SYSTEMATIC RANGE.
189. You must expect that your young dog will for some time make sad mistakes in his range;—but be not discouraged. Doubtless there is no one thing,—I was going to say, that there are no dozen things,—in the whole art of dog-breaking, which are so difficult to attain, or which exact so much labour, as a high, well-confirmed, systematic range. Nature will not assist you:—you must do it all yourself; but in recompense there is nothing so advantageous when it is at length acquired. It will abundantly repay months of persevering exertion. It constitutes the grand criterion of true excellence. Its attainment makes a dog of inferior nose and action far superior to one of much greater natural qualifications who may be tomfooling about, galloping backwards and forwards sometimes over identically the same ground, quite uselessly exerting his travelling powers; now and then, indeed, arrested by the suspicion of a haunt, which he is not experienced enough, or sufficiently taught, to turn to good account,—and occasionally brought to a stiff point on birds accidentally found right under his nose. It is undeniable, cæteris paribus, that the dog who hunts his ground most according to rule must in the end find most game.
CHAPTER VII.
FIRST LESSONS IN SEPTEMBER CONTINUED. CAUTION.—NATURE’S MYSTERIOUS INFLUENCES.
[190]. Dog to be hunted alone.—[191]. Many Breakers exactly reverse this; it expedites an inferior education, but retards a superior.—[192]. Turnips, Potatoes, &c., avoided. Range of Dogs broken on moors most true.—[193]. In Turnips, &c., young Dogs get too close to birds.—[194]. Cautious Dogs may with advantage be as fast as wild ones; the two contrasted; in Note, injudiciousness of teaching A Puppy to “point” Chickens.—[195]. Instance of a Dog’s running to “heel,” but not “blinking,” on finding himself close to birds.—[196]. A Dog’s Nose cannot be improved, but his caution can, which is nearly tantamount; how effected.—[197]. How to make fast Dogs cautious.—[198]. The cause why wild Dogs ultimately turn out best.—[199]. Dog tumbling over and pointing on his Back.—[200]. Dog pointing on top of high-log Fence at quail in tree; in Note, Militia Regiment that sought safety by taking to Trees.—[201]. The day’s Beat commenced from leeward.—[202]. Wondrous Dogs, which find Game without hunting.—[203]. Colonel T——y’s opinion.—[204] to [209]. His dog “Grouse,” that walked up direct to her Game.—[210]. “Grouse’s” portrait.—[211] to [213]. Probable solution of “Grouse’s” feat; in Note, why high nose finds most game.—[214]. Reason why Dogs should be instructed separately, and allowed Time to work out a Scent; young dogs generally too much hurried.—[215]. Mysterious Influences.—[216]. Retriever that runs direct to hidden object.—[217]. Not done by nose.—[218]. Newfoundland that always swam back to his own Ship.—[219]. Another that did the same.—[220]. Now belongs to the Duke of N——k.—[221]. Cats and Dogs carried off in baskets, finding their way back; Nature’s Mysteries inexplicable. In Note, instance of extraordinary memory in a Horse.
190. If it is your fixed determination to confirm your dog in the truly-killing range described in the last Chapter, do not associate him for months in the field with another dog, however highly broken. It would be far better to devote but two hours per diem to your pupil exclusively, than to hunt him the whole day with a companion.
OLD DOG LEADER.
191. Many breakers do exactly the reverse of this. They take out an old steady ranger, with the intention that he shall lead the young dog, and that the latter, from imitation and habit, shall learn how to quarter his ground. But what he gains by imitation will so little improve his intellects, that, when thrown upon his own resources, he will prove a miserable finder. On a hot, dry day he will not be able to make out a feather, nor on any day to “foot” a delicate scent. I grant that the plan expedites matters, and attains the end which most professional trainers seek; but it will not give a dog self-confidence and independence, it will not impart to him an inquiring nose, and make him rely on its sensitiveness to discover game, rather than to his quickness of eye to detect when his friend touches upon a haunt; nor will it instruct him to look from time to time towards the gun for directions. It may teach him a range, but not to hunt where he is ordered; nor will it habituate him to vary the breadth of the parallels on which he works, according as his master may judge it to be a good or bad scenting day.