POINTERS AND SETTEES. 337 



deficient in courage, and both require the most delicate and 

 encouraging treatment to remove them. Let such dogs run 

 "riot," and commit any fault they like, without fear for a 

 time ; then afterwards (that is, when they begin to be quite 

 bold, and are full of the zest for game) begin very cautiously 

 to steady them, and something may yet be done. In very bad 

 cases all attempts at breaking must be given up at " pairing time," 

 and the gun must be relied on as a last resource, the killing of 

 game having sometimes a wonderful effect in giving courage 'to 

 a dog which has been depressed by undue correction. Punish- 

 ment is not to be condemned altogether, for in some breeds and 

 individuals without the whip nothing could be done; but it 

 should be very cautiously applied, and the temper of each dog 

 should be well studied in every case before it is adopted. 

 Kindness will effect wonders, especially where united with firm- 

 ness, and with a persevering determination to compel obedience 

 somehow ; but, if that " how '' can be effected without the whip, 

 so much the better ; still, if it cannot, the rod must not be 

 spared, and, if used at all, it should be used sufficiently. 



Shyness of the gun will generally also go off in time ; but, as 

 it seldom occurs except in very timid and nervous dogs, they 

 do not often become very useful even when they have lost it. 

 The best plan is to lead a shy dog quietly behind the shooters, 

 and not to give him an opportunity of running off, which he 

 generally does on the first discharge. When game falls, lead 

 him up and let him mouth it ; and thus, in course of time, he 

 connects cause with effect, and loses that fear of the report, 

 which he finds is followed by a result that gives him the pleasure 

 of scenting fresh blood. 



Pottering at the hedges in partridge-shooting is the result 

 of using dogs to find rabbits, or of allowing them to look for 



