TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. IS 



viously well instructed, he will be like enough to 

 di'op on your holding up the hand ; and it is best 

 if it be so, though it is sufficient if he backs the 

 dog on the game without dropping. However, 

 should he persist in rushing up to the setting dog, 

 the whip must be pretty freely administered. I 

 am no advocate for excessive flogging; but when 

 recourse is had to the whip (and it is sometimes 

 necessary) it should be so applied that the dog- 

 will not fail to bear it in his memory. 



If the birds run, the dog which first pointed 

 them will begin to foot them ; and the other dogs 

 should now be permitted gradually to approach 

 him and enjoy the scent, but by no means to 

 go before or take it from him. Nothing has 

 a greater tendency to make a dog unruly than to 

 suffer his companions to go up to the game before 

 him after he has found it, and thus deprive him 

 of his reward. When the birds run some dis- 

 tance, as they frequently do, by the time the first 

 dog has gone forward a few yards the others will 

 have got upon the scent ; and should any one 

 manifest too great eagerness he should be checked 

 bj' the words " Take heed.'' And it is advisable 

 at this particular time to carry the whip in the 

 hand. I am no advocate for excessive flogging, 

 as I have just observed, or for dogs which require 

 it ; but there is no harm in having the instrument 

 of correction frequently in sight. 



