TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 121 



At the same time, he should be taught to quarter his ground 

 in a proper manner, as well as not to break fence. In beating 

 a field, care should be taken to give him the wind ; or, at least, 

 he should never be suffered to run directly with the wind : if it 

 blow in his face, so much the better, but a dog will hunt very 

 well with a side wind. The dog should cross about twenty yards 

 before the shooter, and if, after running down the field, he should 

 not cross up again at about the distance just mentioned, he should 

 be called to or whistled, and a wave of the hand should direct 

 him across the field ; unless indeed he catch scent, when he 

 should be suffered, of course, to follow it. In case of attempt- 

 ing to break fence, he should be instantly whistled to or called by 

 name, in an angry tone, using at the same time the words 'ware 

 fence ! This will, in all probability, soon produce the requisite 

 obedience ; but should he refuse to obey the whistle or call, the 

 whip must produce what more gentle means are unable to effect, 

 If he refuses to pay attention to the whistle, he should receive a 

 few stripes, (more or less, according to the disposition of the ani- 

 mal) the whistle occasionally used during the operation ; and con- 

 tinued to be so corrected, should he not return implicit obedience 

 when called to. Thus, he will soon become pleasingly tractable. 



However, as some young dogs, are alarmed at the report of 

 the fowling piece, it will not be amiss, on the game rising after 

 having been properly set, to fire a pistol, which will render him 

 familiar to the sound. If his terror should increase on the firing 

 of the pistol, so as to frighten him from the field, the experi- 

 ment should be entirely abandoned till the shooting season, 

 when he should be coupled to another dog, or otherwise pre- 

 vented from running away till a few birds are killed and shown 

 to him. If a bird be winged, he should be induced to foot it, 

 and even suffered to mouth it, which is by far the best method 

 of reconciling him to the discharge of the fowling piece. 



We will suppose that the dog is already steady at partridge ; 



