HINTS TO PURCHASERS. PRICE OF DOGS.—SHEEP KILLING.
[361]. The “back” being taught—young Dog again hunted alone.—[362]. Breakers hunt too many together. Why injudicious.—[363]. One hour’s Instruction alone, better than a day’s in company.—[364]. Horse’s value little dependent on Education, Dog’s greatly. Many good points in Dog, similar to those in Horse; in Note, Frame of Pony studied. Arab proverbs. Admirable receipt for putting hard flesh on Horse. Hoof Ointment.—[365]. Hints to Dog-purchasers. Tenderness of Nose, how judged of.—[366] to [368]. Instance of great superiority of Nose in Pointer on bad scenting Day.—[369]. Ditto in Setter.—[370]. In Breeding, Nose sought for in both parents.—[371]. Good Dog, like good Horse, not suited to all countries.—[372]. Purchasing a Brace of Dogs, before buying shoot over.—[373]. Case in Point.—[374]. Rushing in to “dead,” how cured.—[375]. Dogs shot over “single-handed.” Jealousy decreases with intimacy. Independence and self-reliance, how imparted.—[376]. Good Breeding and Breaking command good Prices.—[377] to [379]. Great Sums realized at Tattersall’s for thirteen highly-bred Pointers.—[380]. Small sums unknown Dogs fetch.—[381]. Mr. C——t’s Dogs half a sovereign each.—[382]. Immense price given for stanch Setter.—[383]. Best Dogs; summary of rules for making, concisely given. The best will make mistakes.—[384]. Companionship with man makes Dog useful servant.—[385]. Tweed-side Spaniel and blind man.—[386]. Dog that always ran riot when out of sight.—[387]. Killing Sheep; cure attempted.—[388]. Another plan.—[389]. Third attempt at Remedy.—[390]. Sir H——n S——d’s recipe.—[391]. Muzzle Dog likely to worry Sheep.—[392]. Killing Fowls; the cure.
361. When your dog has been properly taught the “back,” fail not to recommence hunting him alone, if it is your object to establish a perfect range.
362. Professional dog-breakers, I have remarked, almost invariably hunt too many dogs together. This arises, I suppose, from the number which they have to train; but the consequence is, that the younger dogs are spectators rather than actors, and, instead of ranging independently in search of game, are watching the manœuvres of their older associates.
TOO MANY DOGS.
363. A glimmering of knowledge may be picked up in this way; but no one will argue that it is likely to create great excellence. Doubtless the young ones will be good backers; and to the inexperienced a troop of perhaps a dozen dogs, all in chiselled form, stanchly backing an old leader, is a most imposing sight, but if the observer were to accompany the whole party for a few hours, he would remark, I will bet any money, that the same veterans would over and over again find the birds, and that the “perfectly” broken young ones in the rear would do nothing but “back” and “down charge.” What can they know of judicious quartering? Of obeying the signals of the hand? Of gradually drawing upon the faintest token of a scent (only perceptible to a nose carried high in the air) until they arrive at a confident point? Of perseveringly working out the foil of a slightly winged bird, on a hot still day, to a sure “find?” Nothing, or next to nothing,—nearly all is to be taught; and yet the breaker will show off those raw recruits as perfectly drilled soldiers. Would they not have had a much better chance of really being so, if he had given a small portion of his time each day to each? He well knows they would; but the theatrical display would not be half so magnificent. If he had truly wished to give his pupils a good systematic range, without a doubt he would have devoted one hour in the field exclusively to each dog, rather than many hours to several at once—and not have associated any together in the field until he had gained full command over each separately. And this he would have done (because it would have tended to his interest), had he supposed that his dog’s qualifications would be investigated by judges,—by those who would insist on seeing a dog hunted singly (in order to observe his method of ranging), or with but one companion, before they thought of definitively purchasing.
GOOD QUALITIES.
364. The good qualities of a horse being principally derived from nature, a judge can pretty accurately discover his general capabilities simply by a glance at his make and action;—but the good qualities of a sportsman’s dog are chiefly derived from art; consequently, though his movements may be light and springy,—his countenance intelligent,—his nostrils wide,—his cerebral development large,—his forehand deep,—his ribs round and full,—his elbows well detached from them, not tied in,—his shoulders high, and slanting backwards,—his loins muscular and arched,—his quarters lengthy, and sinewy,—his legs bony, and straight,—his feet small and round, pointing direct to the front,—his tail taper to the finest point from a strong root,[69] yet if he has been improperly shot over as a youngster he may never be worth his keep. Therefore, though a man may in five minutes decide upon purchasing the horse, he would act very imprudently if he ventured upon buying the dog before he had seen him hunted;[70] unless indeed he feels well-justified confidence in the ability of the party who broke him in, and is also satisfied with the character, as a sportsman, of the person who has since shot over him.
NOSE—HOW JUDGED OF.