POINTERS AND BETTERS. 239 



after birds are killed tlio puppy waich was previously steady be- 

 comes wild and ungovernable, and spoils the day's shooting by all 

 sorts of bad behavior. Hence it is that breakers so often ar^ 

 blamed without cause ; but when it is found by experience that 

 such conduct is the rule, and not the exception, young dogs are 

 left by their owners to be shot over by a keeper for a few days, 01 

 even longer, before they are taken into the field. Another reason 

 for this wildness may be assigned ; namely, the dogs are often 

 hunted in the commencement of the season by almost perfect 

 strangers, two or three guns together ; where'as, if their breaker 

 had the management, they would be under much more control, 

 and especially if he went out quietly by himself. Here again ia 

 another reason for gentlemen breaking their own dogs, or, at all 

 events, finishing their education by giving their dogs and them- 

 selves a few lessons together. 



Down charge, as already described, ought to be taught from a 

 very early period, the dog being made to drop at the word or ele- 

 vation of the hand of his master, without the slightest hesitation. 

 It is not, therefore, necessary to dwell upon this part of his educa- 

 tion, further than to remark that after each point, or, indeed, di- 

 rectly after birds rise under any circumstances, the dog should be 

 made to drop by the voice, using the order " Down charge ! " or by 

 raising the hand, if the eye of the dog can be caught. "When this 

 practice is made habitual, there is little trouble in carrying out the 

 order until the gun is added ; but then it will be found that great 

 patience and forbearance are required to prevent the dog from 

 running to his birds as they drop ; for, if this is allowed, it is sure 

 to make him unsteady in every case, as soon as his eye catches sight 

 of game, whether after the point or not. It is now that the advan 

 tage of having made the dog drop to the gun is manifested, for the 

 first thing he thinks of, when the gun is fired, is the necessity foi 

 dropping, and if this is encouraged all goes on well. Too often 

 the shooter himself produces unsteadiness, by disregarding his dog 

 at the moment when he ought to attend to him most particularly, 

 and by running in himself to take care of his " bag," considering 

 that more important than the steadiness of his dog. It is true 



