143. By often and uniformly employing the signals I have named, you will find it more easy to place your pupil, and make him hunt exactly where you wish, than you may at first suppose. In an open country the movements of sheep are entirely controlled by dogs; and if you never have had the opportunity of observing it, you would be no less surprised than interested at witnessing with what accuracy a shepherd, standing on a hill side, can, by the motions of his hand and arm, direct his dog to distant points in the valley below. If you could see it, you would be satisfied it was not by harsh means that he obtained such willing, cheerful obedience. His signals to the right, left, and inwards, are very similar to those just described. He, however, instructs his dog to go further ahead, by using his hand and arm as in the action of throwing, but keeping an open palm towards the animal (the arm raised high): a signal undeniably more visible at a distance than the one named in [iv]. of 141, though not generally so well suited to the sportsman.
144. You will also observe, that when the voice is employed (and this should be done only when the dog will not obey your signals), I have recommended you to make use of but one word. Why should you say, “Come to heel,” “Ware breaking fence,” “Have a care?” If you speak in sentences, you may at times unconsciously vary the words of the sentence, or the emphasis on any word; and as it is only by the sound that you should expect a dog to be guided, the more defined and distinct in sound the several commands are, the better.
NAMES DISSIMILAR IN SOUND.
145. This consideration leads to the remark that, as, by nearly universal consent, “Toho” is the word employed to tell a dog to point, the old rule is clearly a judicious one, never to call him “Ponto,” “Sancho,” or by any name ending in “o.” Always, too, choose one that can be hallooed in a sharp, loud, high key. You will find the advantage of this whenever you lose your dog, and happen not to have a whistle. Observe, also, if you have several dogs, to let their names be dissimilar in sound.
DEAF TO THE VOICE OF PERSUASION.—Par. [148].
“DROP” BETTER THAN “DOWN.”
146. I have suggested your employing the word “Drop,” instead of the usual word “Down,” because it is less likely to be uttered by any one on whom the dog might jump or fawn; for, on principle, I strongly object to any order being given which is not strictly enforced. It begets in a dog, as much as in the nobler animal who walks on two legs, habits of inattention to words of command, and ultimately makes greater severity necessary. If I felt certain I should never wish to part with a dog I was instructing, I should carry this principle so far as to frame a novel vocabulary, and never use any word I thought he would be likely to hear from others. By-the-bye, whenever you purchase a dog, it would be advisable to ascertain what words of command, and what signals he has been accustomed to.
A SOLICITOR.