36 THE SPORTSMAN'S VADE MECUM. 



chasing, quite " au contraire." Seeing the bird fall in its 

 flight encourages them to chase. It is far better to get a 

 bird and peg it down so as to flutter and run about before 

 the dog when he is " down." This persisted in soon brings 

 them steady. The other plan takes a much longer time to 

 accomplish. A young dog may easily be taught to back. 

 Make one dog down, and then cry " down " to him, checking 

 him if he does not, and pulling him to where he ought to 

 drop. In the field, after a time, you use the word " toho," 

 at which also he drops or points. A young dog ought 

 never to be hunted with an old one. The latter always has 

 tricks ; in fact, is cunning ; and at that age a bad fault is 

 easily learnt, but not so easily forgotten. This is Lloyd's 

 art of breaking. A more sensible one I have never seen, 

 nor do I believe is. I have broken many dogs on it, and 

 never saw it fail. Patience, practice, and temper are all that 

 is required, for dogs can only be taught by lessons frequently 

 repeated. When first you shoot over a young dog, an 

 assistant should hold the end of the long line to check him, 

 should he attempt to run in when the bird falls. Lloyd says 

 further, " I never us a whip on any occasion whatever." 

 He trusts to the cord. This is all right while breaking and 

 finishing off a dog, but after that one cannot be expected to 

 lug fifteen feet of cord in one's pocket, though, doubtless, it 

 is very true that it is more efficacious than the whip, and 

 does not make them so apt to blink. Some will sneak away, 

 and are not easily caught, after committing a fault, and 

 others are so shy, that they would not bear a lash, and yet 

 are readily broken with the cord. By this means also dog* 



