Modern Breaking 



95 



is to fire a pistol, loaded lightly, while the dog 

 is ranging well away from the breaker. After 

 the shot has been fired the pistol should be put 

 away and no attention whatever paid to the 

 dog. If he shows some signs of fear the 

 breaker should walk right along on his course 

 as though nothing had happened. By no means 

 should he attempt to encourage or pet the dog. 

 Nothing could be worse. Dogs are sympathetic 

 creatures and when slightly frightened nothing 

 heightens that fright like a recognition of it 

 by the breaker. If the breaker pays no attention 

 to the thing that frightened the dog it is more 

 than likely the dog will pay no further attention 

 to it than to watch the breaker to see what 

 eflfect it has on him. If the breaker notices it 

 seriously the dog will be certain that it is some 

 terrible thing, and when he hears it again will 

 be more frightened than ever. Once the effect 

 of the first shot is passed over without trouble 

 the rest will be comparatively easy. A few 

 shots like the first will accustom the dog to the 

 noise, and in the course of a few days he will 

 stand firm under all conditions. When the dog 

 is bold enough to pay little or no attention to 

 the noise of a pistol, a gun may be substituted, 

 with blank cartridges lightly loaded. 



After all danger of the dog's becoming gun- 

 shy has passed he may be taught to drop to 

 shot. There is nothi"hg to do in teaching a dog 



