TRAINING SPORTING Docs. 349 



give him a sharp jerk with the cord, and keep him there for a minute. Then walk gently 

 up and pat him ; then steady him, and go up with him to his birds, and I hope they will lie 

 well to him. But do not keep him too long on his point at this time, as it is the first 

 real one he has had to himself; two or three minutes will be quite enough. As soon as 

 the birds rise drop him at once, say for five minutes, walk round him, still keeping him down. 

 Don't allow him to sit on his haunches. Never allow half measures in anything after he 

 should know better, that is the great secret and success in breaking, combined with good 

 temper and patience in the breaker. After you have him so that you can depend on 

 him, take your old dog again, which I hope is a good backer, so that your young one may 

 get a lesson, as nothing is more beautiful than a dog to back well, and some are very 

 difficult to teach, others doing it naturally. If the old dog is a kennel companion, so 

 much the better ; the young one will not be so jealous, as by this time he will have 

 great confidence in himself. Let them both down, or if you like they can have a run 

 separately to begin with, which will cool their heads before being down together. We now 

 suppose they are both down ; have a short cord on your young one, so that, should he require 

 it, he can be pegged down. Should the old dog find first, get if possible betwixt him and 

 the young one, and by any means stop him by holding up your hand, and using the word 

 'Yoho.' Keep him there by standing still. Advance yourself to the old dog, still keeping 

 your eye on him and your hand up. Should he advance, as he likely will, go and put 

 him to where he stood first and peg him down, or you may put him down without the 

 peg for the first few times, retreating with your face to him. I only hope the weather is 

 fine, if spring, and birds lying well, which will give you time for all this. Now spring 

 your game, still keeping your young dog down ; also the old dog for ten minutes if you 

 like. Bid the old dog hold up till he looks where the birds have been, still keeping the 

 young one down when he has seen there are no more left. Call up the young one, and 

 start again. Now let the breaker take care that the old dog does not get all the points, 

 as nothing will so soon discourage your young dog as making him perform all the backing. 

 He will soon be going in the wake of the old dog, depending on him finding the game ; 

 only I hope your young one will prove, if not so sure in nose, fleeter of foot, which will give 

 him a chance of a point now and again. Or, supposing you have two young ones, you will 

 have a better chance of them getting equal points. Be sure to cast off one to the right, 

 the other to the left, each time you have them down, as by teaching them this they go 

 away free of each other, and don't run so jealous as I have often seen them let down 

 together ; and instead of who will find the birds, it is which will run the fastest, and go right 

 into the covey and chase them, all through jealousy and high spirits. Don't whip for this, 

 only rate them, as if you yourself were to blame for it, as they will only do so for the first 

 turn or two. I once had a brace of lemon-and-white Setters I broke in 1871 that 

 quartered their ground, one to the right, the other to the left, and each kept their own 

 beat. I tried it for mere curiosity, and found it could be done easily. So much for 

 patience and perseverance, always bearing in mind that there is a good understanding 

 between you and your pupils by kindness if possible ; and be with them at exercise and 

 feeding-time if you can, so that they get well attached to you. But when necessary to 

 apply the whip, let it be done firmly, and don't flinch from your duty; it will save your 

 pupil from many smaller and larger beatings afterwards. Some are always whip-whipping ; 

 that of itself would spoil a dog. This mostly applies to high-couraged ones, but many of 

 the wilder type give the most trouble, and must be left a good deal to the discretion oJ 



