134 ANIMALS USED BY THE SHOOTEE. 



shelf, or on the back of a sofa. He will, comparatively 

 speaking, be some time in acquiring a knowledge of the 

 meaning of the word, and many would probably term it an 

 over-refinement in canine education; but I must own I 

 think you will act judiciously if you teach it perfectly as 

 the initiatory lessons; for the word 'Up,' if well understood, 

 will frequently save your putting on the puzzle-peg. For 

 this you might be tempted to employ, should your dog be 

 acquiring the execrable habit of ' raking,' as it is termed, 

 instead of searching for the delicious effluvia with his nose 

 carried high in the air." 



Now, undoubtedly, if the dog can be taught to understand 

 the word " Up," it is a gain; but let any one try to do this, 

 and he will find the difficulty is not trifling, nor, if overcome, 

 will it suffice at any great distance from the shooter. Yet 

 it is chiefly under such circumstances that the dog " potters;* 1 

 for few sportsmen care about it being done near them, inas- 

 much as they can encourage the dog by the voice, and with 

 this aid he will seldom dwell for any time on a foot scent. 

 But it is at a distance that the mischief chiefly occurs, and 

 when the steady point is wanted, to which birds will lie. 

 Here the voice is altogether objectionable, for it either 

 cannot be heard by the dog, or if it can, it will at the same 

 time disturb the game. I therefore hold that Colonel 

 Hutchinson's plan is utterly useless, and that the puzzle-peg 

 must still continue to be the only remedy for this fault. By 

 strapping it on for days together, the dog at length learns 

 the habit of hunting with his head high, though it will 

 generally be necessary to return to it occasionally for some 

 time. For the second and third faults the check-cord is 

 applied in a variety of ways ; but it is always intended to apply 

 to those dogs which range too wide, or refuse to " back," or to 

 " point," even, when very troublesome to break. It is merely 

 a line of various degrees of size and length, according to the 

 strength and courage of the dog; it may be generally of the 

 length of twenty yards, and of good stout cord, well twisted, 

 yet not too heavy. The object is not always to tire the dog, 

 but to gain absolute command over his motions, in bringing 

 him back to you, or in stopping him from chasing. Of 

 course, the longer and heavier the cord, the more it tires the 



