BREAKING AND HANDLING. 115 



making him drop. To perpetually and unnecessarily stop 

 a dog when he is roading or drawing on birds, is the height 

 of field stupidity or inexperience. The dog, if properly 

 trained, understands his work and requires no mistaken 

 attempts at assistance from his handler. It is extremely 

 painful to be afield with a companion who is crying " To-ho! 

 to-ho-o-o! to-Jio-o-o!!" every time his dog scents game; the 

 more so that the dog, from experience with the gentle fail- 

 ings of his master, ignores the tumult. If he is a timid 

 dog, it balks him perpetually. Even if it had the benefits 

 claimed for it, they are of no importance when compared to 

 the trouble of teaching it thoroughly. The true method of 

 training and handling a dog in roading and pointing, is 

 described under the appropriate heads. For the benefit of 

 those, however, who have a veneration for the customs and 

 methods of the past, the mode of teaching it will be de- 

 scribed. It is very simple. A piece of cord about five or 

 six feet long is tied to the dog's collar. The rope is held 

 in one hand, close up to the collar, during the first lessons; 

 and a whip is held in the other hand. The first part to be 

 taught is to make the dog stand still. A piece of meat or 

 other tempting morsel is placed on the floor a few feet in 

 front of him where he can see it. He must not be permitted 

 to lie down or move restlessly. Nothing but the most rigid 

 obedience fulfills the purpose. Hold him steady with the 

 collar and tap him with the whip every time he stirs, repeat- 

 ing the order Toho as the occasion requires. He will claw 

 and struggle to reach the meat at first, but his attempts 

 must be defeated, and he must be forced to stand still. 

 After he will stand without struggling, give the order Go on 

 and let him spring forward and eat the meat. After he has 

 a fair comprehension of his trainer's intent from repeated 

 lessons, and will stand when his trainer is a few feet away 

 from him, he may be taught to obey signals, the hand held 



