BREAKING AND HANDLING. 183 



collar may be put on to restrain him. It will not only pre- 

 vent him from struggling, but if he is specially headstrong 

 or resentful, he may be given a little slack line and snubbed 

 once or twice, which will deter him from chasing, in most 

 instances. If he breaks the point and flushes the birds, 

 when caught he should be taken to the exact place where 

 he should have stood and then scolded well, or whipped if 

 necessary. Keep him down for several minutes; if he man- 

 ifests great impatience, make him remain until he is patient. 

 If he is inattentive to scolding or his handler, a cut of the 

 whip maybe given; this part, as before mentioned, must be 

 applied with caution, as, if overdone, there is a probability 

 of more faults in a moment than can be corrected in a 

 month. Timid dogs, particularly, must be steadied to their 

 points with the greatest care and gentleness, and if they 

 are at all whipshy, the whip must not be applied at all in 

 connection with pointing. The trainer cannot be too care- 

 ful in avoiding any acts which will cause blinking, and at 

 the first sign of indifference or distrust with reference to 

 pointing, he must withhold all punishment until such times 

 as the dog's self-confidence is restored, if he needs it at all. 

 There is no branch wherein it is more essential that master 

 and dog should be on good terms than when pointing is be- 

 ing perfected; for if the dog dislikes his handler, it is simply a 

 form of shyness gunshyness, whipshyness, birdshyness or 

 handler-shyness, all originating in fear. Unlike many other 

 branches of a dog's education, there are several things to 

 be accomplished at one time, the success of which is en- 

 tirely dependent upon the dog's confidence and inclination. 

 If he will not go to his birds voluntarily, there is absolutely 

 no way to force him to do so; therefore it is evident that 

 however badly he performs there must always be a certain 

 amount of his interest preserved; he must not be punished 

 so much as to destroy his interest in hunting, else the train- 



