UPLAND SHOOTING. 357 



This done, several young dogs may be taken out to exercise 

 together, and taught all to drop at once at the word " charge," 

 the raised hand, or the shot ; and all to stop or point simulta- 

 neously at the word " Toho," and at the sight thereafter, by 

 each of the other's point. 



All that is requisite in order to enforce these lessons, is stea- 

 diness. 



The dogs must now be broke to fetch, and this is the hardest 

 lesson of all; but no dog is perfect until he has learned it; 

 for it is, in the first place, almost indispensable to making 

 large bags in our wild wooded country, that dogs should fetch ; 

 and, secondly, it tends, if properly done, to render dogs deli- 

 berate and steady beyond all means in the world. 



This, like the " down-charge," must, in the first instance, be 

 taught in the collar and cord, and under the whip. 



Obsei-ve, above all things in dog breaking, that a dog is never 

 to be taught anything by coaxing, but always by the fear of pun- 

 ishment. A dog which is taught by coaxing, if he turn sulky, 

 can never be controlled, as he does not know what punishment 

 means. 



A dog is taught to fetch by charging him, putting a ball or 

 some soft substance into his mouth, closing his jaws on it, and 

 replacing it, with gentle punishment, so often as he rejects it. 

 This learned, he is forced by a repetition of the same process, 

 to rise and carry it about — then to fetch it when dropped, or 

 thrown, till he is perfect. 



Thereaftei-, he is made to down-charge first of all, when it is 

 thro\m, and not to attempt to fetch it, unless desired to " fetch," 

 to drop several times to the " charge," before reaching the ball, 

 after being sent for it, and, lastly, to " charge" with his nose 

 almost touching it. The final lesson of all is to deliver it quietly 

 and willingly. 



All this is to be enforced by the whip, rigorously, but tempe- 

 rately, — invariably, but never angrily, — with praise and caresses 

 when he does well, and reproaches accompanying chastisement. 



All these things he must be accustomed to do, until they have 



