POIXTEUS AND SETTERS. 



231 



vering (without rcgird to standing or pointing) in the lessons on 

 this subject alone, until the puppy is tolerably perfect in them. 

 At the same time, it is true that some little attention may be paid 

 to the '* point ;" but this of far less consequence at the early stage 

 which we are now considermg. Indeed, in most well-bred dogs, 

 it comes naturally ; but none beat to the hand without an educa- 

 tion in that particub^ department. 



But at this stage it will frequently be necessary to correct various 

 faults whicL are apt to show themselves in young dogs, such as (1) 

 "hunting too low," leading to " pottering or dwelling on the foot- 



Fig. 44.— "puzzle peg. 



scent ;" (2) hnntmg too wide from the breaker ; and (3) " blinking,'* 

 or leaving the game as soon as found, which last is a fault depend- 

 ing on undue previous severity. With regard to the first of them, 

 there is, unfortunately, no certain remedy for it ; and the puppy 

 which shows it to any great extent after a week or ten days' break- 

 ing will seldom be good for much, in spite of all the skill and 

 training which an experienced breaker can apply. The method of 

 cure most commonly adopted is that called hunting with a " puz- 

 zle-peg," which is shown in the annexed cut. It consists of a 



