616 DOG-BREAKING. 



remain steady, and turning your face to him, so that he 

 may be restrained by the feeling that your eye is 

 constantly fixed upon him. He will soon remark the 

 attitude of the old dog, and almost intuitively guess its 

 meaning. Should the old one draw upon his game, still 

 the other dog must remain stationary. If he advance 

 but an inch, rate him. Should he rush up which is 

 hardly to be expected at him at once ; having made 

 him drop, catch hold of him, and drag him to the place 

 at which he should have backed there if you judge 

 such strong measures necessary peg him down until 

 after you have had your shot and are reloaded. If by 

 heading the birds you can drive them towards the 

 young dog, do so ; and aim at the one most likely to 

 fall near him. Endeavor to make him comprehend 

 that any sign or word to urge on or retard the leading 

 dog in no way applies to him. This he will soon 

 understand, if he has been properly instructed with 

 an associate in the initiatory lesson described in 45 

 After you have picked up the bird let him sniff at it. 



250. It is most important that the dog which first 

 winds birds should be allowed to "road" them to a 

 spring without being flurried, or in any way interfered 

 with by another dog. Few things are more trying 

 to your temper as a sportsman, than to see a self-sufficient 

 cub, especially when birds are wild, creep up to the old 

 dog whom he observes pointing at a distance, or cautious- 

 ly drawing upon a covey. The young whipper-snapper 

 pays no attention to your most energetic signals: you 



