TRAixixa.] FOR MOUNTAIN, FIELD, AND FAinf. [ 



THAlNlNa. 



for him to fetch, in tho event of liis not 

 returning with it ininu'iliately, oiiiilting thia 

 iutliction when ho returns j)roiiH)tly, so that tho 

 fear of receiving this punishment produces an 

 alacrity which is never ubaudoued, and which 

 is 80 agrecablo to tho sportsman. AVhen 

 setters have undergono tho ordeal of tho 

 collier deforce, they give tho sportsman com- 

 paratively littlo trouble when ho wishes to 

 instruct them to back and stand. Having 

 been mado docile and obedient, more than 

 half tho difficulty is overcome." 



As some of our readers may not bo awaro 

 as to what sort of an instrument the collier de 

 force is, we may explain that, in France, it may 

 generally bo obtained at the shops of tho gun- 

 luakers and saddlers. It is composed of thick 

 but pliable leather, stout nails of about three 

 quarters of an inch in length, and two semir 

 circular pieces of iron. " The collar may be 

 two inches in breadth ; length, about three 

 inches shorter than the circumference of the 

 dog's neck, for whose use it is intended ; hav- 

 ing at each end the semi-circular piece of 

 iron firmly secured by the broad end of it ; 

 its strength being that of an ordinary buckle 

 of a dog's collar, and being an inch and a- 

 half in length ; so that the eitreme ends, when 

 drawn tightly by one of the cords, will meet. 

 As there must be two cords, one to lead the 

 ^^o ^J> t^^Q other to inflict punishment — the 

 former will be fastened to both rings ; the 

 latter only to one, but passing through the 

 other ; so that, when it is pulled, the collar 

 is of necessity contracted, and the nails forced 

 into the dog's neck. The two pieces of leather 

 of which the collar is formed, are of similar 

 Bize and shape, the under one being rather 

 tiie thinner of the two. It is through this 

 that tho nails are introduced, the flat heads 

 lying compactly between the two, and kept 

 steadily and firmly in their position by strong 

 sewing. The cord used is generally from 

 twenty to thirty yards in length." 



"U'ith the above implement, the dog under 

 instruction is forced gradually to do whatever 

 his instructor requires of him. Several objects 

 are thrown out to be fetched and carried — 

 sometimes, a piece of wood, of about nine 

 inches in length, in the shape of a rollinf^ 

 pin, with two small pegs passed through at 

 each end, so as to facilitate the dog's picking it 



up ; at other times, either a stufled bird or aa 

 olcl haro skin, tied up in a buiullo; but tho 

 piece of wood is generally mado use of in the 

 lirst instance. The first dilUculty is to make 

 tho dog pick up whatever is thrown down ; 

 when this, as it were, premier pas, is accom- 

 plished, tho Bubseijuent instruction is easily, 

 although only gradually imparted, as con- 

 tinuous daily lessons must bo persevered in 

 for tho space of a month, before the dog will 

 bo thoroughly taught to fetch and carry on 

 land, without tho risk of disappointment ; and 

 after this is accomplished, as we have already 

 intimated, the second course of education, 

 which consists in forcing him to take water 

 without flinching, and bringing his game in- 

 stantly from it, will occasion quite as much 

 trouble as has been previously incurred, and 

 occupy about the aamo length of time; a 

 shallow piece of water being selected for the 

 necessary manoeuvres, and during the summer 

 months — this season being most suitable, as 

 the obstinacy and resistance of the pupil will 

 frequently necessitate the entrance of the 

 instructor into the water. " As we have ire- 

 quently witnessed dogs under this species of 

 instruction," says the anonymous writer to 

 whom we are indebted for the information 

 contained in this part of our subject, " we are 

 well aware of all the difHculty and trouble 

 involved in it ; but when it is once thoroughly 

 carried out, the sportsman W'^l have the satis- 

 faction of possessing a dog on whom he can 

 invariably depend, without the slightest fear 

 of disappointment ; and we do not believe 

 that this can often be said of dogs that have 

 been taught by gentle means." 



We will now direct our remarks to tho 

 various methods of breaking and trainins 

 pointers and setters to stand, back, down 

 charge, and conduct themselves properly in 

 the field and on the hill ; aiid if we have 

 spoken highly of tho French system of break- 

 ing retrievers, wo cannot say much in behalf 

 of their method of training pointers and set- 

 ters, as it is radically bad — repudiating the 

 very first principle of tho strict adherence to 

 which the success of all subsequent sound in- 

 struction :wust depend ; namely, that of down 

 charge and dropping to hand ; as these are not 

 only not taught in France, but universally dis- 

 couraged, inasmuch as every dog is expected 



