34 THE SPORTSMAN'S VADE MECUM. 



whistle him just before he turns. This will in the end break 

 him of that habit. If he takes too much ground up wind, 

 call " down," and start him off, after you get to him, in the 

 way he should go. You ought also yourself to walk on a 

 line with the direction the dog is going. This will accustom 

 him to take his beat right through to the fence, and not in 

 irregular zigzags, as he otherwise would do. He must now be 

 kept at these lessons in " down," charging, and quartering, till 

 he is quite perfect and confirmed, setting him off indiscrimi- 

 nately to the right or left, so that when you hunt with another, 

 both may not start one way. Much time will be gained, and 

 the dog rendered by far more perfect by continuing this 

 practice for some time. It is far better to render him au 

 fait at his work by slight punishments, frequently repeated, 

 and by that means more strongly impressed on his memory, 

 than by a severe cowhiding. This latter process is apt to 

 make him cowed, than which there is nothing worse. Many 

 a fine dog is ruined by it. The punishment of the check is 

 severe, and, as I said before, whilst it never fails to daunt the 

 most resolute, so also it can be so administered as not in 

 the end to cow the most timid. 



Here it is you are to use your discretion so to temper 

 justice and mercy that you cause yourself to be obeyed 

 without spoiling your creature. For full a month this 

 ought daily to be done, if fine. It is a good plan to feed 

 your young dogs at this stage all together, with a cord 

 round each of their necks, making them "down" several 

 times between the trough and their kennel. Pat one dog, 

 and let him feed awhile. The rest being " down," call him 



