TRAINING DOGS TOR THE GUN. 17 



now fast disappearing) the dog will get into the 

 way of ranging too far off. The distance^ either 

 on moor or enclosui'e, should never exceed a 

 hundred to a hundred and twenty yards from the 

 shooter. When beyond this^ the whistle must be 

 used to keep him Avithin the proper distance. 



Most shooters are aware that a dog will fre- 

 quently stop in the field and look to his master 

 for instructions. These instructions ought invari- 

 ably to be conveyed by signs of the hand ; even 

 the whistle should be used as seldom as possible ; 

 and the voice never, unless indispensably neces- 

 sary. 



Some dogs there are tliat appear to care nothing 

 for their game when killed^ and yet may be good 

 dogs too. But it is best to let young dogs mouth 

 the first game they see killed^ and not be too 

 eager to take it from them. If you attempt to 

 take it away quickly it may teach the dog to 

 break feather or tear the bird, which he ^nll 

 seldom do if suffered to have his own way with it 

 for a minute or two. 



When a bird is winged, or falls in a place where 

 it cannot readily be found, the dog must be told 

 to ^^ seek dead J" As I have previously observed, 

 one of his earliest lessons should be to " seek'' a 

 bit of bread or anything thrown from the table ; 

 and when he comes in contact with a wounded 

 bird he will have a pretty good idea how to ga 



