354 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



it, by recommending it strongly to every sportsman to have al- 

 ways at hand, as better than the best farriers, Blaine's Canine 

 Pathology, and Youatt on the Dog: these, if he have ordinary 

 intelligence, and ordinary care, aided by a small medicine-chest, 

 and a lancet — without which latter article no sportsman should 

 ever take the field — will enable him to guard against the occur- 

 rence of most disorders in his kennel, and to conquer such as do 

 occur, unless exti'aordinarily obstinate or malignant. 



FIELD MANAGEMENT OF DOGS. 



It is not, of course, presumed that the sportsman is necessari- 

 ly to become a dog-breaker, much less that a tyro at field sports 

 can be made a dog-breaker by reading a few pages more or 

 less of written or printed instructions. 



On the contrary, it is notorious that scarce any science is more 

 difficult of attainment, or requires more combinations of personal 

 qualifications than that of subduing and breaking animals. Ex- 

 treme patience, great steadiness of temper, sagacity, intelligence, 

 quickness of comprehension, fiimness and even severity, must be 

 united to long experience, to personal strength, physical cour- 

 age, the power of enduring fatigue, unwearied industry, indo- 

 mitable energy, and constant perseverance. Even of professional 

 dog-breakers, not one in fifty is really up to his business ; how 

 then shall the amateur hope to jump at the conclusion in a minute. 



Again, it is presumed that every person who is not a most 

 perfect and accomplished sportsman, will buy a well-broke dog; 

 or if he breeds, which is troublesome, and very likely to lead to 

 disappointment, will have his Pointer or Setter trained by a 

 professional workman. 



It is true that a dog will certainly work better for the person 

 who has first trained, and continually practised him, without 

 ever changing his master ; but so few mn have the abihty, and 

 so few of those who have, arc willing to give the time or labor 

 necessary to indoctrinate a dog thoroughly, that it is hardly ever 



