614 DOG-BREAKING. 



misconducting himself, without any danger of making 

 him blink. By such means, odd as it may sound, you 

 create courage, and with it give him self-confidence and 

 range. 



246. A judiciously-educated dog will know as well 

 as you do whether or not he has earned a chastisement, 

 and many a one is of so noble a nature that he will not 

 wish to avoid it if he is conscious that he deserves it. 

 He will become as anxious for good sport as you are, 

 and feel that he ought to be punished, if from his own 

 misconduct he mars it. Indeed, he will not have much 

 opinion of your sagacity if you do not then give him a 

 sound rating, or let him have a taste of the lash, though 

 it matters not how slight. Clearly this feeling, which 

 it will be right to foster, must have arisen from his belief 

 that you are always conscious of his actions 262-- 

 therefore never check him for coming towards you on 

 his committing any unseen error. Moreover, when he 

 has been but a little shot to, you will find that if you 

 abstain from firing at a bird which through his fault he 

 has improperly flushed, although in its flight it affords 

 you an excellent shot, you will greatly vex him ; and 

 this will tend to make him more careful for the future. 



247. When, after a few weeks, you perceive that 

 the youngster has confidence in himself, and is likely to 

 hunt independently, not deferentially following the foot- 

 steps of an older companion, take out a well-broken dog 

 with him, that you may have the opportunity of teach- 

 ing him to "back." Be careful to choose one not given 



