636 DOG-BREAKING. 



but reverse matters by placing themselves to windward 

 of the birds while the gun was to leeward. This shows 

 that the acquisition of that accomplishment would be a 

 great step towards securing a knowledge of the one we 

 are now considering. Indeed there seems to be a 

 mutual relation between these two refinements in educa- 

 tion, for the possession of either would greatly conduce 

 to the attainment of the other. 



289. This accomplishment and hardly any can be 

 considered more useful is not so difficult to teach an 

 intelligent dog as one might at first imagine ; it is but 

 to lift him, and make him act on a larger scale, much in 

 the manner described in 212 and 296. Like, however, 

 everything else in canine education indeed, in all edu- 

 cation it must be effected gradually ; nor should it be 

 commenced before the dog has had a season's steadying, 

 then practise him in heading every wounded bird, and en- 

 deavor to make him do so at increased distances. When- 

 ever, also, he comes upon the "heel" of a covey which is 

 to leeward of him instead of letting him " foot " it 

 oblige him to quit the scent and take a circuit sinking 

 the wind so as to place himself to leeward of birds. 

 He will thereby head the covey, and you will have every 

 reason to hope that after a time his own observation and 

 intellect will show him the advantage of thus intercept- 

 ing birds and stopping them when they are on the run, 

 whether the manoeuvre places him to leeward or to 

 windward of them. 



290. If you could succeed in teaching but one of 



