THE DOG. 73 



some setters are far less troublesome than others. 

 Pointers will frequently set without any teaching; 

 and indeed I have seen setters do it also. 



A dog should not be broken in too early, lest he 

 become chest-foundered. Some dogs will begin to 

 hunt very early, and others are so long before they 

 even take the smallest notice of game, that many per- 

 sons have either given away or destroyed them. 

 However, let no sportsman be hasty in condemning 

 backward dogs, as they frequently prove of first-rate 

 excellence; and I am inclined to think, that dogs of 

 tliis description, as well as those which are difficult 

 to break, turn out the best, when by patience and 

 perseverance they have been brought to hunt, and are 

 become staunch. 



At the age of five or six months, or even earlier, 

 you should allow your dog to accompany you when 

 you walk out, supposing it to be in the lanes or else- 

 where, and occasionally lead him in a cord, which 

 will, in a great degree, induce him to bear the chains 

 and couples ; but do not suffer him to go very far 

 from you; you may allow him to go a reasonable dis- 

 tance before you, making him always come close to 

 your heels at the word back. Be sure always to use 

 the same words in each lesson, and these should not 

 only be of the plainest sound, but the most distinct 

 also from each other ; for it is the sound alone which 

 is understood by the dog ; the sense or the English 

 makes no difference to him. 



At this time it will not be amiss to teach him to 



