CONCERNING DOGS. 1 6 I 



After you have taught your dog to drop at 

 any distance, you may take him into the field 

 to learn the further duties for which he has 

 been bred, and from whence he derives his 

 name — to 'point,' or 'set' as the case may be. 

 Hitherto your labour has been directed towards 

 teaching your dog obedience to the word of 

 command, and your practices have therefore 

 taken place in those spots which were most 

 convenient to yourself, but the reality of a dog's 

 life begins when he is taken into the field. 



The natural instinct of these dogs is to point, 

 or set, but they have to be trained to take the 

 field properly, and be steady in their work. 

 For this reason it is particularly necessary that 

 the day and field should both be well chosen, 

 as on these two circumstances will chiefly 

 depend the success of the remainder of the 

 practices that a pointer or setter, before he 

 can be pronounced thoroughly broken to gun 

 and birds, must undergo. The morning should 

 be bright and fine, so that the birds will * lay,' 

 and the field should be rather small. Take the 

 dog in,- right for the wind, and don't let him 



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