CHAPTER XII. 



Backing. — A form of tlie pointing instinct ; bad manners ; 

 rustling in ; independence of character. 



GOOD breakers are often greatly perplexed 

 over the matter of backing. Nothing is 

 simpler than teaching a dog to back. In 

 fact, there is little more to it than permitting 

 the dog to learn it himself. To do that requires 

 a good knowledge of self, for the temptation to 

 aid the dog is alwa)'S present, and men find it 

 very difficult to resist this temptation even after 

 they know what they should do and what they 

 should not do. 



Backing is but another form of the expres- 

 sion of the pointing instinct. Dogs love to back 

 just as they love to point, and it is about as 

 natural for them to do one as it is to do the 

 other. A young dog will point a leaf stirred 

 by the breeze, and another young dog will 

 drop into a back at the sight of such a point. 

 So in the field the natural tendency of the dog 

 is to back, but usually he is hindered by the 

 interference of the breaker trying to steady him. 

 The dog contracts a habit of running up to the 

 pointing dog and continues it merely as a habit. 



