504 LETTERS TO YOUNG SHOOTERS 



he will at first naturally try to find a wounded one by 

 rummaging about at the spot where he saw it fall ; 

 but as a runner may be 100 yards from where it first 

 touched the ground, and as it is not to be found by 

 merely snuffling about among the leaves or grass, 

 the dog will, on crossing the scent of the game, gene- 

 rally follow this up with more or less success, espe- 

 cially if you taught him properly to seek and find by 

 scent (Lesson V.). Now it is very important the dog 

 should succeed the first time he tries for a wounded 

 bird, so?/ he fails drop a freshly killed one out of your 

 pocket at the spot icliere your dog was puzzled by 

 losing the scent of the runner, then take him lack to 

 the place where the runner fell, encourage him to 

 hunt steadily against the wind * (with a cord to his 

 collar if he is inclined to overrun) up the line of 

 scent again, and when he comes to the bird you 

 ' planted ' he will be overjoyed ; praise him as if he 

 had found the runner, which he will of course fancy 

 he has. With all his previous training to help him 

 for if this has been carefully taught, your dog was, 

 I may say, trained before he was used on game at 

 all and his natural instincts to assist him, he will, 

 with a little care, soon become as accomplished as you 

 can wish, but do not omit to practise him in his 

 duties, and correct him if necessary as long as he is 



* Invariably walk and shoot against the wind, if you can, when 

 training a young dog. 



