618 DOG-BREAKING. 



company, should he make a point, and any intrusive 

 companion, instead of properly backing him, be im- 

 pertinently pressing on, the youngster should not be 

 induced however great may be the trial upon his 

 patience and forbearance- -to draw one foot nearer to the 

 game than his own knowledge of distance tells him is 

 correct ; not even if his friend, or rather, jealous rival, 

 boldly assumes the front rank. Your pupil will have 

 a right to look to you for protection, and to expect 

 that the rash intruder, however young, be at the least 

 well rated. 



254. It is a matter of little moment whether the 

 "backer" attends to the "down charge," or continues 

 to back as long as the other dog remains at his point. 

 It appears, however, best that he should " drop," unless he 

 is so near that he winds the game, when he would be rather 

 pointing than backing and should, consequently, behave 

 as explained in 187 ; for the fewer exceptions there are 

 to general rules the more readily are the rules observed. 



255. Should both dogs make separate points at the 

 same moment, it is cleai that neither can back the other. 

 They must act independently each for himself. More- 

 over, your firing over one should not induce the other to 

 " down charge," or in any way divert his attention from 

 his own birds. He ought to remain as immovable as a 

 statue. Some dogs, whose high courage has not been 

 damped by over-correction, will do this from their own 

 sagacity; but to enable you to teach then? to behave 

 thus steadily, game <hould be plentiful When you are 



