118 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 



quality in a dog-breaker ; as many otherwise excellent dogs have 

 been ruined by ignorance and brutal passion. 



Well-bred dogs generally begin to hunt at an early period, 

 though it will sometimes happen (but not often) that a dog will 

 continue so long before he manifests a disposition for hunting, 

 as to induce a suspicion that he is good for nothing. Let no 

 sportsman be too hasty in forming this conclusion. At the age 

 of five or six months, or even earlier, you should allow your dog 

 to accompany you when you walk out, supposing it to be in the 

 lanes or elsewhere ; and, occasionally, lead him in a cord, or 

 couple him with another dog. He may be allowed to ramble to 

 a certain distance, so as not to be out of call ; occasionally, 

 making him come behind you at the word back. The fewer 

 words that are used in each lesson the better, which should be 

 always the same, of the plainest sound, as well as the most dis- 

 tinct from each other, as the dog is guided by the sound alone ; 

 any meaning beyond what the sound and tone convey is, of 

 course, above the capacity of a quadruped. At this period, it 

 will not be amiss to teach him to crouch at a piece of bread, or 

 any thing else you may think proper, and not to stir till he is 

 ordered : this may easily be done by gentle correction when he 

 does wrong, and by rewarding him when he has done right. A 

 good time for this introductory lesson is before you feed him, 

 and he should never be allowed to eat till he has performed his 

 task in a satisfactory manner. The word down is short, and 

 sounds well from the mouth, and is all that is necessary to make 

 the dog crouch, except when he shows any unwillingness to 

 execute what you desire, when sirrah ! spoken in an angry tone, 

 may perhaps produce obedience ; if not, the whip should bead- 

 ministered with moderation. Further, it may be as well to teach 

 him, at the same time, words of caution, such, for instance, as 

 take heed ; as well as of encouragement, as good boy ; the latter 

 should not be used profusely, but applied in the most judicious 



