355. All dogs but the “finder” should stand wholly by sight,—just the reverse of pointing. Your dog’s nose ought to have nothing to do with backing. If you permit it, he will get the abominable habit of creeping up to his companions in the manner just described ([354]), when he observes them to be winding birds; and though he may not presume to take the lead, nay, even keep at so respectful a distance as in no way to annoy the “finder,” yet a longing to inhale the “grateful steam” (as that good poet and capital sportsman, Somerville, terms it) will make him constantly watch the other dogs, instead of bestowing his undivided attention and faculties upon finding game for himself. It is quite enough if he backs whenever you order him, or he accidentally catches sight of another dog either “pointing” or “roading;” and the less he is looking after his companions, the more zealously will he attend to his own duties.
356. If you have any fears that the old dog when he is on birds will not act steadily, should you have occasion to chide the young one, be careful to give the old dog a word expressive of your approval, before you commence to rate the other.
357. When your youngster is hereafter hunted in company, should he make a point, and any intrusive companion, instead of properly backing him, be impertinently pressing on, the youngster should not be induced (however great may be the trial upon his patience and forbearance) to draw one foot nearer to the game than his own knowledge of distance tells him is correct; not even if his friend, or rather, jealous rival, boldly assumes the front rank. Your pupil will have a right to look to you for protection, and to expect that the rash intruder, however young, be at the least well rated.
358. It is a matter of little moment whether the “backer” attends to the “down charge,” or continues to back as long as the other dog remains at his point. It appears, however, best, that he should “drop,” unless he is so near that he winds the game, when he would be rather pointing than backing (and should, consequently, behave as explained in [274]); for the fewer exceptions there are to general rules the more readily are the rules observed.
IMPORTANT AXIOM.
359. Should both dogs make separate points at the same moment, it is clear that neither can back the other. They must act independently—each for himself. Moreover, your firing over one should not induce the other to “down charge,” or in any way divert his attention from his own birds. He ought to remain immoveable as a statue. Some dogs, whose high courage has not been damped by over-correction, will do this from their own sagacity; but to enable you to teach them to behave thus steadily, game should be plentiful. When you are lucky enough to observe both dogs pointing at the same time, let your fellow-sportsman (or your attendant) flush and fire at the birds found by the older dog, while you remain stationary near the young one, quietly but earnestly cautioning him to continue firm. When your companion has reloaded and picked up his game (and made the other dog “back”), let him join you and knock over the bird at which your pupil is pointing. It will not be long before he (your young dog) understands what is required of him, if he has been practised (as recommended in [274]) not to “down charge” when pointing unsprung birds. In short, it may be received as an axiom, that nothing ought to make a dog voluntarily relinquish a point so long as he winds birds; and nothing but the wish to continue his point should make him neglect the “down charge” the instant he hears the near report of a gun.
360. “Dove,” (the setter spoken of in [102], who invariably stands at her point,) on one occasion in the season of ’50 dropped as usual on her master’s firing at some distance from her; but, instead of “seeking dead” as ordered when he had reloaded, she remained immoveable at the “down charge,” although repeatedly coaxed and called to. The sportsman thought that birds must be near, and after much perseverance, he succeeded in walking up a brace that were lying close to her. We must allow that this was a prettily conceived piece of caution on the part of Mrs. “Dove;” but how far more usefully would she have acted had she been taught the inferiority of the “down charge” to the continued point, followed by the “road” to successive birds.