Some American Sporting Dogs. 



633 



BREAKING YOUNG DOGS. 



dog to be loaned by his owner to some friends for a day's shooting. 

 After working faithfully and finding bird after bird which they failed 

 to kill, the old fellow dropped his tail in disgust and started for 

 home, abandoning his share of the sport rather than witness their 

 want of skill. The most successful men in the field are those who 

 possess the greatest command over themselves ; not abusing their 

 dogs for the slightest fault, although using the whip judiciously ; for 

 dog nature is very like human nature, — some will do wrong from 

 mere willfulness, and are only to be controlled by a strong hand. 

 That dogs, when regularly shot over, enjoy the sport, is beyond 

 question, and sometimes the mere putting on of a shooting-coat will 

 drive them wild with excitement. And what sight is there more 

 beautiful than that of a well -broken dog at work in the field — the 

 instinct which teachi s th«r wolf or the fox to hunt for his prey, toned 

 down, or rather developed, by education to be subservient to the will 

 of man, and accessory to his sport ! You approach a fence, and, , 

 having CTOMed, call to your dog to do the same; for a dog should 

 never, in theory at least, be allowed to enter a field or leave one 

 before you. It is in the autumn, and in the woods the frost-painted 



