FOR THE FIELD AND FIELD TRIALS. 133 



rarely desisting until physical exhaustion prevents 

 him from engaging further in the pursuit. This 

 may be beneficial to dogs of excessive timidity, but 

 on the whole it is better to restrict the self-hunting to 

 the limits set by the trainer. 



However, the dog in one independent self-hunting 

 outing learns more than he learns in weeks when 

 under the domination of his trainer. Then all the 

 natural hunting qualities and inclinations which are 

 born in him have the free play unhindered. Self- 

 hunting he learns to follow the trail with quickness, 

 precision and enthusiasm ; to distinguish the forward 

 from the back trail; the body scent from the foot 

 scent ; the places which are likely to be and which are 

 not likely to be the haunts of birds ; and to mark the 

 flight of flushed birds and its probable length. In 

 short, he learns the values and relations of all the 

 circumstances which are to be considered in the mat- 

 ter of pursuit and capture. 



On the other hand, once that the dog has learned 

 the delights and freedom of independent self-hunt- 

 ing there is no breaking him from indulging in it. 

 He will sneak away whenever opportunity and in- 

 clination impel to it, prowling for miles everywhere 



