CHARGE! 17 



own free will, quickly dispose of hirn to some one who is not 

 so particular, and try again. Although his breeding may be 

 of the best and the chances in favor of his pointing in the 

 future, still there are so many elements of chance in raising 

 up dogs that we should strive to eliminate at least all of the 

 doubtful ones. We have yet to see the dog that would make 

 a gamy point at ihis tender age who would not fulfill the 

 promise in his riper years; while "the woods are full of 

 them" that, having passed their youth without displaying 

 this, "heaven born gift "still make no sign. It is not 

 necessary that he should be tried on game birds -al- 

 though this is desirable— but any bird will answer the 

 purpose; a fowl or chicken will *b first-rate, or 

 almost anything that will attract *his attention so that 

 he makes a staunch point. Do not force this upon him, but 

 merely give him a chance to discover the bird or chicken 

 himself, and if he has this instinct implanted within him you 

 may depetd upon his showing it. Many pups who will 

 s'aunchly point at this age uny, perhaps, a few weeks or 

 months liter, show no sign; give yourself no uneasiness on 

 this account, for you know that the instinct is there and, al- 

 though it may be dornant f r a while, you can res'; secure 

 thai it will return in proper season. 



Do not forget d ;ring all your lessons, and while at play 

 with him, to pet and fondle him ; but do not allow him to 

 jump upon you at any time. Whenever he does this you 

 should at once firmly remove Lim and he will soon learn that 

 this will not do. You should also talk to him— not baby 

 talk — but use intelligent, rational language, just such as you 

 would use in talking to a ten year old boy, and you will be 

 surprised to see how soon he will understand your conversa- 

 tion. We are well aware that many persons will ridicule 

 this, and will claim that a dog should be taught just as little as 

 will answer to make him understand his duties while in the 

 field, and that what they term " fancy training " is a positive 

 injury to his usefu'ness. We have no sympathy with these 

 views, for nearly all of the pleasure derived from our shoot- 

 ing trips is in witnessing the iutelTgent manner in which our 



