114 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Au«. 28, 1890, 



THE ENGLISH SETTER. 



[Concluded from Pane .94.] 

 IN THE FIELD. 



YOCJR youngster beingperfect in the foregoing lessons, be 

 may be taken to the field for work. You must, how- 

 ever, be very careful not to subject him to extreme exertion 

 because of the danger of stunting his growth or otherwise 

 injuring him. Give him only a little'work at beginning, 

 gradually increasing the time as he advances in age and 

 strength. By all means begin his field-training upon the 

 birds you expect to shoot over him in the future. The best 

 dog for general shooting I ever owned, I broke on woodcock. 

 Quail are good birds upon which to commence work, as they 

 lie well and have a strong scent. Pinnated grouse for the 

 same reason are excellent birds upou which to exercise him, 

 Ruffed grouse are so wary and difficult to approach, their 

 haunts being in places where the sportsman cannot observe 

 the motions of his dog — a most desirable, even necessary 

 condition to success — that they cannot be considered avail- 

 able in the section of country in which the writer lives. 

 Sufficient woodcock may be found for the purpose of the 

 first season's training in nearly every section of the country. 

 After being thoroughly broken upou woodcock, quail, pin- 

 nated grouse, snipe and ruffed grouse, in the order named, 

 may properly come in for a share of attention. The manner 

 of breaking upon all these birds is precisely the same. Your 

 dog should instinctively point rigidly the instant he catches 

 the scent of a game bird; should he not do this and you 

 are so situated that you cannot afford to "dispose" of him 

 and try again you can teach him to point if his olfactory 

 organs are aU'right, by proper management. Quail will 

 answer for this purpose better than almost any bird, as they 

 give out strong scent and will not flush at the sound of the 

 human voice nearly so quickly as do most of the others. 

 Having ascertained' where a bevy feeds, take your dog in the 

 morniug to the stubble and start him to work, carefully 

 watchiug him, and when yon observe from his motions that 

 game is m the vicinity, speak kindly to bim, cautioning him 

 by calling out "steady,'' "careful," being mindful not to 

 alarm or excite him by speaking too loudly or harshly. If 

 he presently discovers that he is within a few feet of the 

 birds — a fact you can easily discern after a little observation 

 and experience— utter the command "to-ho." If thereupon 

 he flush the bevy or bird, and you afterward, as you should 

 do. punish him by a light tap or a threatening display of the 

 whip, which should always accompany you in the field, he 

 will in time come to understand that he is punished for dis- 

 obeying the command "to-ho," which he will soon learn is 

 only uttered by yourself at such times as he should point, 

 aud .he will soon be pointing whether ordered to do so or not. 

 In some cases he will point the first game bird he scents, and 

 will continue to do so even when very young. But because he 

 may fail to do this during his first or even his second season, 

 do hot conclude he is worthless. If his breeding is irreproach- 

 able and disease has not destroyed his olfactory powers, be 

 assured he will ultimately point as staunchly as desired. 

 There is a vast difference in dogs in this respect. The best 

 dog the author ever owned did not point until her third sea- 

 son. Yet in that single season she proved to possess staunch- 

 ness, sagacity, and a first-class nose. 



Very probably, however, as I have said, he will point the 

 first bevy of quail he scents, especially if his sire and dam 

 were field-broken, and if he is of a strain of unquestioned 

 purify. In this event your labors will be greatlv lightened. 

 But it' he does not do this, and if he flush bevy after bevy, 

 still continue as above, resorting to extreme severity oniy 

 in case be persists in his disobedience. As I have said, the 

 pointing instinct is not always developed in dogs of a year 

 or greater age. A knowledge of this fact should tend to dis- 

 sipate your anger and moderate the severity of the castiga- 

 tion. You must not expect to break him in a single day or 

 week, or month, or even with certainty, so that be shall be 

 faultless, in a year. Most probably he will be several years 

 old, although carefully taught, his faults punished and his 

 obedience rewarded, ere he can truly he said to be broken. 

 Do not delude yourself with the belief that you or your pro- 

 fessional breaker can turn out to order a perfectly broken 

 dog: in a single season. Experience, with constant watching 

 and exercise in the foregoing lessons, can alone make him 

 perfect. Professionals will hardly admit this, but the fact 

 remains, confirmed by the experience of every old sportsman. 

 However, be not discouraged, your work is not in vain. The 

 worst is passed, and, even during the first season you will 

 have fine sport over him, more the second and still mbre each 

 succeeding year, amply repaying your care, labor and vexa- 

 tion. Of course I state the above as a general and not the 

 invariable rule. Instances have not been wanting in which a 

 single season sufficed for breaking; indeed, this has occurred 

 in my own experience, but it is the exception and not the 

 rule. 



"When the birds are flushed by yourself or your dog, or 

 from whatever cause, hemust be taught to sit down instantly 

 whether the bird be shot at or not. To do this, invariably 

 call out "sit" the instant you see the bird or hear the whir 

 of wings— invariably doing so before discharging your guu 

 This is a somewhat difficult thing for au impetuous young 

 sportsman to do; but if neglected you will fail of accomplish- 

 ing your object. More sportsmen, in the excitement of the 

 moment, fail here than at any other step. Enforce the com- 

 mand above all others. Never permit a single infraction to 

 pass without a reprimand, and in case of persistent disobed- 

 ience, with due punishment— severe if he still prove refract- 

 ory. Before resorting to the check-cord, when he runs in, 

 go to him, seize him by the loose skin of the neck and drag 

 him back to the spot whence he started, crving "sit," "sit," 

 and compelling him to remain at a close charge for several 

 moments. Repeat this until convinced it is useless. When 

 so convinceduse the whip while dragging him back. In time 

 you may, if you prefer it, permit him to remain standing in- 

 stead of sitting down. At first, however, compel him to sit 

 down until ordered to bold up, as in this position he is not 

 so liable to run in to chase crippled or live birds. Remember 

 always that you are not out for the purpose of bagging game 

 but to train your dog. Subvert all things to this end. Bet- 

 ter lose scores of birds than p rtnit an error in this or any 

 other respect to go unpunished. Keep cool. It does not 

 matter if you do not kill the bird. You will find it aerain. 

 Should you fail to do as suggested he will repeat the offense 

 at the first opportunity and evidently become wholly un- 

 manageable. When a dog, despite punishment, persists in 

 running in or breaking shot, i, e., running in to catch dead, 

 wounded or live birds, or upon the discharge of the gun, I 

 u«e a check-cord made in the following way; Procure a cot- 

 ton twine, about twice the size of that made use of by car- 

 penters as a chalk-line and about fifty or sixty feet in lehgth ; 

 make a slip-noose in one end and sew the other through and 

 through to prevent its fraying against the bushes and her- 

 bage — a knot is apt to catch on obstructions and to be very 

 annoying. Slip the noose overhis head and set him to work. 

 When he finds game you will have no difficulty in placing 

 yourself near the line, and, upon flushing the birds, call out 

 "sit," after which you may discharge your guu. By this 

 time he will be twenty-five or more feet in front of you in 

 full chase. Step upon the string, lay down your gun, and 

 drag him back hand overhand to the place whence he broke, 

 all the time crying "sit," "sit." You will choke him a little. 

 So much the better. Compel him to remain at a charge un- 

 til you have reloaded or even a little longer, occasionally re- 

 approaching him for his misconduct. He will understand 

 you. Then order him up and on. Repeat this as often as he 

 shall break, and a few such lessons will effectually and for- 

 ever cure him. I have known the most stubborn and well- 

 nigh incorrigible brutes broken of this fault in this way in 

 a single day, 



/When the birds are flushed and you kill, after a proper 

 time, order him to "holdup," "seek dead." When Be has 

 found it, command him to "fetch," which, with a little per- 

 suasion, he will do at once if properly yard-broken. When 

 he brings it to you cause him to sit, and take the bird from 

 him in that position only— the benefit of this I have already 

 pointed out— praising and caressing him if he readily de- 

 1 iver it to hand, chiding bim if he bites or retains it. It now 

 becomes necessary to decide whether you will follow the 

 scattered bevy or seek a new one. All sportsmen will agree 

 with me that, where the nature of the ground or the direc- 

 tion of the day's beat will permit, the latter is the best plan, 

 especially with young dogs, as quail only feed from two to 

 three hours in the morning, after which they lie in huddles 

 in dense cover where it is difficult for even experienced dogs 

 with fine noses to locate them; but in the early morning, 

 while still feeding, their trails can be more easily found and 

 followed. You had therefore better seek another bevy or wait 

 at least a half hour until the birds have begun to move and 

 collect. At such times you will often hear them calling and 

 thus be aided in finding them. When a bevy is flushed much 

 of your success in again finding them and in working your 

 dog will depend upon the accuracy with which you have 

 marked them, so that for his sake great pains should.be taken 

 to locate them to a yard if possible. 



You should also teach him to "drop to shot" whether 

 game is on the wing or not, if your gun be discharged in his 

 hearing. This is done precisely as vou teaeh him to "drop 

 to wing." 



These simple rules having been thoroughly learned, no- 

 thing further is needed to perfect your dog in field wisdom 

 save experience, which, as I before stated, is the. great finisher, 

 and without which no dog can be called perfect. 



With the exception of a word as to backing all' has been 

 written hereinbefore necessary for the information of the 

 young sportsmen. No dog can be considered broken which 

 does not back his fellow the instaut he observes him pointing. 

 Many dogs do this naturally. Those who do not, are taught 

 to do so precisely as they are taught to point game, and no 

 extended observations are needed upon the subject. 



MISCELLANEOUS RULES. 



With timid and gun-shy puppies I procure a small-bore 

 rifle and kill a bird or two in his presence. When he comes 

 to understand that the report is connected with the killing, 

 all shyness is at an end. I have no difficulty afterward in 

 using the shotgun over him. 



There are many useful accomplishments which may easily 

 be taught, some of which are not mentioned in an v work on 

 dog-breaking with which I am familiar. Fancy tricks should 

 not be taught a setter for manv reasons, chief among which 

 is the fact that they have quite enough to acquire in be- 

 coming perfect in field work. 



Never permit your dog to rear up against yourself or other 

 person. If he does so, and is of a timid disposition, step 

 smartly upon his hind toes and at the same timemilldy re- 

 buke him. A few such lessons will put an end to the practice. 

 If not timid, gentle punishment will prevent it if accom- 

 panied with a command "down" in a threatening tone. 



Never permit your dog to run upon the streets unaccom- 

 panied by yourself. If unbroken the labor of breaking will 

 be quadrupled— if broken it injures his usefulness. Having 

 acquired the "street tricks," as before stated, he may gener- 

 ally be set down as worthless. Punish him whenever you 

 find him away from home. A setter or pointer which has 

 been allowed to habitually run upon the streets can usually 

 be recognized by the currish manner he has acquired of carry- 

 ing his tail curled over his back. Never purchase one of this 

 kind no matter what the inducements held out 



Never loan your dog under any circumstances. This 

 practice has ruined many valuable animals. 



Do not permit him to play with or obey commands from 

 any other than yourself. 



Never hunt your dog with another until thoroughly broken 

 unless with his brace-mate; even this latter is of doubtful 

 utility. 



Under no circumstances permit another sportsman to ac- 

 company you to the field until your dog or brace of dogs is 

 thoroughly obedient and staunch. 



Never repeat a command. If the sportsman orders the 

 dog a half dozen times to "charge," ''fetch," etc., he only 

 obeys when he sees fit to do so. Enforce instant obedience 

 when satisfied he hears and understands you. 



Remember that shouting and intemperate flogging may 

 eau«e your dog to blink his game. 



When in or out of the field never permit him to cross a 

 fence in advance of yourself. The reason for the rule is that 

 he will never leave the field in which you set him to work 

 unless by your order. In shooting in standing corn, high 

 grasss or weeds, and in dense covert, nothing is more com- 

 mon than to lose your dog while he is pointing game. If be 

 has been taught as I suggest, instead of shouting yourself 

 hoarse or blowing your whistle until your face resembles a 

 toy balloon, go to work quietly and seek him; you will surely 

 find him in the field with yourself, perhaps within a dozen 

 paces of the spot where you last saw him, pointing prob- 

 ably, and vou will thereby avoid the necessity, and the evils 

 resulting therefrom, of calling him off his points or inducing 

 him to flush the birds. I invariably brpak my dogs thus, 

 and strongly urge young sportsmen to do so. If you ob- 

 serve him approach a fence wall or other means of inclosure, 

 evincing a disposition to cross it, call out distinctly beware 

 fence, or 'ware fence, and enforce strict obedience. 



While out exercising my young dogs I occasionally drop 

 my handkerchief or glove and encourage them to restore it 

 to me. They soon learn what is wanted, and instances are 

 recorded where this has been the means of finding lost prop- 

 erty without which sportsmen would have been seriously 

 embarrassed. Such discipline as last suggested cannot in- 

 jure a dog, but will rather have the effect to increase his 

 efficiency as a retriever. 



Should you decide to teach other accomplishments, let 

 them be such as will have a tendency to strengthen the quali- 

 ties which make him a valuable companion and servant in 

 the field, and not such as are merely snowy and amusing, or 

 such as may result in engaging his abilities to the neglect of 

 and endangering his field qualities. 



In conclusion I wish briefly to mention a remedy I have 

 tested and know to be of value. Many localities where game 

 abounds are infested with rattlesnakes. My own dogs'have 

 been bitten as have many others within my knowledge; yet 

 I have never nor have any of my friends lost one in conse- 

 quence since the discovery that Perry Davis's Pain Killer is 

 a certain antidote. 



For my own part, I never go to the field in spring, sum- 

 mer or early autumn shooting without it. The method of 

 administering it is as follows: Rub the bitten parts thor- 

 oughly with the preparation, and give a teaspoonful diluted 

 with water— warm water is preferable— every half hour 

 until three or four doses have been administered, and con- 

 tinue rubbing it in at intervals of fifteen minutes for an 

 hour, when your patient will be out of danger. 



The swelling will probably remain for several days, but 

 need excite no alarm. He may be lame, if bitten in 'one of 

 his feet or legs, for a week or more, but will rapidly recover 

 and experience no serious after results. If he be bitten 

 about the head or forlegs, sacks tilled with a jelly-like liquid 

 will form upon and just under the skin of the neck. Rub 

 these thoroughly with the preparation and they will disap- 

 pear in a day or two. I might mention many instances 

 where dogs have been bitten, in the neighborhood of the 

 writer's residence, some of which did not receive the benefit 

 of treatment for several hours after the accident, not one of 

 which died, It is, indeed, a specific in these cases. 



DOGS OF THE DAY. 



MR. CARSWELL told me on Friday last that Wilming- 

 ton entries would total about 200, which is about wh a* 

 could be expected, considering the opposition at Detroit, 

 Youngstown and Kingston. This state of affairs cannot, of 

 course, be avoided; but it is unfortunate that the seveu Sep- 

 tember shows cannot bespread a little thinner than four in 

 one week. Toronto is lucky to get a clear week on Sept. 15 

 to 19, and then Ottawa and London are competitors the week 

 following. 



Danbury is to the front again this year with an unopposed 

 show on Oct. 7 to 10. Secretary Dynes undoubtedly did not 

 consult the "gentleman" who confidentially informed me 

 after I had pegged his pointer back last year that the de- 

 cision was "rank" or I would not have been asked to go 

 there for the fourth year in succession. Tb« DanLury 

 pointer judging was not without its amusing side. There 

 could be no question but that my judgment was at fault, the 

 two gentlemen who were beaten fully agreed on that point; 

 so let us take their claim as correct. The question then is, 

 what dog should have won? But here they dissolved part- 

 nership, each claiming that his entry should have beeu in 

 first place. As near as I could make it out the laugh was on 

 my side after all. 



Danbury last year was held under the auspices of the 

 Connecticut State Kennel Club, but that association is on 

 the obituary list at the A. K. C. headquarters with the 

 label "Owes §10." Danbury will therefore go it alone, as it 

 did before. Entri es close on Sept. 26, and there is no en 

 trance fee, while the prizes are $5 and $3 in the open classes, 

 and $3 and $2 in the puppy classes. Year by year the qua! 

 ity of the exhibits has improved at the Danbury show, and 

 I hope to see that this holds good in 1890. 



Mr. Mitchell Harrison has relinquished all idea of bring- 

 ing the collie Christopher over from England, has removed 

 the announcement of his speedy departure from the "ad." 

 in the English papers and reduced his stud fee to seveu 

 guineas. Dublin Scot has again changed owners and is 

 owned by a Mr. W. P. Kidd, of Manchester. 



Our collie judges by the way, wouldn't have Charleroi II. 

 at any price, neither would the breeders. I think Marsden 

 seriously contemplated sending for the police when I told 

 him that I would sooner breed to Charleroi II. than Scotilla 

 or Dublin Scot. I notice, however, that Mr. Stretch has not 

 been offering to sell Charleroi II. and still keeps him at 

 stud. That dog was a collie, some prize-winning collies we 

 have had here were oniy dogs. 



Having amply demonstrated to their own satisfaction that 

 the American bpagle breeders and their standard are all 

 wrong the small-hound men of England are proving that 

 they don't know what the true type of harrier is. English 

 men are the clowns of the human circus, affording more 

 amusement to those who watch than any other people. 

 Every foreign breed of dogs that they take hold of they pro 

 ceed to draw up a standard for, to suit their views. They 

 did it with St. Bernards, with dachshunde, basset bounds, 

 great Danes, and now they have decreed that the Belgian 

 fanciers do not know what is the correct thing for those 

 little black mongrels called scbipperkes. It is all perfectly 

 correct to do that, according to their notions, but when 

 Americans practically adopt the only English standard in 

 existence, and which had never been challenged, as correct, 

 then there is a howl of indignation at the absurdity of 

 Americans knowing anything of an English breed, while all 

 the howleTS disagree with one another as to what the beagle 

 really is. No Englishman can understand that it is legiti- 

 mate for any one to do to them as they would to somebody 

 else, and the funny thing is that they never see the. absurdity 

 of their position. 



A person who styles himself a special commissioner for 

 one of your contemporaries has stated in print that he 

 "resigned" as sub-editor of the English Kennel Gazette, 

 The fact is he had "to get" and for the past two months has 

 been trying to live by mortgaging his chance of getting re- 

 appointed. I regret having to bring anything of such a 

 personal nature into this column, but FokEST and Stream 

 readers will remember how he tried to squirm out of a well- 

 proved charge of plagiarism of the rankest kind and his 

 conduct in the Salisbury case, in which Millais supported 

 him. Now we have another phase of his character. Mil- 

 lais sought to excuse his plagiarism to me by saying he had 

 eight children— guess there must have been triplets since 

 then. A negro down South acknowledges to the parentage 

 of seventy-two children. On the Millais theory he might 

 commit murder with impunity. 



A week ago I had occasion to advertise for a foster mother 

 and Mr. Fred Kirby kindly allowed me to use his address 

 for application. The man who was running the advertis- 

 ing department on the paper selected thought he knew 

 what I wanted better than I did, so he changed my adver- 

 tisement from the dog classification to "Help Wanted— 

 Females." Fred had lots of applications, but he only asked 

 the first one "How old are the puppies, mam?" J. W. 



SAN ANGELO DOG SHOW. — There will be a dog show 

 at San Angelo, Tex., Nov. 6 to 12, in connection with the 

 second annual exhibition of the Concho Yalley Fair Asso- 

 ciation, Twelve classes are provided for, two each for Eng- 

 lish setters, Irish setters, Gordon setters, collies, pointers 

 and foxhounds, with one prize of $3 in each class. 



KENNEL NOTES. 



NAMES CLAIMED. 



Prepared Blanks sent free on application. 



Little Roseau. By J. W. Flynn, Bristol, R..L, for white, black 

 and tan beagle dog, whelped Aniil 13, 1890. by Royal Krueget 

 (Banner man— Cora) out of Baby W. (Cameron's Racket— Pussie). 



Tampa. By J. W. Flynn, Bristol, R. I., for white, black and tan 

 beagle dog. whelped MayS. 1890. bv Storm (Lee— Countess) out of 

 Belle of Wood Brook (Blue Boy— Mischief). 



May Be. By A. S. Aborn, Wakefield, Mot., for liver and ticked 

 pointer hitch, whelped June 20, 1890, bv Spot Dash (Sir Philip Sid- 

 nev— Topsv) out of Gypsv Bang Bang (Bang Bang— Boski). 



Don Of Ossian. By W. E. Sharpe, Indianapolis, Ind., for liver 

 and white pointer dog, whelped June 23, 1890, By Ossian (Croxteth 

 —Amine) out of Cherrvstone (Trinket's Bang— Pearlstone). 



Lalla Rookh. By L. N. IP 1 sen degen, Detroit, Mich. , for red Iiish 

 setter bitch, whelped July 18, 1S89, by champion FJeho, Jr., out of 

 Bessie Glencho (Glencho— Flame). 



BRED. 



. Prepared Blanks sent free on application. 



Henrietta— BalMs. G. Prozesky's (Brooklyn, N. Y.) greyhound 

 bitch Henrietta (Chief— Babe) to H. W. Huntington's champion 

 Balkis (Olyto— Primrose). Aug, 18. 



Vera Bang— King of Kent. R. L. Hooper's (Athens, O.) pointer 

 bitch Vera Bang (Bang Bang— Christmas Vic) toE. Lexter's King 

 of Kent (Priam— Kent Baby), Aug. i, 



Lavinia Belle— Bradford Rvhy II. Henry Eichler's (Covington, 

 Kv.) png bitch Lavinia Belle (champion Treasure - Viola) to Eber- 

 hart Pug Kennels' Bradford Ruby II. (champion Bradford Ruby- 

 Puss B.), Aug. 17. 



Nettie Bellon— Jerry. Forest Kennels' (Groton, N. Y.) English 

 setter bitch Nellie Belton (Warwick Albert— Princess Belton) to 

 D. Francis's Jerry (Rex Gladstone— Mina), Aug. 19. 



Kate IX.— Red Rover Glencho. G. H. Covert's (Chicago, 111.) 

 Irish setter bitch Kate IX. to his Red Rover Glencho, Aug. 9. 



Claremont Heather— Red Rover Glencho. M. C Furst's (Chicago, 

 111.) Irish setter bitch Claremont Heather to G. H. Covert's Red 

 Rover Glencho, Aug. 18, 



