BREAKING DOGS. 459 



charge or drop at command, retaining- this position until permitted 

 to rise by the order "holdup." Very few dogs in this country 

 are trained to absolutely go down at the report of the gun, or as 

 it is called, drop to shot ; most sportsmen are satisfied if their dogs 

 do not break shot, and rush for the game the moment it is killed, 

 and charge at the word, remaining until commanded to fetch, or 

 keep the upright position until tne gun is reloaded and they are 

 ordered to move on again. 



Notwithstanding so few dogs are broken to drop to shot with 

 us, it should be done in every instance, as it undoubtedly tends to 

 give steadiness in every active point, and acts as a check on any 

 desire the animal may have to break in and mouth game when 

 fallen ; for, in the excitement of the moment, the sportsman may 

 neglect to give the order to drop or charg-e when he has brought 

 down his bird, and the dog being left to act as he chooses, nat- 

 urally moves toward it also, which, if too often repeated, will cer- 

 tainly unsteady him ; hence the necessity of teaching to drop to 

 shot, which, with very little trouble, may be accomplished by the 

 following method : 



Fasten to your dog's collar a strong cord thirty or forty f«et 

 long, and take him into a yard or lot where no one will be pres- 

 ent ; secure the loose end to a short stake firmly driven in the 

 ground ; place him in a crouching position in front of you and keep 

 him there, meantime exclaiming, "down ! " or "charge ! " The 

 moment you remove your hand, he will, of course, attempt to rise, 

 but foil him immediately with a sharp jerk of the cord, and an 

 imperative "charge I " until he obeys, after which encourage and 

 caress, allowing him to rise, using the words " hold up ! " You 

 may now make use of the cord in a more forcible manner, as a 

 reminder that your command must be obeyed. Take the dog to 

 the stake and make him charge there, not allowing him to move 

 while you slowly walk from him. Go a few steps beyond the dis- 

 tance to which the rope will allow him to come, and tell him to 

 hold up. He will naturally run towards you, when, just as he 

 reaches the end of his tether and receives the jerk, cry " charge." 

 This teaches quick and prompt obedience to the order. 



It is time now, supposing that you have thoroughly inculcated 

 this lesson, to have the dog learn that the holding of the hand aloft 



