DOGS. 713 



from their grazing, gather together, and ran to the farthest fence, and a good while will 

 elapse before they will settle again. And even when sheep are gathered, a dog of high travel, 

 and allowed to run out, will drive them hither and thither, without any apparent object. When 

 a dog is allowed to run far out, it gets beyond the control of the shepherd ; and such a style 

 of working among wether sheep, puts them past their feeding for a time ; with ewes it is very 

 apt to cause abortion; and with lambs, after they are weaned, it is apt to overheat them, 

 induce palpitation, and a considerable time will elapse before they recover their natural 

 breathing.&quot; 



A Shepherd dog should be taught to keep quiet unless ordered to bark, by saying &quot; Speak 

 to them! &quot; and should be also trained to bark when thus directed. Barking is seldom 

 necessary, except when penning sheep, when sometimes a quick, sharp bark will do more 

 towards getting the leaders of the flock in, than continued barking would. Give him short 

 and easy lessons, being sure that he thoroughly understands one before giving him another, 

 otherwise he will become confused in his teaching. Always demand obedience to all calls, 

 giving him daily lessons, and using invariably the same signs and calls, so that he will be 

 able to understand them, giving him at all times kind and just treatment. 



Training Pointers and Setters. The methods adopted for training Pointers and 

 Setters are identical. These dogs are very intelligent, and consequently quick to learn, if the 

 trainer fully understands his business, and has sufficient patience and perseverance essential to 

 success. Severity and cruelty are too often practiced by professional trainers, and for this 

 reason it will usually be better for the owner to train his dog himself. Kindness and firm 

 ness are the best rules to abide by in training, remembering that in such cases as well as with 

 the Collie, those dogs that are punished with the whip the least, are, as a general rule, the 

 best; but if an animal is stubborn and willful, obedience must be enforced with the whip, but 

 never with the ramrod or gun. 



Always give the commands in the same language, otherwise they would not be under 

 stood. The words of command commonly used in the field, and which are consequently 

 taught Pointers and Setters, are as follows: To avoid breaking over a fence or other barrier, 

 &quot;Ware fence; &quot; to return from chasing hares, poultry, etc., &quot;Ware chase; &quot; to come and walk 

 quietly behind the master, &quot;To heel,&quot; or &quot;Heel;&quot; to run or course forward, &quot;Hold up;&quot; to 

 lie down, &quot;Down charge,&quot; or &quot;Down;&quot; to prevent taking food placed near, or to prevent 

 running in on birds, &quot; Toho.&quot; If the dog is not easily managed at first, being too full of 

 spirits, it will be well to attach a light cord to his collar that is twenty or thirty feet long, 

 and let it trail behind him; this will soon quiet him down. No puppy should be taken into 

 the field until these orders are all fully understood, and promptly complied with in training. 

 Field dogs should be well trained to the gun. 



A good English authority says : &quot; Punishment is not to be condemned altogether, for 

 in some breeds and individuals without the whip nothing could be done; but it should be 

 very cautiously applied, and the temper of each dog should be well studied in every case 

 before it is adopted. Kindness will effect wonders, especially where united with firmness, and 

 with a persevering determination to compel obedience somehow; but, if that how can be 

 effected without the whip, so much the better; still, if it cannot, the rod must not be spared, 

 and, if used at all, it should be used efficaciously. 



Shyness of the gun will generally also pass off in time; but, as it seldom occurs, except 

 in very timid and nervous dogs, they do not often become very useful even when they have 

 lost it. The best plan is to lead a shy dog quietly behind the shooters, and not to give him 

 an opportunity of running off, which he generally does on the first discharge. When game 

 falls, lead him up and let him mouth it; and thus, in course of time, he connects cause with 

 effect, and loses that fear of the report, which he finds is followed by a result that gives him 



the pleasure of scenting fresh blood. 

 VOL. II. 38 



