136 TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



possible be an orderly matter of schooling is then a 

 disorganized scramble between man and dog. 



However, as to the use of the gun, there are excep- 

 tional cases which will be benefited by it. Slothful, 

 indolent dogs require the stimulus of successful cap- 

 ture, and there are others, again, which, after work- 

 ing a time without material result, lose interest and 

 cease effort. The trainer's own judgment must be 

 his guide under such circumstances. 



When the dog is pointing or attempting to point 

 he should be permitted to do so in his own natural 

 manner. It is best to refrain from giving any cau- 

 tion or order till he either points or flushes. If the 

 trainer is one out of a hundred he can do so, but if he 

 is one of the other ninety-nine he must either bawl 

 out orders or suffer untold anguish. Orders and 

 multiplication of orders, however, no more assist a 

 dog in learning to use his nose than they assist a man 

 in guiding himself to find a needle by the sense of 

 feeling in the dark less so, in fact, for the dog does 

 not comprehend the meaning of many words. 



After the dog flushes, the trainer may caution him 

 or punish him according to the requirements of the 

 case, as it was done intentionally or not, He then 



