220 MODERN TRAINING. 



When it is observed that he sees the dog on point, drop 

 him on the instant. By continually repeating this with op- 

 portunity, giving him a cut of the whip on the shoulder 

 when circumstances are favorable to back, he will event- 

 ually learn to drop at sight of a dog pointing, the act hav- 

 ing the same effect as a signal of the hand. However, if 

 he is cranky, excessively timid, sour or sulky when crossed, 

 and will not show indications to back, it is better, if he will 

 work well as a single dog, to leave backing out of his educa- 

 tion entirely. Instead of making him a reliable backer, he 

 may be rendered worthless in other more important branches. 

 At all events he can be taught to drop promptly to order or 

 signal, which in most cases answers all the practical pur- 

 poses of backing, i. e.; to keep one dog from interfering 

 with another when pointing. 



A dog which is used to train puppies with, besides being 

 reliably true in his points, should have a cool judgment so 

 that he will not get excited; and honesty, so that he will not 

 take any mean advantages when his handler is busy. Cer- 

 tain "individual dogs, if there are any unusual occurrences 

 such as whipping, loud orders, etc., applied to another dog, 

 will abandon the point, or press forward to a flush. Old 

 dogs which are accustomed to seeing puppies trained learn 

 to comprehend the situation perfectly, and will hold the 

 point regardless of any orders or punishment the puppy 

 may receive; yet they are perfectly obedient if they observe 

 that the orders are directed to themselves 



After more or less effort, with very rare exceptions, all 

 dogs can be taught to back, but there will be very irregular 

 degrees of proficiency in the results. With a few, as in 

 pointing, the act can be intensified to an injurious excess. 

 Dogs of deferential disposition will watch a self-confident 

 dog with close attention, particularly if he is a skillful finder, 

 and the moment he shows signs of game by roading or 



