10 USE OF INITIATORY LESSONS. [CH. n. 



that some dogs are more precocious than others, and 

 bitches always more forward than dogs,) but it ought to 

 be nearly completed before he is shown a bird (132). 

 A quarter of an hour's daily in-door training called 

 by the Germans " house-breaking " for three or four 

 weeks will effect more than a month's constant hunting 

 without preliminary tuition. 



16. Never take your young dog out of doors for in- 

 struction, until he has learned, to know and obey the 

 several words of command which you intend to give 

 him in the field, and is well acquainted with all the 

 signs which you will have occasion to make to him 

 with your arms. These are what may be called the 

 initiatory lessons. 



17. Think a moment, and you will see the importance 

 of this preliminary instruction, though rarely imparted. 

 Why should it be imagined, that at the precise moment 

 when a young dog is enraptured with the first sniff of 

 game, he is, by some mysterious unaccountable instinct, 

 to understand the meaning of the word " Tpho ?" Why 

 should he not conceive it to be a word of .encourage- 

 ment to rush in upon the game, as he probably longs to 

 do ; especially if it should be a partridge fluttering 

 before him, in the sagacious endeavour to lure him 

 from her brood, or a hare enticingly cantering off from 

 under his nose ? There are breakers who would correct 

 him for not intuitively comprehending and obeying the 

 " Toho," roared out with stentorian lungs ; though, it 

 is obvious, the youngster, from having had no pre- 

 vious instruction, could have no better reason for 

 understanding its import, than the watch-dog chained 

 up in yonder farm-yard. Again he hears the word 

 "Toho" again followed by another licking, accom- 

 panied perhaps by the long lecture, " 'Ware springing 



