176 TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



CHAPTER XII. 



DROPPING TO SHOT AND WING. 



DROPPING to shot and wing are terms which de- 

 note that, at the rise of the bird or birds, or the report 

 of the gun, the dog drops instantly to the ground. It 

 is much more ornamental than useful, and besides 

 has some distinct disadvantages. 



There are many sportsmen who set an exagger- 

 ated value on what may be termed the embellish- 

 ments of training, such as quartering, dropping to 

 shot and wing, toho, etc., and who profess to take 

 more pleasure from the manner in which the dog 

 performs than in the material results of his efforts. 



The main purpose of the dog's service, however, 

 is one of utility; the embellishments, though desir- 

 able, hold a secondary place. If, therefore, the dog 

 is a good and useful servant, and yet possessed of 

 little style, he is far superior to a stylish nonentity. 



While it is a matter of constant recurrence that the 

 shooter finds it necessary to order the dog to lie 



