FOREST AND STREAM, 
but one, but 1 knotr that that oue slira my old blood yet 
when 1 remember it, and I don't think I am a cruel person 
either, Of course, after the tight is over and the cat killed, 
endless sympathy and pity Is bestowed on flute, Alf or 
Pick, for their lacerWed ears, sides, legs, or bellies, but 
nobody pities the cat. 
The explanation of this apparent contradiction of needless 
killing being enjoyed by the kindest-hearted of men, would 
seem to lie in the exhilaration sports give, the matching of 
wild cunning, speed or power, against the intelligence of 
man, whether that intelligence be displayed by man himself 
directly, or througb his training of animals to assist him in 
bis sports. Thus, as man's advantages grow, "sportsman- 
ship" accords the game more chances. When 1 was a boy 
it was quite the proper thing to shoot birds sitting on a tree, 
our old muskets or even shotguns were slow affairs, loading 
was a long job, powder was costly, and altogetber we had far 
less advantages over the birds than our successors with their 
muzzleloaders and prepared ammunition now have, and 
with these advantages the obligations seem to have been 
laid on the sportsmen of today to give the game abetter 
cbance; hence, as I understand it, birds must not be sbot 
except on the wing, and squirrels must be shot through the 
head only (if a rifle is used). 
Unquestionably Mr. Akin's appeal to us to "be gentle" is 
touching, and even proper, but those of us who, for many 
different reasons, are not sportsmen, must not "measure 
others' corn in our half busnel," and it is no leas a duty to 
be tolerant of the pleasures enjoyed by others, regardless of 
whether we share or detest those enjoyments, than it is to be 
gentle, and in fact, that very gentleness imposes on those 
who would truly manifest it, the duty of extreme toleration 
of views and likes differing from our own. It is curious to 
observe in this connection how love of "sport" has grown 
with the advance of mankind. The savage hunts entirely 
for food or other utilitarian purposes, only the civilized man 
hunting for sport, and the more civilized man becomes, the 
more sportsmen follow sport for its own sake, for "fun." 
Perhaps I ought to say, lest Mr. Akin misjudge me. that I 
am not a "sportsman" in the least degree. W. Wade. 
Oakmont, Pa., Oct.Jl. 
SCHOOLING THE DOG.— XVI. 
Not the least of the obstructive troubles which embarrass 
the novice In his first training attempts is gun-shyness, as the 
dog's fear of the gun is commonly termed. The dog's fear 
of the gun is often the fault of the trainer. He proceeds to 
accustom the dog to the gun on a wrong theory. His own 
knowledge of the uses of it and the pursuit of birds is 
unconsciously made the standard by which to measure the 
puppy's knowledge. If the trainer would but think over 
the matter seriously, he would recall to mind that far back 
in the years when he was a boy he had much ignorance and 
many silly fears, knowing nothing of the manner of hunting 
birds, as, in fact, he knew but little about anything else. A 
gun he looked upon as an awesome engine, and when the 
day came in which his courage was somewhat uncertainly 
brought up to the point whereat he resolved on the desperate 
adventure of firing the gun, he took aim with a beating 
heart, closed his eyes, turned his head aside, and, a ghastly 
grin settling on his face, he pulled the trigger. The deed 
done, it was the boast of days to his less favored or less 
brave companions. And yet, keen as is the spirit of rivalry 
or emulation among boys in deeds of daring, there are some 
of them who have not the courage to use firearms. But the 
boys who shoot are generally taught the use of firearms and 
are gradually accustomed to their practice by sympathetic 
tutors. However, let us suppose that a boy has reached 
the age of seven or eight years without ever having seen 
or heard of a gun. Let us suppose further that his father 
suddenly resolves to accustom the boy to the report of the gun, 
so, with that purpose in view, he takes him into an open field; 
then, while the boy is 4 or 5yds. away chasing a butterfly, 
the father fires. The boy, as a matter of course, is terrorized 
and runs for home. The father shouts at him, runs after 
and catches him, jerks him back by his collar and whips 
him. He reloads, looks sternly at the boy and fires again. 
He sees a fierce flash, hears a frightful report and smells 
offensive gases. Absurd as such a method would be when 
applied to the boy, it is often the one pursued when giving a 
puppy his first lesson with the gun. Of course, everyone 
can readily perceive that such a method is absurd when it is 
pointed out, because everyone can understand how it would 
seem if applied to one's self; but this faulty method, absurd 
as it is, seems to find much favor, and its faults are over- 
looked till much harm is done. Most amateur trainers fail 
to consider that the puppy is absolutely ignorant as to the 
purposes of a gun, and that the same causes which terrorize 
the boy, and also some men, may have a similar effect in 
respect to the puppy. If the trainer would keep in mind 
that the puppy can learn only from experience, and keep also 
in mind that his own boyhood, with all its timidity, igno- 
rance and immaturity, is the true standard by which to sym- 
pathetically understand the puppy, he would have few 
cases of gun-shyness, and would beside train much more in- 
telligently and better. However, the harsh and inappropri- 
ate standard of mature knowledge and skill is commonly 
used instead of the foregoing. 
Therefore, in most instances gun-shyness is the result of 
the trainer's own stupidity or thoughtlessness or lamentable 
lack of knowledge, and this without any reference to his 
meatal capabilities. It is not necessary that a trainer or 
shooter be densely ignorant to make a gun-shy dog. Men of 
excellent sense concerning other matters, seem to think that 
a dog and gun were naturally made to be associated to- 
gether, and that the dog should quite as readily take to an 
acquaintance with the gun as the man does to shooting it 
over the dog. Any shortcoming in the applicatiou of this 
faulty theory is ascribed in most instances to the dog's dere- 
liction. It is rare, indeed, that the trainer considers him- 
self the one to be blamed in the matter, though his impa- 
tience may be so dominant that he is wholly inconsiderate as 
to whether the dog has any comprehension of what he is 
required to do or whether he even has had any experience in 
it; if the dog fails in the required performance, anger and 
violence too often come in play instead of kindness and in- 
struction. 
Fear causes all kinds of shyness— gun-shyness, whip-shy- 
ness, handler-shyness and bird-shyness, the latter commonly 
called blinking. Whichever it may be, he avoids the one or 
the other because he is afraid. To punish a dog for his fears 
in no wise restores his confidence; on the contrary, it adds 
to his fears and confirms him in them. The fact that so 
many dogs are cured of gun-shyness is positive proof that 
they never wonld have been gun-shy had they been properly 
accustomed to the gun in the beginning, for it is a self-evi- 
dent fact that if the dog can have his feara allayed and be- 
come accustomed to the gun after he once has acquired a 
fear of it, he covild have become accustomed to it much 
more readily undci- proper management at the time when 
he had no fears at all. However, the trainer will have to 
face the problem some time either as the result of his own 
mistake, or through the mistake of others, and ft is neces- 
sary that he should know the best method to effect a cure. 
There is no arbitrary method by which a cure can be 
effected, nor is the intensity or mildness of the shyness any 
criterion to estimate the length of time required to effect a 
cure. Some apparently mild cases persist to a discouraging 
degree, while some very bad cases— under the right combi- 
nation of circumstances— are cured readily. 
Highly nervous and timid dogs are easily made gun-shy, 
and particularly so if the trainer has caused them to be shy 
of himself by punishment. When the dog is shy of his 
trainer any unusual acts of the latter are viewed with ap- 
prehension, and ones which otherwise would be passed un- 
noticed are considered alarming when the dog already is 
afraid. 
Dogs manifest distinctly different ways of avoiding the 
gun; some run away entirely, either returning home or tak- 
ing the opportunity to self hunt; some run to the first place 
which offers concealment, and tremblingly bide; some will 
lie down and curl iip apathetically; others will go with the 
handler, but maintain a safe distance from him. Some will 
show terror at the mere sight of a gun and will frantically 
run away; others show alarm only when it is put to the 
shoulder as if to fire it, and others again fear only its report. 
There are three prime requisites in the attempts to cure 
gun-shyness — the dog should not be permitted to run away; 
he should not be given to understand that the gun has any 
reference to him at all, and both of these the novice generally 
ignores, and every effort should be made to secure the dog's 
alf ection. No training which is accompanied by punishment 
can be practiced on the gun-shy dog. Let the trainer feed 
the dog, praise him and make a companion of him; when he 
has a deep love for his master and confidence in him, they 
will go far toward helping him to a cure. 
To prevent the dog from running away, if he is so inclined, 
he should be taken into an inclosed yard from which he can- 
not escape. The precaution is unnecessary if he will not 
bolt. If he is afraid of the sight of a gun, a pistol of the old- 
fashioned kind, firing caps, and small enough to carry in the 
pocket, is best. The dog cannot see it, and is not anticipat- 
ing trouble, as he does when the gun is in sight. The trainer 
should assume his careless air. The serious, portentious de- 
meanor, such as the trainer assumes when he gives the 
puppy a thrashing, should be avoided. The puppy soon 
learns to interpret such demeanor correctly, and he becomes 
afraid in anticipation. Whether in field or yard, the lesson 
should not begin immediately. Make the whole affair as 
commonplace an incident as possible. To the end that it be 
an event more of pleasure than of pain, let the trainer have 
some pieces of meat to give him betimes; and a few gentle 
pats on the head and some kind words will not be amiss. 
After a time, when he is not too close by, and when he is not 
anticipating it, the trainer may snap a cap. Let me repeat 
that the trainer should not look at the dog at this juncture. 
He can note what the dog is doing without looking directly 
at him. If the dog, when he hears the report, scrutinizes the 
trainer closely and detects no purpose refering to himself, he 
may pass it by as of no importance. If he runs to a corner 
and curls up in it, he must be brought back kindly and de- 
liberately, and the same course pursued as before. 
If he will lie down, curling up closely, and so remaining 
in an apathetic state, it is better to put a check-cord and 
spike-collar on him, then when he lies down, give a few 
light jerks to disturb him and make him observant. The 
trainer can sit in a chair and snap caps for an hour or more 
every day till the dog becomes indifferent to the reports, 
when powder charges may be used. It is a peculiarity of 
animal nature, whether in man or dog, that he cannot re- 
main in a state of perpetual fright. Let the cause of fright 
remain, the fright gradually decreases. Men become habit- 
uated to dangers, and Indifference supersedes alarm. If the 
trainer have the time and patience, he can persist in the 
shooting day after day tUl the dog's fright has its natural 
decline and he becomes habituated to the noise. 
If the dog is a bolter, he must be prevented from running 
away. Again the check-cord and spike-collar come into 
play. These do not allay his fears, nor do they possess any 
inherent property toward effecting a cure. They simply 
prevent or deter him from running away, and prevented he 
must be before a cure can be begun. Kindness, rewards 
and an unconcerned manner will gradually effect a cure. 
If the dog have ordinary courage and sense, with some 
ardor for hunting, a cure is sometimes made in a moment. 
Lead him out on a long cord in a field where there are birds, 
and if one attracts his attention, shoot it, and let him cap- 
ture it. If it is winged and will flutter he is all the more in- 
terested. If he can in any way be induced to chase a rabbit, 
and if the trainer then can shoot it ahead of him when he is 
in close pursuit, the cure nine times out of ten is aft'ected 
then and there. The company of an old steady dog is more 
or less reassuring, whether he be a rabbit or squirrel dog. 
Indeed, if so all the better. Nothing so excites the spirit of 
the chase in a dog as to see or hear another dog in lull cry 
pursuing a rabbit. If he has any fire in him, he is sure to 
join in the chase. When his mind is fully occupied with 
other things, the report of a gun has little effect upon him. 
However, a gun-shy dog should never be worked on game 
birds before he is thoroughly cured. If worked on them 
sooner, the chances are about ten to one that he becomes 
bird-sny and a blinker, in which event the time and labor 
necessary to correct the double fault is worth more than is 
the dog. 
A method which is very successful is to place the dog's 
food in its regular place, then to shoot when he begins to 
eat. If he bolts into his kennel, the food is quietly removed 
and none given till the next meal time. The lesson is then 
repeated, and again the food is taken away if he bolts. In 
time his hunger will become so importunate that no danger 
will deter him from appeasing it. If this method is per- 
sisted in, he learns to associate the report with his meals, 
and looks forward to it with eager pleasure. 
Again, dogs have been taken to grounds where a trap- 
shooting tournament was in progress, and being tied in a safe 
place nearby, have come to be heedless of the gun. This, in 
a way, is merely wearing out the dog's fright, as has already 
been treated upon. 
There have been many bottles of ink consumed in 
writing on the heredity of gun-shyness, but most of the 
writers succeeded better in proving that they were not 
quite familiar with what constitutes heredity than 
that the dog's gun shyness was transmitted to him by 
his ancestors. That there are many dogs predisposed 
to gun-shyness I freely admit, but that one is born with 
the fault I do not believe. Dogs of a highly nervous 
and excitable temperament, with a mentality tending 
toward silliness, show alarm at any strange noises, wheth«-r 
they be from the gun or anything else. I have in mind a 
litter of fashionably bred idiots, with narrow skulls and 
sharp noses, which were about the most nervous and cow- 
ardly brutes that. I ever saw. Anything unusual to their 
eyes or ears was sufficient to cause a panic and flight. I re- 
member in particular one curled up in peaceful slumber on 
the carpet taking a rest by daylight. The clock on the man- 
tel began to strike the hour, when the dog instantly bounded 
up and out of the window with extraordinary agiUty and 
quickness. The clock had hardly struck the second note be- 
fore the dog had vanished. Such dogs are predisposed to 
gun-shyness just as they are predisposed to shyness of any- 
thing unusual which excites their fears. Inherited cow- 
ardice and nervousness would be the better terms for it. 
Bernard Watee,s. 
A Missing Rochester Hog, 
ROCHKSTE-R, N. Y., Oct. 18. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Believing that all true sportsmen who love the dog, gun and 
field will be interested, I desire to say through the columns 
of Forest and Stream that on Sept. 14 a black and white 
pointer dog belonging to John li. Fanning, of this city, was 
stolen, and after diligent inquiry in the city no trace of him 
has been found. The dog was a family pet aside from 
being well trained and well bred. Was eight and one-half 
years old, quite fat and rather loggy, and his head, which 
was formerly solid black, had grown quite gray about the 
face and eyes. 
On account of bis age and appearance, it is not at all 
probable in the judgment of myself and others that he was 
stolen by a fancier, but was evidently picked up by some 
one who knew his qualities, and has doubtless been shipped 
to some other place. 
No response has been made to a number of advertisements 
offering a reward for his return, through the local papers, 
and 1 therefore believe that if the above facts are made 
known through your paper to sportsmen of this Slate and 
others, that it may serve to bring the thief to punishment, 
as I believe all true sportsmen will take an interest in aiding 
in the recovery of this valuable animal. Our local sports- 
men, many of whom have used Bob, are greatly interested 
in the matter, and ask the aid of all to whose notice this 
matter may come. Thos, B. Geifeith 
Western Massachusetts Fox Club. 
Westpmsld, Mass., Oct. 14. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
The committee having in charge the arrangements for the 
tenth annual hunt of the Western Massachusetts Fox Club 
have decided upon Wednesday and Thursday, Nov, 10 and 
11, as the dates for the meet to be held in Westfield — as in 
the past six years. 
The grounds selected for the hunt this season will practi- 
cally be the same as last year's successful hunt — in and about 
the neighborhood of Ihe upper and lower reservoirs in the 
northwestern section of this town and in town of Montgom- 
ery. The full details of this hunt have not as yet been 
decided upon, but will be no doubt the same as in former 
years. The first day will be devoted to hunting, followed 
in the evening by the usual banquet at the G-un Opera 
House. The second day will be enjoyed by hunting — prob- 
ably in the same or adjoining neighborhood of the first day's 
hunt. 
That this neighborhood is a rich field for sport of this 
nature, is acknowledged by all hunters who have participated 
in j)reviou3 meets. This season many foxes have been re- 
ported by our local nimrods. 
As is well known, the members of the Western Massachu- 
setts Fox Club are always ready to welcome and extend the 
courtesies of the club to visiting members of the guild, and 
it is expected that an unusual number of fox-hunters will be 
present with us this season to enjoy this rare sport. 
WORONOCO. 
National Beagle Club. 
A FIELD trial committee meeting of the National Beagle 
Club of America was held at the rooms of the A. K. C, 55 
Liberty street, New York, Monday, Oct. 11. Members 
present: J. W. Appleton, chairman; fl. F. Schellhass, John 
Bateman, James L. Kernochau, Geo, B. Post, Jr., A. 
Wright Post and Geo. VV. Rogers. 
The entries for the coming field trials, to be held at Hemp- 
stead, L. 1., during the week beginning Oct. 25, are aa fol- 
lows: 
Open Class A — For dogs and bitches,, all ages, 15in. and 
under, that have not been placed first in any open class at 
any recognized field trials held in America: Wharton 
Beagles' Harkaway, H. S. Joslin's Trick, Franklin Field 
Trial Kennels' Belle Bummers, Summers' Fly, and Sailor, 
William Saxby's Drive, Summerset Kennels' Garnet and 
Juno, A. J. Pu'rinton's Millard R., Hempstead Beagles' Pil- 
grim, Tyrant and Messinger. 
Open Class B— For dogs and bitches, all ages, 13in. and 
under, that have not been placed first in any open class at 
any recognized field trials held in America: 8. N. A. Bald- 
win's Another, H. S Joslin's Cora J., Frankhn Field Trial 
Kennels' Pinnie and Stump, Wm. Saxby's Bessie. E. 0. 
Cook's Dixie R., Hempstead Beagles' Prudence and 
Tragedy, Waidmgfield Beagles' Blue Belle. 
Derby Class C — For dogs and bitches, 15in. and under, 
whelped on or after Jan. 1, 1896: Wurton Beagles' Harka- 
way, N. A. Baldwin's Another and Lancer, H, S. Joshn'a 
Cora J., Franklin Field Trial Kennels' Sailor and Maggie 
S., Wm. Saxby's Doubtful, Summerset Kennels' Hilma, 
Hempstead Beagles' Starlight and Tragedy. 
The number of Utter entries in the 1897 Futurity number 
thirteen, of which a large majority will fill at the trials. 
An executive meeting of the club was held at the rooms of 
the American Kennel Club, Oct. 1. The members present 
were H F. Schellhass, J. W. Appleton, George B. Post, Jr., 
.John Bateman, G Mifflin Wharton and Geo. W. Rogers. 
The following were placed in nominaticn, and to hold office 
during the;year 1898 : First Ticket: President, Geo. B. Post, 
Jr.; First Vice-President, Hermann F. Schellhass; Second 
Vice-President, Geo. W. Rogers; Third Vice-Presiaent, Jas. 
L. Kernochan; Secretary, G. MifHin Wharton ;3Treasurer, G. 
Mifflin Wharton; Executive Committee: John Bateman, H, 
L. Kreuder, A. Wright Post; Judges: Geo. B. Post. Jr., 
W. S. Clark, Hermann F. Schellhass, Jas. W. Appleton, 
George F Reed, Bradford S. Turpin; Delegate, Hermann 
F. Schellhass. 
Second Ticket: President, Geo. B. Post, Jr.; First Vice- 
President, Hermann F. Schellhass; Second Vice-President, 
Jas. W. Appleton; Third Vice-President, Jas. L Kernochan; 
Sicretary, G. Mifllin Whaiton; Trea.surer, G. Mifllin Whar- 
ton; Executive Committee: A, Wright Post, Geo. W. Rogers, 
.John Bateman; Delegate, Hermann F, Schellhass; Juogesr 
George F, Reed, W. S. Clark, Hermann F. Schellhass, Geo. 
B. Post, Jr., Jas. W. Appleton, Bradford S. Turpin. 
Geo. W. Rogers, Sec'y, 
The Metropolitan Kennel Club. 
Beookxyn, Oct. 18. — Editor Forest and Stream: The fol- 
lowing gentlemen have consented to judge at the coming 
Brooklyn show; 
Robert II. Burrows, St. Bernards; J. Blackburn Miller, 
Great Danes; H. W. Huntington, deerhounds, wolfhounds 
and greyhounds; Charles Heath, pointers; Dr. H. Clay 
Glover, English, Irish and Gordon setters; James Lv 
Kernochan, English foxhounds and French bull dogs; Dr. 
S. J. Bradbury, fi^eld, cocker, clumber and Irish water 
spaniels; Winthrop Rutherford, fox terriers; J. W. Apple- 
ton, beagles; Charles D. Bernheimer, poodles; James Wat- 
son, collies, old English sheep dogs, Airedale, skye, Welsh, 
BedlLngton, Dandie Dinmont and black and tan terriers. 
Other specialty judges are yet to be heard from. 
An excellent Ust of special prizes has already been liber- 
ally offered by the Fox Terrier Club, the Spaniel Club, the 
Pointer Club, Irish Setter Club, Gordon Setter Club, the 
Collie Club, National Greyhound Club, the Dachshund 
