‘POINTERS AND SETTERS. 299 
education is generally effected in a couple of lessons, without 
trouble, and indeed the young dog often points steadily enough 
at the first or second scenting of game. 
Backing.— When a dog has acquired the merely instinctive 
property already described, he is said to be “‘ steady before,” and 
may be used. alone or single-handed without any further education ; 
but when he is to be hunted with other dogs he requires to be 
made ‘steady behind,” that is to say, he must be taught to 
“back” another dog as the latter stands. In very high-bred dogs 
this property, like the former, is developed very early; but the 
more hardy and courageous the breed, the longer they generally 
are in acquiring it, and therefore the young breaker should not be 
discouraged if he finds that his puppies give him some trouble 
after they have learnt to stand perfectly steady. Backing is 
usually taught in the same way as described for standing, that is 
to say, by hunting with an old steady dog, taking care that he is one 
whose find is to be depended on, and then stopping the young one 
with the voice and hand, or with the aid of a check-cord if neces- 
sary. The great art consists here in managing to get between the 
two dogs at the moment when the old one stands, and thus to be 
able to face the puppy as he rushes up to share the scent with his 
rival, which he at first considers his companion to be. Jealousy 
is a natural feeling in all dogs, from their desire to obtain approba- 
tion; but it must be eradicated in the pointer and setter, or they 
never become steady together, and whichever finds first, the other 
tries to run up and take the point from him. To avoid this failing, 
leave the dog which first finds alone, and walk up to the one which 
you have stopped, pat and encourage him with the word “Toho!” 
in a low but pleased tone; let him not on any account creep for- 
ward a step, but keep him exactly where he is for some minutes, 
if the birds lie well. Then walk forward to the old dog, take no 
notice of him, and, with your eyes still on the puppy, put up the 
birds, having stopped him with voice and hand if he moves a 
limb. Supposing the old dog has pointed falsely, the young one 
is materially injured, inasmuch as he has lost confidence in him, 
and next time he is with more difficulty restrained from running 
in to judge for himself; hence the necessity for a good nose in the 
old dog, who ought to be very steady and perfect in all respects. 
