168 THE MOOR AND THE LOCH. 



have fallen mangled by him. I have seen dogs most un- 

 mercifully flogged, and yet bolt with the same eagerness every 

 shot. It was easy to see the reason : the dog was followed 

 by the keeper, endeavouring to make him " down " ; there 

 was thus a race between them which should reach the fallen 

 bird. 



The plan to adopt with a dog of this description is, when 

 the grouse drops and the dog darts forward, never to stir 

 coolly allow him to tear away at the game until you have 

 loaded; by which time he will most probably have become 

 ashamed of himself. You will now walk up most de- 

 liberately, and, without noticing the bird, take the dog by 

 the ear, and pull him back to where you fired, all the time 

 giving several hearty shakes, and calling " down." When 

 you get to the spot where you shot from, take out your whip, 

 and between the stripes call " down " in a loud voice ; con- 

 tinue this at intervals for some time, and, even when you 

 have finished your discipline, don't allow the dog to rise for 

 ten minutes at least ; then, after speaking a few words ex- 

 pressive of caution, take him slowly up to the bird and lift it 

 before his nose. If this plan is rigidly followed for several 

 points, I never saw the dog that would continue to run in at 

 the shot. 



The other defect is chiefly applicable to young dogs : it is 

 when they trust to their more experienced comrade to find the 

 game, and keep continually on the outlook expecting him to 

 do so. Nothing can be done for this but to pay the greatest 

 attention to their point ; selecting it in preference to that of 

 the other dog, and always firing, however small the chance of 

 hitting the bird. Also change the dogs they hunt with as 

 often as possible. Young dogs, with this treatment, will very 

 soon acquire confidence, and never keep staring at their com- 

 panion, unless he is settling upon a point. 



When the sportsman rears his own puppies, he should be 

 most particular, not only about the acknowledged excellence 



