POINTERS AND SETTERS. 383 



it nearly chokes him, twisting and turning it about, hurt- 

 ing his mouth, filling it full of feathers, and making the 

 whole performance very disagreeable to him. Throw the 

 bird down before him, and do not allow him to go near 

 it. You must make him understand that the bird is 

 spoiled. A few repetitions of this will cure the fault. 

 Never allow him to go for a dead bird until ordered, and 

 on no account take him out with an unsteady dog. 



By all means teach him to walk at heel. Any pains 

 you may take to attain this object will be amply repaid 

 in the increased comfort you will have in his company. 

 Carry a little switch or cane. Call the dog in and put 

 him behind you, repeating the word "heel." Walk on 

 slowly, and if he does not follow, call him, and if he 

 attempts to pass you, motion him back with the switch, 

 or tap him lightly with it, if necessary. Exercise him in 

 this every time you take him out for a run. If I could 

 make and enforce a dog law, its first provision would be 

 that no person should be allowed to keep a dog that was 

 not perfectly obedient to the commands ' ' come here, ' ' 

 "to-ho," and "heel." With one ill-trained in these 

 respects, the best-intentioned master is not able to 

 prevent his dog from injuring persons or stock, if so 

 inclined. 



To teach him to lie down at command, first say "to-ho," 

 then go up to him, and repeating the command "down 

 charge 1 ' in a quiet tone of voice, take him by the collar, 

 put one hand on his withers, and push him downward 

 and backward until you force him to the ground. Be 

 sure to push backward as well as downward, otherwise 

 you might injure him. Make him lie still, with fore legs 

 extended to the front and hind legs well drawn under. 

 Do not allow him to turn on his side. A moderate use of 

 the whip is useful in this lesson, if the dog is stubborn. 

 For this one purpose it is better than the spike- collar. 



