202 MODERN TRAINING. 



The setter and pointer, from the peculiar nature of their 

 prey, have to exercise even a greater degree of intelligence; 

 yet their first attempts, from inexperience, are very awk- 

 ward and ineffective. Two, in chasing the common rabbits 

 in company, learn to run cunning like greyhounds; but, 

 after a short experience, the dog learns that his nose is a 

 useful organ, and he depends on it more and more. Dogs 

 are very observing and imitative. If two dogs, one old and 

 cunning, the other inexperienced, are permitted to self-hunt 

 together, the inexperienced one by observation alone will 

 soon learn all the cunning dog's tricks and their application. 

 In the case of a timid dog, or one which is backward from 

 any cause, a self-hunting experience with an aged dog is 

 always beneficial. 



The whole superiority of the expert handler, aside from 

 his skill as a tutor, lies in permitting the dog to develop his 

 powers to their utmost capabilities in a natural manner. 

 Whether this preliminary experience requires a week or a 

 month, or more, it ought not to be neglected. 



In the South the greater number of trainers hunt from 

 horseback. As a rule, dogs range wider when so hunted 

 than when the trainer is afoot. 



Until discipline is fairly well established, two untrained 

 dogs should not be permitted to range together. The bold- 

 ness and disobedience of one encourages like traits in the 

 other. If one is jealous of the other, or follows him about, 

 no good work can be expected under such circumstances. 



The dog should be required to work on the right or left 

 with equal impartiality as the peculiarities of the grounds 

 require. The habit of ranging entirely on the right or left, 

 to the exclusion of the other side, is very undesirable, and 

 decreases the value of the dog's work. 



If a sportsman wishes to work a brace he should endeavor 

 to have them supplement each other in any weak parts of 



