THE COVERT SPANIEL. 277 



iindorstand tliat lie is always in aid of the gun, and tliat lie 

 must keep within shot. For this purpose spaniels must be 

 taught not to press their game till the shooter is within range, 

 which is one of the most difficult things to teach them. When 

 they are to be kejDt exclusively for "feather," they must be 

 stopped and rated as soon as it is discovered that they are speak- 

 ing to " fur." This requires a long time, and therefore few 

 spaniels are worth much till they have had one or two seasons' 

 practice, from which circumstance it should not occasion surprise 

 that a thoroughly broken Clumber spaniel fetches from 30 to 

 40 guineas. When they are too riotous and hunt too freely, 

 these methods of sobering them are adopted : — 1st, to put on 

 a collar, and slip one of the fore legs into it, which compels 

 the dog to run on three only ; 2ndly, to buckle a small strap, 

 or tie a piece of tape, tightly round the hind leg above the hock, 

 by which that limb is rendered useless, and the dog has to go 

 upon three also ; and, 3rdly, to put on a collar loaded with shot. 

 If either of the legs is fastened up, it must be occasionally 

 changed, especially if the strap is adopted, as it cramps the 

 muscles after a certain time, and, if persisted in too long, renders 

 the dog lame for daj^s afterwards. On the other hand, when 

 the puppy is slack in hunting, put him on the scent of pheasants 

 as they are going off their feed, when they generally run back 

 into covert, and at that time the scent is very strong, especially 

 in the evening. The birds soon rise into the trees, and after 

 that are no longer disturbed by the dog. In hunting hedge- 

 rows, the young dog should at first be kept on the same side as 



