96 Modern Breaking 



to drop to shot but to compel him to drop at 

 the report of the gun. When the dog has no 

 fear of the noise, a gun may be discharged over 

 him and the command to drop given at the 

 same time. Of course it is more convenient to 

 use a pistol in the first lessons, having a whip 

 in one hand with which the dog may be given 

 a light cut simultaneously with the discharge of 

 the pistol and the order to drop. The dog soon 

 comes to associate the order with the report and 

 suits his action accordingly. After learning 

 that he is to drop when the gun is discharged, 

 the dog may be punished with a few cuts of the 

 whip when he refuses, care always being taken 

 to make the dog drop in the place where he 

 stood when the gun was discharged. By patient 

 practice the dog can be brought to such a degree 

 of perfection in this respect, that he will drop in 

 his tracks while going at a gallop when he hears 

 the report of the gun. 



DROPPING TO WING. 



Dropping to wing is the same thing as drop- 

 ping to order or shot, the breaker simply com- 

 pelling the dog to drop at the rise of a bird. 

 Great care, however, is necessary in the first 

 lessons lest the dog be made a blinker, a fault 

 of a very serious character. High-strung, young 

 dogs are disposed to be frightened at the rise of 

 a bird or covey, and no attempt should be 

 made to teach dropping to wing until the dog 



