GUNS AND DOGS 17 



from thence sounded the whistle, and it was remark- 

 able to see how soon the puppies learned to come when 

 called. Taking them to the fields without a gun, with 

 a few scraps of food in the shooting-coat, I rewarded 

 the first to arrive after the whistle sounded and my 

 dogs soon learned to come in as fast as they went out. 

 Meantime teach the young dogs to drop or charge at 

 command, rewarding them for quick action, and to walk 

 at heel until ordered to go out. Taking the young 

 dogs to a covey of partridges, flush the birds after the 

 dogs have pointed, and check any tendency to chase 

 when they take wing. Use a cord when necessary, 

 which will bring the dog up suddenly when he runs 

 the length of it, and punish with the whip, using it as 

 little as possible, however. Firing a pistol at some 

 distance from feeding puppies will often prevent the 

 dogs becoming gun-shy, a serious fault. If a heavy 

 load is fired over a young thorough-bred dog before he 

 is accustomed to such noise, he may be ruined. A gun- 

 shy dog is usually worthless. He may be cured, but is 

 more often not worth the training. Some teach their 

 dogs to retrieve. It is a showy performance in the 

 field and I like to see it. A dog should point the dead 

 bird first and retrieve it upon an order to do so, hand- 

 ling it with great care. The danger is that a dog will 

 sooner or later mouth and thus mutilate the birds. 



There is much that is entertaining in giving young 

 dogs their instruction, but a lot of patience is required, 

 and it takes much time. All training should be persist- 

 ent. A little every morning and evening, each day, 

 will accomplish more than a whole day of it now and 

 then. Stop when the young dogs seem to be getting 



