184 
FEANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
will most probably have become ashamed of himself. You will 
then walk up most deliberately, and without noticing the bird, 
take the dog by the ear, and pull him back to where you fired* 
all the time giving him hearty shakes ”—I should say, cuts with 
the whip,—“ and crying ‘down,’ when you get to the spot 
where you shot from, take out your whip, and between the 
stripes call ‘ down,’ in a loud voice ; continue this at intervals 
for some time ; and, even when you. have finished your discipline, 
don’t allow the dog to rise for ten minutes at least; then, after 
speaking a few words expressive of caution, take him slowly up 
to the bird, and lift it before h?s nose. If this plan is rigidly 
followed for several shots, I never saw the dog that would con¬ 
tinue to run in.” 
The writer, it will be observed, is here speaking of running 
in to eat or tear, not to “fetch” his bird ; that being a practice 
never taught, or allowed, to Pointers and Setters in England, 
simply because, being used altogether in the open field, it is as 
needless there, as it is necessary here. When I first came to 
this country, I imported a fine young Setter pup, which I had 
broke by Mr. Sandford, of Newark, whom I consider, in all 
respects, the best and most intelligent dog-breaker I ever saw; 
and, on conversing with him on the mode of breaking, I was 
equally surprised at learning two things,—that Setters, or Point¬ 
ers, were invariably broke to “fetch” or retrieve dead birds; 
and that they were always taught to “ come in” before charg¬ 
ing. I was exceedingly incredulous on the first point; and it 
was only with reluctance, and after seeing the steadiness with 
which his dogs first charged, then pointed dead, and then fetched, 
that I consented to allow “ Chance” to be broke to retrieve. On 
the other point I was firm ; and Mr. Sandford having broken 
that dog for me, to drop to shot, on the spot, without coming in, 
was so thoroughly convinced of its advantage, in giving steadi¬ 
ness, in avoiding unnecessary words and orders, and in render 
ing the dog promptly obedient, that he at once adopted the me¬ 
thod, and has never broken a dog otherwise since that time. 
I must add, that I am equally well satisfied, that to retrieve 
