got up again when desired, salaamed to the ladies, held a foot out for K g to stand on, then raised it up to aid K g in getting on his back, and afterwards lay down to enable his old master to CH. v.] LADIES' DOGS OVERFED. 95 dismount conveniently. K g then tickled him to make him kick, which the awkward looking beast did in a very laughable manner, and the laugh of the spectators was not diminished by his squeezing K g so close into a corner, that he could only escape by slipping under the creature's belly. K g finished the exhibition by making him turn round, and again salaam the company. 162. I will not swear that K g, who has much quiet humour, did not propose going into any other den and show off all the lions and tigers in a similar manner, but he found, of course unexpectedly, on looking at his watch, that he was obliged to hurry off instantly. The delighted and bewildered keeper entreated him to reveal the secret by which such marvellous feats were performed. K g promised to do so on his return to London ; and he would have kept his wofd, had not the poor elephant soon afterwards died in cutting his tusks. So the man to this day, for all I know to the contrary, thinks my friend little less than a necromancer. 163. It is to be observed that ladies' dogs are generally so pam- pered and overfed that a common reward does not stimulate them to exertion in the same degree it does dogs less favoured. I should REPLETE WITH GOOD THINGS. speak more correctly if I said less fed ; for I am ungallant enough to fancy, that an unpacked canine jury would consider the good 96 TEOUT TAMED. [CH. v. health, high spirits, and keen appetite of the latter, a fair set-off against the delicacies and caresses bestowed by the prettiest and most indulgent of mistresses. Though the collie is the shepherd's constant companion, the shepherd well knows that always petting the dog would spoil him. Sir J s M e, a Highlander, observed to his gamekeeper, that he never saw the shepherds coaxing and caressing their collies. "True," the man replied, " but you never saw one strike his dog ; he is always kind to them." Hear this, ye ladies, who would be right glad that your pretty pets were a hundred times more obedient than you find them. 164. There are few animals whose confidence, if not attachment, may not be gained by constant kindness without petting. One summer's morning I walked from Ross to breakfast with Mr. G s at his picturesque old-fashioned house, built near a small tributary to the Wye. I was specially invited to see some tame trout, whose timidity Mr. C s had overcome by feeding them regularly every day. Until he made his appearance near the waters, not a fish was visible ; and it was very interesting to watch the perfect confidence they evinced, I might add pleasure, whenever he approached the banks. He said he felt sure he could get them to feed out of his hands, if he chose to devote sufficient time to them. There was one fine fellow for whom all the rest most respectfully made way. He weighed close upon 5 Ibs. This was proved ; for a party, whose name I dare not mention, secretly caught the animal in order to weigh it, and though he immediately replaced it in the water perfectly uninjured, yet its old distrust was so much re-awakened that it hid itself for four or five months. Mr. C s naturally thought that it had been captured by some poacher, and had met with the same unlucky fate as a former favourite, of still larger dimensions, which a newly-hired cook had contrived to secure whilst it was basking in the shallows ; and had served up at dinner time, in the full expectation of receiving much commendation for her piscatory skill. 165. Judicious perseverance, in other words, consistency, will not only teach accomplishments, but correct bad manners. The oldest friend I possess used to allow a favourite dog to sleep in his bed-room. The animal, though he had a very short, clean coat, was always more or less annoyed by those nimblest of tormentors * to * It is astonishing what myriads be some intimate, however mys- of fleas are bred in the sand in terions, connexion between the many hot countries. When walk- two. In India the natives expel ing along some of the roads during the intruders from their houses by the spring, numbers of the little strewing fresh saffron leaves about creatures will pay you the com- the rooms ; and a decoction from pliment of attaching themselves these said leaves, applied liberally to your dress and person. At to a dog's coat, rids him of the Bermuda they so regularly make unwelcome visitors, however nu- their appearance with the whales, merous. I have read that the that the Niggers think there must same good effect will be produced CH. v.l JUDICIOUS PERSEVERANCE. 97 be found in most countries, particularly in warm ones ; and there being no carpet in the room, his scratching at night, as you may well imagine, made a loud, disagreeable thumping against the boards, which invariably awoke my friend (& very light sleeper), and he as invariably scolded the dog. This undeviating consistency made the dog at length entirely relinquish the obnoxious practice, until his master was fairly awake, or at least had begun to stretch and yawn. 166. Now, I want you to observe, that had the noise but only occasionally awakened my friend, however much he might then have scolded, the dog would not have given up the habit ; he would constantly have entertained the hope that he might endeavour to remove his tiny persecutors unreproved, and the temptation would have outweighed the risk. It would have been inconsistent to have frequently but not always checked him. I know a lady, possessing great perseverance and temper, who has taught even cats many tricks nay, since the last edition of this book was printed I have heard of several ladies having most successfully educated dogs for the field. A very pleasant girl, Miss G h, almost a stranger to me, who sat next to me at a large dinner-party about a year ago, asked me in the course of conversation whether I was related to the author of " Dog-Breaking," and then greatly gratified me by say- ing that her sister had broken in several Pointers for her brother, a M.F.H. She spoke of one particular 1st of September, when her sister was rather nervous as a well-known keen sportsman had been invited to shoot, and a young well-bred dog, solely tutored by herself, was to bear his first shot but at dinner-time she was amply recompensed for all the trouble she had taken by having the delight of learning that her pupil had performed admirably, and had under- stood and been attentive to every signal. I asked how it was that if his hair be well wetted with a ment. By a colonial law no charge solution of the gum of the sloe- can be made for the flesh of the tree in water. Fourteen grains fish. Every comer has a right to of the gum to one quart of water. carry off as much of the meat as The capture of the whale, by he may require, but no blubber. the bye, at Bermuda, affords sport On a whale being killed, a well- as exciting as it is profitable. The known signal, hoisted at the seve- fish are struck within sight of the ral look-out posts, quickly informs Islands, and as the water is shoal, the coloured inhabitants of the owing to sandbanks, a short line successful seizure, and whether it is employed. By this line the has been effected at the north or stricken animal tows the har- south side. Numerous claimants pooner's boat along with fearful then hurry off, on foot or in boat, rapidity, an immense wave curling to secure a sufficiency for several far above the high bow. The flesh days' consumption, of a food they of the young whale is excellent, prize far more than beef or mutton, very like veal, and with the black What is not immediately used is population the whaling season is cut into strips, and dried in the one of great feasting and enjoy- sun. 98 WIN AFFECTION. [CH. v. the youngster was not alarmed at the report of the gun. She replied that it was doubtless attributable to his perfect confidence that he should not be hurt, as he had never undergone any punish- ing during the whole course of his training. 167. Ladies' pets are a proof that dogs can, as easily as children, be effectually spoiled by injudicious kindness ; but canine nature contrasts with infant nature in this, that no petting or spoiling will withdraw a dog's affection from the individual to whom he first becomes attached in a new home, provided that person continues but decently civil to him. And be this a caution to you. If ever you have a stranger to instruct, let no one but yourself associate with or feed him for many days after his arrival. You may then feel assured of afterwards possessing his unrivalled affections, especially if to you alone he is to be grateful for his enjoyment in the field ; and you must win his affection, or he will not strive to his utmost to assist you. 168. A well-known poaching character, though ostensibly, and by profession, a dog-breaker, was remarkable for the fondness immediately evinced for him by all dogs placed under his care. He was not particular about his dress ; and it at length transpired that it was his custom to make up a bed, for all new comers, in his room, of the clothes he had just taken off. This so habituated the dogs to the scent of his person, by night as well as by day, that they became unwilling to quit it, especially as the man was naturally good-tempered, nnd always treated them with great kindness. 169. Captain Parry relates of the Esquimaux dogs, that they are far more attached, from kindnesses received in youth, to the women, than to the men ; and that, consequently, the latter, it) all cases of difficulty, are obliged to apply to their wives to catch the almost woolly animals, and coax them to draw unusually heavy loads. The beloved voice of the women will control and animate the dogs to exertion, at a time when the words of the men would be powerless, and their blows only produce irritation or obstinacy. CHAPTER VI. FIRST LESSON IX SEPTEMBER COMMENCED. RANGING. 170. Regular Breakers make Dogs "point" paired birds in Spring; tends to blinking. 171. Better not to see Game until shot over; taken out alone on a fine day in September. 172. Perpetually whistling to animate dogs, inju- dicious. 173. Beat largest Fields, and where least likely to find Game. 174. Commence from leeward; Scent bad in a calm or gale; observations on Scent; it differently affects Pointers and Setters; see Note. 175 to 179. In- structions in " ranging." 180. Kept from hedge ; Range greater on moors than stubble. 181. Distance between Parallels dependent on tenderness of nose. 182. A point at Partridge a hundred yards off. 183. At Grouse a hundred and fifty yards off; Mr. L g*s opinion of distance at which Dogs wind birds. 184. If the Dog is to hunt with another, the Parallels to be further apart. 185. No interruption when winding birds, yet not allowed to puzzle; Nose to gain experience. 186. Birds lie well to Dog that "winds," not "foots" them. 187. White Dogs most visible to birds and to ymi; a disadvantage and advan- tage; white Feet often not good; feet of Setters better than of Pointers. 188. Inattentive to Whistle, made to "drop,"