BREAKING AND HANDLING. ' 239 



foundings is beneficial, the unpleasant memories associated 

 with the handler sometimes lasting long after the fears of 

 the gun are gotten over. 



The methods of treating cases which are more or less 

 developed generally differ from each other with different 

 dogs. Hardly any two dogs exhibit precisely the same 

 degree of gunshyness, or can be cured by precisely the same 

 means. Cases which seem to be simple and quickly cur- 

 able may last with discouraging pertinacity, while appar- 

 ently bad cases may end suddenly by some adventitious 

 circumstances, such as the killing of a bird with the gun, 

 where the clog can see.it, etc. As maybe surmised, the 

 natural intelligence, disposition and observational powers of 

 the dog are all important considerations in the method of 

 cure. Such dogs as crouch and become apathetic, or obliv- 

 ious to all externals, are very troublesome. With such, 

 there is no method but to shoot persistently until they be- 

 come habituated to the noise. There are individuals which 

 are simply afraid for the time being; they may run away 

 and return of their own volition, or remain away at a dis- 

 tance at which they feel safe. The severe methods are 

 inefficient. No punishment should be given under any cir- 

 cumstances, except that a checkcord may be put on the dog 

 to keep him from running away. It often happens that an 

 amateur, who is not habituated to persistent and patient 

 effort, loses his temper, then adopts the treatment sanctioned 

 by immemorial usage, which is a sequence to his superior 

 reasoning powers; nevertheless, it is plain that whipping a 

 clog for being afraid is not a reassuring method. Every 

 effort to gain the confidence and affection of the dog by 

 the kindest treatment is sufficient, and his trainer should 

 personally give him a run in the fields every day. Every- 

 thing that tends to hold his confidence, or strengthen his 

 self-reliance, is so much gain. 



