THE DOG FAMILY-HOUND. 



223 



parents bring up excellent Pups. They arc strong, 

 swift, and more than other Dogs are fitted for the 

 chase by the perfect development of their senses, 

 especially by their delicate scent. They are en- 

 dowed with such smelling powers that they can 

 detect the track of game after hours, nay, after days 

 have elapsed. 



The Pointers Among the many breeds we will first 

 and Their Track- consider the best known, the Point- 



ing Abilities. ers They are of moderate size and 

 rather strong build; the muzzle is long and thick, 

 the nose is sometimes split, the ear is wide, long and 

 drooping ; the hair may be long, short or bristly 

 and the color usually is white, spotted with brown 

 or more rarely black ; but there are also entirely 

 white, brown, black or yellow varieties. 



Pointers are sagacious, docile, obedient animals, 

 eager for the hunt, to the success of which they are 

 quite indispensable. They track the game by fol- 

 lowing fresh spoors or simply by scent, and, under 

 favorable circumstances, 

 they are able to scent 

 small game at a distance 

 of thirty or even fifty 

 paces. 



"For many years past," 

 says Diezel, "I have com- 

 pared the capabilities of 

 the animals inhabiting 

 Germany, and have per- 

 suaded myself that there 

 is one far superior to all 

 others, and that is the 

 Pointer. 



towards him. Some especially sagacious Dogs, when 

 the locality does not permit the master to follow 

 their lead (as a forest, or a field of tall corn where a 

 Dog cannot be seen), leave the quarry for a short time, 

 in order to find their master and lead him to the 

 spot But of the many Dogs which I have had in my 

 possession, few did this, and not at the beginning; 

 they learned it only in after years." 



A thoroughly trained Hound is a really admirable 

 animal, and a bad sportsman, when accompanied 

 by a good Dog, runs the risk of being frequently 

 rebuked by the Dog, by actions expressing decided 

 disapproval. 



I knew a Pointer, called Basco, which belonged to 

 an excellent sportsman. His owner lent him to a 

 young friend, better accustomed to the use of the 

 pen than to that of the gun. Twice the young 

 hunter shot, and twice he failed. The Dog then 

 approached him, gave him a look of profound con- 

 tempt and straightway trotted home. This Dog was 



Requisites in 



Training a 



Pointer. 



"To make my 



assertion hold 



good, the Dog 

 must be of very pure breed 

 and possessed of all his 

 natural endowments, espe- 

 cially a delicate scent. 

 Further, he must not have 

 been brought up isolated, 

 but immediately under the 

 eyes of his trainer, and thus 

 be taught from puppyhood 

 to understand every word 

 and gesture. Then, also, 

 his trainer must possess all 

 the qualifications of a good 

 teacher, among which pa- 

 tience is not of the least 

 importance, and must be a 

 good marksman; for only 

 when all requisite condi- 

 tions are fulfilled can the 



Dog reach that admirable degree of obedience, 

 self-control and skill, which I will try to describe. 

 A perfectly trained Dog, three or four years old, 

 always looks for the game by natural instinct, hold- 

 ing his nose to the wind and from time to time 

 turning to the right and to the left. Sometimes he 

 stops and looks around at his master, who by a 

 gesture indicates the locality the Dog has to search. 

 These gestures are scrupulously obeyed. If he 

 scents important game, the almost constant motion 

 of the tail ceases at once, and his body is converted 

 into a living statue. Frequently he slinks nearer the 

 object with stealthy tread like a Cat before he stops. 

 After a few moments he turns his head to see 

 whether his master has noticed him and is coming 



THE FOXHOUND. No other Dog of any species has had so much attention paid to its training as the 



Foxhound. The results are seen in an animal that combines in the most perfect degree the qualities of a hunting 

 Hound. Keen scent, most astonishing endurance and running qualities, courage and sagacity are combined in the 

 Dog which the picture shows intent on the Fox's trail. Its perfect proportions and vigorous build make it an ideal 

 animal of the chase. (Catiis familiaris sagax rulpicapus.) 



an enthusiastic hunter, but after some years he could 

 not be prevailed upon to accompany a bad marks- 

 man on a chase, for his contempt for unskillfulness 

 was too deep-rooted. 



General Obserua- It goes without saying that if a 

 tions on the good Dog is to be well trained, 



Training of Dogs, he must have an excellent trainer. 

 The training of a Dog is a difficult matter; patience, 

 earnestness of purpose and affection for the animal 

 are essential qualities of a teacher. In former times 

 those training Dogs proceeded in a more forcible 

 manner, using the whip and a rough collar. A great 

 many trainers still pursue this plan, but others pro- 

 ceed on different and better principles. They do 

 not consider their pupil a slave, but a reasoning 



