298 BREAKING AND ENTERING. 
great zest and impudent disregard of his breaker, and at others 
with evident fear of the consequences. Here, then, something more 
must be done, and it is effected by taking the young dog out with 
a steady companion and hunting them together; then, keeping 
the old dog within forty yards, let him, if possible, be the one to 
find, and take care to walk up to him before the young one comes 
up, which he is sure to do as soon as he catches his eye on the 
point. Now use your voice in a severe but low tone to stop him ; 
and as he has been accustomed to halt with the word “Toho!” he 
will at once do so, generally standing in a cautious attitude, at a 
‘distance varying with his fear of his breaker and the amount of 
courage which he possesses. If the birds lie close, let him draw 
up and get the scent; and the excitement will then be so great, 
that if he is under sufficient command to be held in check by 
the “Toho!” he will be sure to assume the rigid condition char- 
acteristic of his breed. Now go quietly up to him, pat him, and 
encourage him, but in such a tone as to prevent his running in 
—still using the “Toho! good dog; toho!”—and keeping him 
for a few minutes where he is, so long as he can scent his birds, 
which he shows by champing and frothing at the mouth. After 
the lapse of this time walk quietly forward, keeping your eye on 
him, and still restraining him with the “Toho,” put up the birds, 
and then, if possible, make him drop with the words “ Down 
charge !” the meaning of which he has already been taught. But 
if he is very wild and of high courage, do not attempt this at first, 
as it is better to proceed step by step, and to teach each depart- 
ment thoroughly before another is commenced. In this way, by 
perseverance and hard work (which last is the keystone of the 
breaker’s arch), any dog, whether of the special breeds used for the 
purpose or not, may be made to point when he finds game; but 
none but the pointer and setter become rigid or cataleptic, a 
peculiarity which is confined to them. In very high-couraged 
dogs a check-cord, thirty or forty yards in length, is sometimes 
suffered to trail on the ground, or is held by the breaker, so as to 
assist the voice in stopping the dog when he is wanted to make 
his stand; but the cases where this is wanted are so rare as 
scarcely to require any allusion to it, if the breaker is sufficiently 
industrious to give work enough to his charge. This part of the 
