332 BREAKING AND ENTERING. 



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 cha- 

 racteristic 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 department 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 con- 

 fined 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 



