INITIATORY LESSONS CONTINUED. 493 



54. Doubtless it is the highest training to teach a 

 team to " down-charge," but most breakers make their 

 spaniels come into " heel," or rather gather close around 

 them by the word "round" whenever a gun is dis- 

 charged. This plan, though so injudicious in the case 

 of pointers or setters, is but little objectionable in the 

 case of spaniels, for spaniels in their small sweep in- 

 wards are not likely to spring game while the guns are 

 unloaded. It certainly possesses this merit, that it is 

 readily taught to puppies with the aid of a whipper-in 

 by the trainer's giving them some delicacy on their 

 rejoining him. It may be urged too that the method 

 much removes any necessity for noise in calling to a dog 

 whereas, with a team trained to the " down-charge," 

 however highly broken, it will occasionally happen that 

 the keeper or assistant has to rate some excited 

 skirter for not instantly " dropping." Moreover, in 

 thick cover, an infraction of the irksome rule to " down 

 charge " may sometimes escape detection, which might 

 lead to future acts of insubordination. Prince Albert's 

 team of Clumbers " down-charge," but the greatest 

 attention is paid to them. They are admirably broken, 

 and I may add, are shot over by a first-rate hand. 



55. When exercising young spaniels it is a good plan 

 to habituate them, even as puppies, never to stray 

 further from you than about twenty yards. With them, 

 even more than with other kinds of dogs trained for the 

 gun, great pains should be taken to prevent their having 

 the opportunity of " self-hunting." If it is wished to 



