16 THE dog; and how to break him. 



ing of tlie term^ tlie more particularly if his pre- 

 vious lessons have been properly inculcated. Sub- 

 sequently the whistle will be found sufficient. 



Dogs should always be hunted up the wind, or 

 across it. This will make them carry their heads 

 well up, and quarter their ground better than if 

 suffered to hunt down the wind. A good deal has 

 been said about dogs beating a field regularly, 

 and a great portion of what has been said is sheer 

 nonsense. It may be a pretty sight to see dogs 

 quarter a field with all the regularity and precision 

 of soldiers at a review or on parade ; but this 

 allows no room for a dog^s sagacity to display 

 itself. Sagacious dogs, particularly old ones, soon 

 acquire a better knowledge than the shooter where 

 their game is to be found ; and it is the best plan, 

 so long as their steadiness is to be depended on^ 

 to let them have their own way, in a great mea- 

 sure, in this respect. 



When a dog has had much practice in the field, 

 he will, in nineteen instances out of twenty, take 

 the wind of his own accord ; but he will also, if 

 not guarded against, be very likely to acquire a 

 habit of hunting round the hedge-sides on first 

 entering a field — experience ha^-ing taught him 

 that game is most frequently found in such situa- 

 tions. Provided the enclosures are not large this 

 may be permitted ; but if they be of considerable 

 extent (and small enclosures as well as fences are 



