156 TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



In following the foot scent, dogs vary in skill from 

 that of the potterer which puzzles about, following 

 the back or forward track with equal stupidity and 

 inefficiency, to that of the dog which roads with 

 methodical celerity and accuracy. 



A reasonable degree of quickness is essential to 

 fair performance. The longer and further the birds 

 run ahead of .the roading dog, the greater likelihood 

 is there of complications which may result in the loss 

 of the trail, or their secure refuge in dense cover, or 

 their escape by wing. Dogs which follow by the 

 foot scent carry a lower nose, as a rule, than do those 

 which follow by the body scent. 



The dog which locates by body scent is guided by 

 the particles of scent floating in the air, though his 

 nose may be only at such height as he naturally car- 

 ries it. When he catches a scent, however faint, he 

 darts quickly to and fro, following it up quickly till 

 it becomes strong enough to follow direct to the 

 birds. It is analogous to the manner which a man 

 might be supposed to adopt if he caught scent of 

 roses in the field and followed the clue up to the rose 

 bushes from which the fragrance emanated. 



A dog whose nose is keen and whose brain is sound 



