TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



the nature of the grounds and geaeral course of the 

 hunt, an up wind course cannot be followed. 



Quartering denotes that the dog crosses to and fro 

 in front of the shooter on lines as parallel and equi- 

 distant as may be. It is an artificial method, and no 

 doubt is of use in a section where the ground is favor- 

 able to it and where birds are likely to frequent all 

 parts of the ground indiscriminately. The English 

 authorities emphasize its importance. In America, 

 where the grounds exhibit all kinds of irregularities 

 as to surface and covers, it is much better that the 

 dog should beat out the ground intelligently from 

 one likely point to another. The habitats of the 

 birds are so irregularly placed, and there is so much 

 barren ground mixed in with that which is fertile, 

 that a set form of quartering is neither taught nor 

 desired by the majority of shooters. 



In quartering, the dog covers as much ground as 

 his nose and speed will permit consistently with the 

 size of the field or ground to be worked, and at the 

 same time with keeping in front of the shooter. It 

 is apparent that if the dog makes his casts too wide 

 he will not be able to cut out his parallels and at the 

 same time keep in front of the shooter. In sections 



