POINTERS AND SETTERS; 289 
and a half, to guard against accidents or defects in growth. Let 
these be well reared up to the end of January, or, in fact, until 
the birds are paired and will lie well, whatever that time may be. 
They should be fed as directed in the last chapter. A few bones 
should be given daily, but little flesh, as the nose is certainly 
injuriously affected by this kind of food; and without attention 
to his health, so as to give the dog every chance of finding his 
game, it is useless to attempt to break him. The puppies should 
either be reared at full liberty at a good walk, or they should have 
an airy yard, and should then be walked out daily, taking care to 
make them know their names at a very early age, and teaching 
them instan: ience to every order, without _breaking their 
spirit. Here great patience and tact are required; but, by the 
owner walking them out himself two or three times a week and 
making them fond of him, a little severity has no injurious effect. 
In crossing fields the puppies should never be allowed to “ break 
fence,” even if the gates are open, but should be called back the 
moment they attempt to do so. These points are of great import- 
ance, and by attending to them half the difficulty of breaking is 
got over; for if the puppy is early taught obedience, you have 
only to lot-hirn know what he is required to do, and he does it 
as a matiier-of course. _ So also the master should accustom his 
puppies from the earliest age to place a restraint upon their 
appetites when ordered to do so; and if he will provide himself 
with pieces of biscuit, and will place them within reach of the 
dog, whilst he prevents his taking them by the voice only, he will 
greatly aid the object he has in view. Many breakers carry this 
practice so far as to place a dainty morsel on the ground before 
the dog when hungry, and use the word “Toho” to restrain him ; 
but this, though perhaps hereafter useful when inclined to run in 
upon game, is by no means an unmixed good, as the desire for 
game in a well-bred dog is much greater than the appetite for 
food, unless the stomach has long been deprived of it. 
Besides these lessons prior to breaking, it will be well to aaah 
the dog to come toheel, and to keep there ; also to run forward ab 
the word of command, to lie down when ender. and to. remain 
down. All these several orders should be accompanied by the 
appropriate words afterwards used im the field, viz.:— = | >. 
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