90 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



good long and fast spins with the older dogs. Never run 

 a puppy until you tire him; it makes him sluggish. 



Your next move is to take him afield with one of your 

 broken dogs, to find game; for of course you are anxious to 

 fully determine whether his nose is as fine as you have 

 thought from your early observations in watching him find 

 his food when thrown in the tall grass, and the several little 

 things you have seen him do, such as, when running on 

 the road, to suddenly stop, and turn and hunt out a bone, 

 or scent a barn-yard hen. All these little things are indic- 

 ative of a good nose, and to fully satisfy yourself, before 

 making any further move in his education, is the reason 

 you wish to see him on game. 



I have put down many a puppy on game that at once 

 began to range, and with tail action of the very best style, 

 find and point. I love a lively tail action, and the best field 

 dogs I ever saw all had it. After your old dog has found 

 game, call your puppy to you with a whistle, if he is not 

 then on a point with the old dog. He may go in and flush, 

 but let him alone. Remember you are not out to break 

 him, only to test his nose. When the birds are scattered, 

 and the old dog stands, you will probably see him swing 

 into his first point, at a distance from his game that will 

 convince you he is the dog you wish to break. 



If, however, you go out once or twice before your 

 youngster gives you any indication of nose, do not be dis- 

 couraged; you may see it later. If not, after a dozen or 

 more trials, under favorable circumstances, I should get rid 

 of him. It is seldom, in the Gordon family, that you see a 

 well-bred, well-raised puppy but what will stand his game 

 on the first day' s trial, and most of them show most excel- 

 lent noses at a very early age. 



I knew a Llewellin Setter, imported by a personal friend 

 of mine, in this city, direct from Mr. Llewellin, that was 

 placed in the hands of one of the most successful field-trial 

 handlers in Tennessee. He worked his hardest to develop 

 the dog, which was then about fifteen months old, but 

 returned him as being no good. When this dog was over 



