BREAKING AND HANDLING. 163 



in the fields a hundred yards or more away, and is in good 

 spirits, is not afraid of his handler, and is interested in 

 hunting. 



A small pistol, for special reasons, is the best for the pur- 

 pose. A percussion cap or .22 caliber cartridge should be 

 snapped at first. If the puppy is at all startled at the 

 report, the handler should continue to walk deliberately in 

 his course, affecting the greatest unconcern, and taking no 

 notice whatever of him. Usually the puppy, when he per- 

 ceives that there is nothing to excite his fears, resumes his 

 hunting. However, if he shows a suspicion of something 

 wrong or an apprehension of danger, as he may do for sev- 

 eral moments, refrain from shooting until he is again thor- 

 oughly interested in hunting and unobservant of the hand- 

 ler. If he is a dog of a nervous or timid temperament, an 

 old steady dog may be taken to accompany him, and the 

 calm exterior of the latter will do much to reassure the 

 puppy. Under no circumstances should two or more green 

 puppies be experimented with at once; if one runs, all will 

 be apt to run, and mischief will be done in quantities. 



The greatest care should be taken to avoid haste in shoot- 

 ing or in shooting at inopportune junctures. At any time that 

 the puppy is expecting the report, which can readily be per- 

 ceived by his expectant look and distrustful actions, the hand- 

 ler should not shoot or show other than the most placid 

 demeanor. Gradually, the puppy, from observing that the 

 reports are not injurious or related to himself and excite no 

 apprehension in those about him, becomes indifferent to them. 

 Then they may be judiciously increased in volume and fre- 

 quency, from the lighter powder charges first used to heavier 

 and heavier ones by easier gradations, always, however, 

 noting the effects on the fears of the dog, if any, and re- 

 tarding the efforts accordingly. When the dog exhibits no 

 alarm at the report of the pistol, a gun may be introduced. 



