BREAKING OF DOGS. 277 



Dogs have as different dispositions and tempers as their 

 masters. For my own part, I would never take the trouble 

 to bring up and educate puppies who showed either a sulky 

 or a very timid disposition. Neither of these faults can be 

 so completely got rid of as to make them satisfactory assist- 

 ants or companions. I say companions, for I have so much 

 regard for these animals, that I like them as companions, and 

 care little for dogs who have only been taught to obey and 

 hunt for the gamekeeper. I am very far from intending to 

 disparage a kennel of well-broken pointers or setters, and I 

 delight to see them do their work correctly, and with all 

 their beautiful display of instinct, although under the com- 

 mand of the gamekeeper only, and scarcely knowing their 

 own master's voice or whistle. Three or four brace of per- 

 fectly-broken dogs pointing and backing without fault is a 

 sight that must interest and amuse every person, whether 

 sportsman or not : yet I far prefer hunting my own brace of 

 dogs, and seeing them look to myself wholly for direction 

 and approbation instead of to my servant. Every dog, with 

 an average share of good sense and good temper, is so eager 

 for his master's approbation, that he will exert himself to 

 the utmost to obtain it ; and if this fact were constantly kept 

 in mind, the breaker-in of dogs need seldom have recourse to 

 flogging. Indeed, I have no hesitation in saying that five 

 dogs out of six may be completely broken in without a blow, 

 and that, generally speaking, quiet, patient reasoning with a 

 dog is all that is requisite to secure his obedience and atten- 

 tion. I know this is quite contrary to the opinion of most 

 dog-breakers, who think that nothing can be done without a 

 heavy whip and loud rating. But one thing at least is 

 certain, that when you do flog a dog, you should do it 

 soundly, and only when you catch him "red hand" 

 flayrante delicto. He cannot then mistake why you flog him. 

 Intelligent as this animal is, still it cannot be expected that 

 he should know why he is flogged, if any time has elapsed 

 since the fault was committed. 



Dogs have, also, a great deal of jealousy in their diposition ; 

 and even this may be made to assist in their education, as it 

 makes them strive to outdo each other. Every clever dog is 

 especially unwilling that any of his companions should possess 

 a greater share of his master's favour than himself. One of 

 my dogs could not be induced to hunt in company with 

 another, of whose advances in my good graces he was 



