POINTING FUR, 11 



need fear that your dog is pointing a rabbit. We once pur- 

 chased for a song a magnificent dog, which was entirely 

 worthless from this cause. Although he had an excellent 

 nose, and was perfectly staunch, he would point every 

 rabbit that came in his way, and would l 'draw" on their 

 trail, and you could never make sure but he was leading 

 you after one of these pests instead of a bird. We took 

 him home and placed him in a l^rge yard, with several of 

 his bob-tailed friends, and left him to his fate. He pointed 

 them steadily all the afternoon, and refused to leave them to 

 eat his supper. What he did during the night we cannot 

 say, but when we visited him in the morning, although he 

 was lying down, he wasftiU staunchly pointing, but appar- 

 ently very tired. He did leave them long enough to eat lr's 

 breakfast, but as soon as it was down he immediately re- 

 sumed his work. This went on for nearly a week before he 

 appeared to weaken, and before the cloie of the second 

 week he evidently had had enough of it. We then took 

 him into the fit Id, taking pains to go where rabbits were 

 plenty, but not once did he pay them the slightest attention, 

 nor was he ever known to notice them again. For the 

 same reason we like to have cats about the house that our 

 pup may become well acquainted with them before he com- 

 mences hunting. 



We should have mentioned before that the pup should be 

 let out of his pen for a good ran, at least twice a day, and 

 if he will remain about the house and not stray away, we 

 should much prefer to let him run all the time, for the more 

 exercise that he gets the better will it be for his strength 

 and endurance in the future, and the less he is confined the 

 better will it be for his courage and confidence. 



While our pup is yet yourg he should be taught to love the 

 sound of the gun. This can be easily accomplished if the 

 proper course is pursued. In the fir^t place we take a couple 

 of old tin pans, and while his attention is attracted by 

 something that interests him we strike them together, lightly 

 at first ; and if he appears to be afraid we are very careful not 

 to add to his fright by a repetition of the noise anywhere 



