66o MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



ground in opposite courses, and not following at the 

 tail of one another. When a dog is found to be 

 slowish in this respect, he should be hunted with a 

 strange one, or alone ; he may thus be made to act 

 for himself. 



If in following up this system, we have brought 

 them to have a gallant range, quarter their ground 

 properly, point, back, lie-charge, and foot out their 

 birds correctly, we are in the high road to perfection ; 

 this, however, is not to be attained in a few weeks, or 

 months, but is the reward of continued care and 

 perseverance. But whatever rules may be laid down, 

 much must be left to the common-sense and discern- 

 ment of the trainer, as a passionate or stupid man can 

 never make a first-rate dog. 



Spring is the best time for training dogs, as the 

 birds are then paired, and lie better, and are not so 

 easily flushed as after the breeding-season. Besides 

 being less numerous at that season, the game are not 

 so likely to excite the dog. But a dog cannot be 

 expected to be rendered quite staunch until a few birds 

 have been killed before him. After this, and about the 

 beginning of July, the young dogs ought to be taken 

 for a few weeks to the moors, to be hunted with steady 

 dogs, and blank shots fired over them, so as to pre- 

 pare them for their work when the season commences. 

 Even old dogs are the better for this occasionally. 



It is of great importance to choose a proper day 

 for training — such a one as the scent lies well with. 

 The air should be at its mean gravity, rather moist, 

 but inclining to grow drier, with a mild and gentle 

 breeze. The moderate gravity buoys up the scent, 

 and enables the dog more readily to find his game 

 without lowering his head, or inclining to rake. 



A good property in a dog, is to hunt with his nose 



