276. To revert, however, to the point particularly under discussion, viz., whether you prefer that your dog go direct to the fallen bird, or (as I strongly recommend) that he first join you, pray be consistent; exact which you will, but always exact the same, if you are anxious to obtain cheerful unhesitating obedience.
GOOD TRAINING EXEMPLIFIED.
277. I have seen the advantage of the latter method very strikingly exemplified in America, in parts of which there is capital snipe-shooting. In the high grass and rushes on the banks of the Richelieu, many a bird have I seen flushed and shot at, of which the liver and white pointer, ranging at a little distance, has known nothing. As he was well broken in, he, of course, dropped instantly, on hearing the report of the gun. If the bird had fallen, his master, after reloading, used invariably to say “Dead,”[49] in a low tone of voice, on which the dog would go up to him; and then his master, without stirring from the spot where he had fired, directed him by signals to the place where the bird fell, to reach which the dog often had to swim the stream. His master then said “Find.” At that word, and not before it, his intelligent four-footed companion commenced searching for the bird, nor did he ever fail to find and bring; and so delicate was his mouth that I have often seen him deliver up a bird perfectly alive, without having deranged a feather, though, very probably, he had swam with it across one of the many creeks which intersect that part of the country. If the shot was a miss, his master’s silence after reloading, and a wave of his arm to continue hunting (or the command to “Hie on,” if the dog was hidden by the rushes—perhaps a low whistle would have been better), fully informed his companion of the disappointment. He was quite as good on the large quail, and small woodcock found in Canada, which latter makes a ringing noise on rising, not unlike the sound of a distant soft bell; but reminiscences of that capital old dog are leading me away from your young one.
278. For some days you cannot shoot to your pupil too steadily and quietly—I had well-nigh said too slowly. By being cool, calm, and collected yourself, you will make him so. I am most unwilling to think that you will be too severe, but I confess I have my misgivings lest you should occasionally overlook some slight faults in the elation of a successful right and left. Filling the game-bag must be quite secondary to education. Never hesitate to give up any bird if its acquisition interfere with a lesson. Let all that you secure be done according to rule, and in a sportsmanlike manner.
CHAPTER X.
FIRST LESSON IN SEPTEMBER CONTINUED. ASSISTANT.—VERMIN.
[279]. Some Dogs will not point readily—Breeding in and in, error of.—[280]. Instance of two young, untaught, highly-bred Pointers, behaving well first day shown Game—Dogs more inclined to point at first than afterwards.—[281]. Checkcord employed—spike attached to it.—[282]. With wild dog assistant useful—Signals to.—[283]. How particularly useful with a badly broken Dog—Range of Stoat—Traps better than Guns. In Note, Hen-harrier feeding her young—Decoy Owl for Winged-Vermin—Keeper to possess Dog that hunts Vermin—Account of a capital Bull-Terrier—Destructiveness of Stoats. (See [Appendix]).—[284]. Shy birds, how intercepted between Guns and dog. Cheeta driven near Antelopes by cart circling and never stopping. In Note, Cheeta always selects the Buck. Cheeta how trained.—[285]. “Heading” Dog at his point—not practised too often—Dog to acquire a knowledge of his distance from Game.—[286]. Beautiful instance of Pointer correcting his Distance.—[287]. Constantly “Heading” Dog may make him too immoveable.—[288]. A fault often caused by over-punishment.—[289]. Mr. C——t’s Bitch, which persisted three times in taking up the same point.—[290] to [292]. Instance of fine “roading” in a young Dog.—[293]. False points caused by over-punishment—Self-confidence and experience only cures for over-caution.—[294]. Dog’s manner shows position of birds.—[295]. Curiously instanced in a Dog of Lord M——d’s.—[296]. Also shows species of Game—Pointer on Rabbits.—[297]. Young Dog drawing upon his first Blackcock.—[298]. Terrier pointing four kinds of game, and each in a different attitude.
279. It is proper you should be warned that you must not always expect a dog will “toho” the first day as readily as I have described, though most will, and some (especially pointers) even more quickly, if they have been previously well drilled, and have been bred for several generations from parents of pure blood.