308 VERMIN DOGS. 
principle is to make them understand that i¢ is the instrument 
of destruction, not themselves, and that it is only by paying proper 
attention to the gun that they can be expected to succeed in 
obtaining game. In working spaniels in covert great quiet is 
desirable, as game will never come within distance of the shooter 
if they hear a noise proceeding from him, and hence the constant 
encouragement to the dogs, which some sportsmen indulge in, is 
by no means necessary.. Ifthe spaniel is properly broken, he can 
hear his master as he passes through the underwood, and he will 
take care to drive the game towards him, while if he is slack and 
idle the voice does him little good, and prevents the only chance 
of getting a shot which might otherwise occur. In battue shooting, 
spaniels, if employed, are in aid of the beaters, not of the shooters, 
most.of whom do not even know the dogs’ names, and the latter 
cannot, therefore, be expected to work to them; but as they go 
forward with the beaters in line, they must be kept from getting 
on too far, or they will often drive game back. For this work, 
however, they do not require to be nearly so thoroughly broken 
as for hunting to the single shooter, for which purpose they must 
know him, and should, in fact, be hroken by him, 
THE ENTERING AND BREAKING OF VERMIN DOGS. 
Terriers are entered to vermin with great facility, and require 
very little breaking, unless they are intended to be used with 
ferrets, when they must be broken to let these animals alone, as 
they are apt to make their appearance occasionally in passing from 
one hole to another. It is only necessary to let the ferret and the 
terrier be together in a yard or stable, cautioning the latter not to 
touch the former, for a few times, and the young dog soon learns 
to distinguish his friends from his foes. Some terriers are not: 
hardy enough to brave the bites which they are liable to in rat-: 
ting, &c., and indeed the true terrier without any cross of the. 
bulldog is a great coward, so that he is quite useless for the pur- 
pose. In such a case he must be encouraged by letting him kill 
young rats first, and as he gains confidence he will perhaps also 
increase in courage. If, however, the terrier is well-bred, he will 
seldom want anything but practice. 
