HAND- WORKING 267 



he is about to return on his beat, and after a few such 

 checks he will stop in his turn and look for the white 

 glove or handkerchief, which, if he is to be kept on 

 quartering back, should be waved, and not held 

 steady overhead, the white hand being waved in the 

 direction in which he is required to range. If required 

 to come to heel, the hand is waved towards the 

 ground. 



The other instruction, such as dropping to shot, and 

 when birds rise, etc., is easily imparted after these first 

 lessons are completed. The dog should be taught to do 

 everything required by a wave of the hand — whether 

 to come in to heel, or turn in his quartering, all should 

 be done on the silent system ; and no matter what 

 description of game may get up, he should learn to 

 drop instantly. I always trained my setters off 

 hares and rabbits, and they would pay no more 

 attention to them than if they were sheep. On some 

 hills Alpine hares are a nuisance ; in such cases it is 

 an easy matter to employ a brace of steady pointers to 

 pick up such ground-game as may be required, and 

 so avoid spoiling bold, high-ranging setters. It is a 

 pleasing sight to watch setters in their quartering, 

 disdaining ground-game as they would so much cattle. 

 With but some few exceptions I was generally success- 

 ful in breaking dogs off ground-game, if they were not 

 too old and had not been previously spoiled too much. 

 A good, sharp pull at the check-cord, when a dog is 

 inclined to run fur, generally sends him head-over- 

 heels, and effectually restrains his energies in that 

 direction. 



When receiving their lessons dogs should invariably 

 be unfed previously ; they are then keener to learn. 



