472 DOG-BREAKING. 



to rush in upon the game, as he probably longs to do ; 

 especially if it is a partridge fluttering before him, in tha 

 sagacious endeavor to lure him from her brood, or a 

 hare enticingly cantering off from under his nose ? There 

 are breakers who would correct him for not intuitively 

 comprehending and obeying the "Toho," roared out 

 with stentorian lungs ; though, it is obvious, the young- 

 ster, from having had no previous instruction, could have 

 no better reason for understanding its import than the 

 watch-dog chained up in the adjacent farm-yard. Again 

 he hears the word " Toho " again followed by anothei 

 licking, accompanied perhaps by the long lecture, " Ware 

 springing birds, will you ?" The word " Toho " then 

 begins to assume a most awful character ; he naturally 

 connects it with the finding of game, and not under- 

 standing a syllable of the lecture, lest he should a third 

 time hear it, and get a third drubbing, he judges it most 

 prudent, unless he is a dog of very high courage, when 

 next aware of the presence of birds, to come in to heel ; 

 and thus he commences to be a blinker, thanks to the 

 sagacity and intelligence of his tutor. I do not speak 

 of all professional dog-breakers, far from it. Many are 

 fully sensible that comprehension of orders must neces- 

 sarily precede all but accidental obedience. I am only 

 thinking of some whom it has been my misfortune to 

 see, and who have many a time made my blood boil at 

 their brutal usage of a fine high-couraged young dog. 

 Men who had a strong arm and hard heart to punish 

 but no temper and no head to instruct. 



