LESSON IN “GONE.”
330. If you can contrive it, let your pupil have some little experience in the field before you give him a real lesson in “Gone” (or “Flown”). Instead of being perplexed, he will then comprehend you. Should you, therefore, during the first few days of hunting him, see birds make off, in lieu of taking him to the haunt (as many breakers erroneously do), carefully keep him from the spot. You cannot let him run riot over the reeking scent without expecting him to do the same when next he finds; and if, in compliance with your orders, he points, you are making a fool of him—there is nothing before him; and if he does not fancy you as bewildered as himself, he will imagine that the exhilarating effluvia he rejoices in is the sum total you both seek. This advice, at first sight, may appear to contradict that given in [132] and [306]; but look again, and you will find that those paragraphs referred to peculiar cases. Should your young dog be loitering and sniffing at a haunt which he has seen birds quit, he cannot well mistake the meaning of your calling out, “Gone, gone.”
CHAPTER XII.
SHOOTING HARES. COURAGE IMPARTED.—“BACKING” TAUGHT.
[331]. Shooting Hares not recommended; shooting Rabbits strongly condemned. In Note, why superior Grouse-Dog better than superior Partridge-Dog. Dog brought from strange country always hunts to disadvantage.—[332]. Put off killing Hares long as possible.—[333]. Dogs not to quit faint Scent of Birds for strong Scent of Hare.—[334]. Dog off after Hare; no racing after Dog; Puss gone down wind.—[335]. Checkcord employed. Drive in spike on “So-ho-ing” Hare.—[336]. Impropriety of Firing at Dog.—[337]. Hares scarce, visit Rabbit-warren.—[338]. Morning, hunt where no Hares; evening, where plentiful. Mountain-hares. In Note, how to choose, and tell age of, Hares and Rabbits.—[339]. Killing Hare in its form.—[340]. Shooting Bird on ground.—[341]. Dog taught to pursue wounded Hare.—[342]. Whip carried, saves punishment. Detention of Dog at crouching posture, saves whip.—[343]. Pointer’s revenge for detention from hunting.—[344]. Few cuts, but severe ones.—[345]. Instance of timidity cured. Range imparted by giving Dog feet of Partridge. In Note, sinews of thigh dragged out.—[346]. Punishment, not defective Nose, causes Blinking.—[347]. Courage imparted to timid Dogs.—[348]. Dogs expect punishment for faults; vexed when Birds are not fired at.—[349]. Instance of Pointer’s not hunting keenly until punished.—[350]. What Dog to select to teach yours to “Back.”—[351]. Example has great influence.—[352]. Instanced in conduct of young bitch when hunted with steady dog. In Note, Mare teaching Colts to swim.—[353]. “Backing” old Dog.—[354]. “Finder” to “road” to a “rise;” his intrusive companion described.—[355]. To “Back” by Eye, not Nose.—[356]. Encourage old Dog before rating the other.—[357]. “Finder” not to advance, even if passed by other Dog.—[358]. The “Backer” should “down charge.”—[359]. Dog when pointing never to “down charge;” how taught.—[360]. Much required in “Dove.”
KILLING RABBITS REPROBATED.
331. Probably you may be in a part of the country where you may wish to kill hares to your dog’s point. I will, therefore, speak about them, though I confess I cannot do it with much enthusiasm. Ah! my English friend, what far happier autumns we should spend could we but pass them in the Highlands! Then we should think little about those villanous hares ([338]). We should direct the whole undivided faculties of our dogs, to work out the haunt of the noble grouse.[64] As for rabbits, I beg we may have no further acquaintance, if you ever, even in imagination, shoot them to your young dog. Should you be betrayed into so vile a practice, you must resign all hope of establishing in him a confirmed systematic range. He will degenerate into a low potterer,—a regular hedge-hunter. In turnips he will always be thinking more of rabbits than birds. It will be soon enough to shoot the little wretches to him when he is a venerable grandfather. The youngster’s noticing them (which he would be sure to do if you had ever killed one to him) might frequently lead to your mis-instructing him, by earnestly enforcing “Care” at a moment when you ought to rate him loudly with the command “Ware” (or “No”). But to our immediate subject.
SHOOTING HARES.