TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 11 



dog in the field, or even calling to him, is, as I 

 have just observed, fatal to diversion: even 

 whistling to be avoided as much as possible. 



In a little while a gun or pistol should be fired, 

 at the report of which the whelps should also be 

 made to drop : in the first instance by the word 

 ^' Down/' and the whistle, and subsequently by 

 the report alone ; they must be practised until 

 perfect in this lesson, and there will be less 

 trouble in making them " down charge'' — a matter 

 of almost more consequence than anything else in 

 shooting. 



If it be intended that pointers or setters shall 

 retrieve (a thing by no means to be recommended 

 if they are to hunt otherwise than single-handed), 

 a rabbit-skin stuffed with hard straw intermixed 

 with thorns, may be thrown for them to fetch. 

 They will soon learn to do this ; and the thorns 

 inside the skin pricking the mouth upon pressure 

 will prevent them breaking the plumage of their 

 game when they come in contact with it. 



All this should be done by the time the puppies 

 are three or four months old ; when, if the season 

 will permit, they should be shown the game they 

 are intended to pursue. But should the period 

 of the year be adverse, they must be practised in 

 these first lessons until such time as they can be 

 taken out with the gun. 



The most sagacious dogs are those which have 



