POINTERS AND SETTERS. 225 



and a half, to guard against accidents or defects in growth. Let 

 these be well reared up to the end of January, or, in fact, until the 

 birds are paired and will lie well, whatever that time may be. 

 They should be fed as has been previously directed. A few bones 

 should be given daily, but little flesh, as the nose is certainly in- 

 juriously affected by this kind of food. Without attention to 

 bis health, so as to give the dog every chance of finding his game, 

 it is useless to attempt to break him. The puppies should either 

 be reared at full liberty at a good walk, or they should have an 

 airy yard. They should also be walked out daily, taking care to 

 make them know their names at a very early age, and teaching 

 them instant obedience to every order, without breaking their 

 spirit. Here great patience and tact are required ; but, when the 

 owner walks tliem out himself two or three times a week and 

 makes them fond of him, a little severity has no injurious effect. 

 In crossing fields the puppies should never be allowed to " break 

 fence," even if the gates are open, and should be called back the 

 moment they attempt to do so. These points are of great impor- 

 tance, and by attending to them, half the difficulty of breaking is 

 gotten over ; for, if the puppy is early taught obedience, you have 

 only to let him know what he is required to do, and he does it as 

 a matter of course. So also the master should accustom his pup- 

 pies from the earliest age to place a restraint upon their appetites 

 when ordered to do so ; and if he will provide himself with pieces 

 of biscuit and will place them within reach of the dog, while he pre- 

 vents his taking them by the voice only, he will greatly further the 

 object he has m view. Many breakers carry this practice so far as 

 to place a dainty morsel on the ground before the dog when 

 hungry, and use the word "Toho" to restrain him; but this, 

 though perhaps afterward useful when inclined to run in upon 

 game, is by no means an unmixed good, as the desire for game in 

 a well-bred dog is much greater than the appetite for food, unless 

 the stomach has long been deprived of it. 



Besides these lessons prior to breaking, it will be well to teach 

 the dog to come to heel, and too keep there, also to run forward at 

 the word of command j to lie down when ordered, and to remain 



