204 DOG JUDICIOUSLY PUNISHED. [CH. xn. 



it may sound, you create courage, and with it give him 

 self-confidence and range. 



348. 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 

 (383) ; 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. 



349. Mr. C s K n (286) had a pointer who would at once 



give up hunting if he was not properly chastised on committing 

 a fault ; but what is far more extraordinary, and strongly shows 

 the varied, and occasionally odd dispositions of dogs, he would 

 never hunt keenly until from birds rising wildly (or from some other 

 cause) an excuse arose for giving him a flogging. After receiving the 

 punishment he would start off in the greatest spirits, and range 

 with uncommon ardour and perseverance. An excuse was, however, 

 quite indispensable ; for, if from a good-humoured desire to gratify 

 his apparent longings he was favoured beforehand with a thrashing, 

 he would consider himself imposed on, and forthwith run home. 



350. 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 



