61 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



dog, a red hot iron put to Her shape, and held for 

 half a second, so as to make it sore, will be the most 

 effectual method to prevent it; for if the dog after- 

 wards attempt to lick or otherwise touch that part, it 

 will cause great pain, and she will assuredly drive 

 him off. 



If you are inclined to breed, the bitch for this pur- 

 pose should be high and well bred ; strong, and well 

 proportioned in all her parts; her ribs large and flanks 

 wide, accompanied with swiftness. The dog should 

 have a head of the middle size, wide nostrils, shoul- 

 ders well back, chest deep, and breast rather wide 

 than narrow; his back broad, especially over the 

 loins; his legs should be very straight, and stand 

 well under him, with high knuckles; and feet round, 

 but not large ; his ears also (particularly a setter's) 

 should be large. 



The moment your bitch becomes proud, if you 

 have not your favourite <]og at hand ? she should be 

 so secured as to render it impossible for any other to 

 get at her. I would advise the sportsman, in this 

 case, not to trust to servants, since they are sometimes 

 found negligent; and the effect of their carelessness 

 might prove a great disappointment to their master. 



I would not recommend breeding too early; for 

 most assuredly it weakens a young bitch : but if your 

 bitch is old, give her a young dog; paying, at the 

 same time, attention to size: a large, strong, and 

 boney bitch should have a light dog, and the con- 

 trary; also, if she is low in stature, he may be tall. 



