TRAINING THE POINTER PRICES. 117 



steadily by mere sight, and without much assistance from his immature olfactory 

 nerves, at chickens, pig-eons, and even sparrows, and yet his subsequent training 

 may be a work of difficulty, to be undertaken with success, by experienced persons 

 only ; a labour which we apprehend few Gentlemen Sportsmen engage in personally, 

 or for which persons of that degree can often find leisure. 



We have observed that, the thorough training of the Pointer, the making him 

 au fait, and complete at all points ; the teaching him due circumspection with un- 

 limited, instant, and passive obedience to the word of command ; the repressing of 

 all riot and vice in him ; the giving him a tender mouth ; the inculcating in him 

 the necessity of a thorough and honest quartering of his ground ; in few and re- 

 peated words, rendering him staunch to dog, bird, and gun is not an off' hand 

 extemporaneous affair, to be hurried through by a mere tyro, whether gentle or 

 plebeian, but a task well adapted to the capacity and the industry of an experienced 

 operative Sportsman, and above all things, by a man who has learned to govern 

 his own little passions, and who is master of that consummate virtue, patience. We 

 insist much on the valuable and should-be staple article of patience, in all those 

 concerned in education, whether of the four or two-legged animal. With respect 

 to the former, our present business, we have lived to see many of the best bred 

 dogs irreparably spoiled, either cowed to stupidity, or goaded to heedless despera- 

 tion, by the ignorance, trickery, and barbarism of vulgar dog-breakers; and we 

 know at this instant of a valuable high-bred and fine-sized young dog, which has 

 run clear away from this kind of discipline. Finally, as to judicious and thorough 

 training the Pointer, I will ask any Gentleman ardently attached to the Gun, 

 as to the worth of a high-bred and good-sized young dog-, in the perfection of 

 such training. 



With respect to the average run of the times, for the price of a good fair market- 

 able dog, the following advertisement from Herts in the early part of this Season, 

 is given as a specimen. " SUPERIOR POINTERS To be sold, a brace of BLACK 

 POINTERS, now in the hands of the Breeder, a Gentleman who has declined 

 Shooting. They are of the first rate description, range high, find their Game 

 in fine style, particularly staunch, never tire, and in fact possess all the qualifi- 

 cations of Pointers, without a blemish. They have been shot over two seasons. 

 Price fifty guineas." 



The Puppy, with kindness brought to follow, as a pleasure and diversion, and 

 taught to fetch and carry, and to observe commands with a tolerable share of 

 obedience, should then be restrained from the pursuit of all improper objects, and 

 particularly be 'wared' earnestly and constantly against sheep. The next step is 

 the commencement of his regular systematic education. He is taken, secured by 

 his Check Collar, to which are attached twenty odd yards of line, to some conve- 

 nient and secluded spot, and there pegged down, which should be done with the 

 least possible alarm or affright. The Breaker, in the mean time, should be pro- 



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