TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 131 



aim another blow at them as they are going away ; nothing can 

 be more censurable ; for, when the dog next commits a fault, 

 and you wish to chastise him, he will not suffer you to approach 

 sufficiently near to lay hold of him. Therefore, after correction, 

 he should not be suffered to move, till by a word or two of cau- 

 tion, spoken in a mild tone, his alarm is dissipated. If a dog, 

 either from strength or disposition, becomes difficult to chastise, 

 by first tying his legs together, the sportsman will have a per- 

 fect command over him. 



The best dogs may sometimes make mistakes on bad scent- 

 ing days, for instance ; or if they happen to run down wind, 

 particularly when it is blowing strong. On such occasions, it 

 would he cruel to flog them, though the words expressive of 

 caution may be used, spoken in an angry tone. 



Well-bred pointers, as I have before observed, if taken into 

 the field at a proper period, will, in general, require little break- 

 ing ; they will often point and back of themselves, and, in fact, 

 give the sportsman much satisfaction with little trouble. 



The dog that first finds the game should always go up to it ; 

 and on no account should another be suffered to pass or run be- 

 fore him. It is like snatching his well earned reward, to say 

 nothing of the confusion which must ensue from such a culpable 

 practice. 



I have seen dogs shot at for the purpose of rendering them 

 steady, and particularly to prevent them from chasing hares ; I 

 cannot say I admire this method, though I have seen it used 

 with effect : it can only be had recourse to with hardy, head- 

 strong animals ; as to shoot at a young timid dog is to ruin him 

 at once. It is a dangerous method at best, nor should it ever be 

 resorted to but when the dog is at a considerable distance. 



A pointer or setter should never be named Carlo, Sancho, or, 

 indeed, any name ending in o, as the word TOHO is so frequently 

 indispensable, and, ending in the same sound, is apt to cause 



