12 THE dog; and how to break him. 



been most in contact and company with their 

 master. A whelp tanght to ''seek'' a bit of bread 

 thrown to him from the breakfast or dinner- table 

 will sooner learn to ''seek dead/' and be more 

 handy in recovering a wounded bird, than one 

 which has not had any initiatory practice in the 

 house. 



When whelps are first taken into the fields they 

 will most likely chase larks or other small birds 

 eagerly ; and this they may be suff'ered to do, as 

 they will soon give it up on coming in contact 

 with game : they will more readily give up chasing 

 larks as they perceive the old dog takes no notice 

 of them. It is almost indispensable (or at any 

 rate it saves a deal of trouble) that an old steady 

 dog should be taken in company with the puppies 

 until they begin to point and hunt eagerly, when 

 his presence is no longer beneficial. 



When one dog finds game, and points it, his 

 companions will be very apt to rush in ; and now, 

 and not until now, is the word " Toho" to be 

 used . It is to be introduced as a word of caution, 

 and should never be uttered but when one at 

 least of the dogs is upon game ; nor should it be 

 used until he is perfectly still and steady on his 

 point. When you perceive any dog rushing in 

 upon him who has the point, call out his name in 

 an angiy manner, hold up your hand, and make 

 use of the word " Toho." If he has been pre- 



