THE USE OF DOGS. ^2do 



ceding mc, wc went on our way to the com- 

 fortable kennel. 



The occurrence I have thus narrated o^ves its 

 origin not to the mere teaching of man, it comes 

 from use, and the exercise of mind in the setter, 

 from capacity uf thought, not severity of punish- 

 ment by the whip ; the latter tending to destroy, 

 not to teach, and to injure the temper instead of 

 teaching obedience. 



It is very easy to spoil either setters or pointers 

 by over -breaking. What I mean by that ex- 

 pression is to render them by discipline mere 

 galloping puppets, or anything else except dogs 

 to find game, and to whom game may be killed. 



I have seen dogs under this description of 

 ^M3reaking" ranging and quartering their ground 

 beautifully, and ready at the slightest lifting of 

 their breaker's hand to fall down and lie still as 

 if they had been shot. These dogs so taught 

 were hunting by eye and leg; they were looking 

 for, and dependent on, their breaker's hand. They 

 were not using their minds and noses to find and 

 point their game ; all they had been taught to do 

 was to watch, and, so to speak, ^^back" their 

 breaker. They had no knowledge of the likely 



