350 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



always to stop, and at the word. I think this is important; 

 for while you have the dog under better control at a " close 

 charge," in such a position he does not have a chance to 

 use his eyes. I have often seen them stand on their hind 

 feet and jump up to see where the bird has gone. Our best 

 woodcock- shooting here is in tall corn. Woodcock dogs I 

 do not train to drop to shot or wing, but let them go for 

 all they are worth; then the bird will top the corn, and you 

 can get a fair shot. 



A writer in Land and Water gives some excellent advice 

 regarding the training of Spaniels, and I can not do better 

 than to quote a few paragraphs in his own words. He says: 



Most people are contented if a dog will work within gunshot and push out 

 the game for him to kill. Almost any mongrel with the necessary practice and 

 experience will do this, but I assume that the sportsman takes a pride in his 

 dogs, likes to have good-looking and well-bred ones, and if he wishes to shoot 

 in comfort and in good form when he uses Spaniels, it is quite as necessary to 

 have them well trained as any other breed of sporting dog. I will therefore 

 give such directions as experience has taught me are useful. I know no dog 

 that more repays the trouble of breaking yourself (that is, if you have the 

 requisite knowledge and patience) than the Spaniel, who, from the natural tove 

 and affection he has for his master more than any other dog, should be more 

 ready to work for him than anyone else. The Spaniel's natural love of and 

 ardor in hunting require a firm hand over him until he is matured. There is 

 an old saying that " a Spaniel is no good until he is nearly worn out." There 

 is a great deal of. truth in this, and the Spaniel's enthusiasm must be largely 

 reduced before he can get down to cool, earnest work. I recollect an old bitch 

 that belonged to a Devonshire sportsman that was so cunning that she used to 

 catch as much game as he shot. When the old man died, I bought the bitch, 

 as she had a great reputation; but she was far too much of a pot-hunter for me. 

 I could have backed her against a moderate gun any day. Spaniels get very 

 knowing in working to the gun after a few months, and it is astonishing what 

 efforts they will make to maneuver the game out to the shooter. I have seen 

 numberless instances of this, particularly in hedgerow shooting, when I have 

 frequently seen a clever old dog, on winding game, not make a rush at it, which 

 would have had the effect of sending it out on the other side, but pop through 

 the fence and push it out to you. This, as I have said, is only acquired by ex- 

 perience; and a young, vigorous Spaniel will sometimes push up the game irre- 

 spective of lending any aid to the gun. A really good Spaniel, even when he 

 is busy questing and bustling about, should always have an eye to the gun, 

 and to work to it instead of for himself and his own gratification and amuse- 

 ment. 



You can not well begin too early to train young Spaniels to get their noses 

 down and to hunt close; to work thoroughly every bit of ground and every 



