86 LEWISES AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



the breaker will have all he can attend to without attempting to 

 shoot. 



Providing ourselves with a light cord with spring snap, we take 

 the dog to ground where we know there are birds, and our first 

 object is naturally to get him 



TO POINT. 



This is natural to all dogs worthy of breaking, but the excite- 

 ment of the scent will often induce a high-couraged one to press so 

 near the birds that they flush, and persistence in this will make 

 him permanently headstrong, if it does not overcome his inclina- 

 tion to point. As soon, therefore, as we see he is making game, we 

 get near him and stop him by the " ho," giving him time to quiet 

 down a little before advancing. If in spite of us he flushes, we 

 catch him, take him back to where he should have pointed, make 

 him stop, and then taking him by the collar lead him a few steps 

 forward over the trail, with occasional twitches on the collar, and 

 rating him with " take care, sir," in a low tone, then make him stop 

 and remain standing for some moments. If a few experiences of 

 this kind do not bring him to pointing, we then hook the cord to 

 the collar-ring, and let him drag it till he again makes game, then 

 get hold of the cord, and by sharp twitches and the verbal warn- 

 ing make him go slow till he shows by his actions he is near the 

 birds, then stop him by the raised hand if possible, and if not, by 

 the word. We let him stand without approaching him for some 

 moments, then walk up carefully so as not to flush the birds, and 

 take a place by his side. After standing a while we advance and 

 flush, keeping a sharp eye on the dog to see he does not break 

 point and follow, facing him instantly if he attempts to do so, and 

 checking him by the raised hand and a sharp imperative " ho." 

 Some dogs are naturally cautious, roading their birds carefully, and 

 pointing from the first. With such all that is necessary is to con- 

 firm them in this by care and whatever restraint is required. In 

 all cases we endeavor by cautious conduct on our own part to show 

 the dog there is need for great care and watchfulness in the work. 



