WITH DOG AND GUN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 24, 21 September 1912, Page 2

WITH DOG AND GUN.

(By “Trogan Nitre.”)

While wending my way pheasantwards I was overtaken by an elderly and loquacious gentleman who, after remarking on the beauty of my dogs, was imprinting on the tablets of my memory for the fifth time the fact that he had travelled the known, and the greater part of the unknown, world, when his hat blew off. “Don’t bother,” I said, as he made a move to recover the lost lid, “my dog will get it for you.” “Oh, dear no,” he expostulated. He will surely injure it.” “Not at all,” I rejoined, as I watched with keen interest the pursuer steadily gaining on the fleeing article, “he will jump down a ten-foot bank with two eggs in his mouth and not crack the shells,” and before I could convey further words of comfort the canine had overtaken and was returning with the hat poised lightly in his mouth. As I restored the lost cover to its owner, I observed it contained ai high-class wig. “Well,' well,” he remarked, gazing admiringly at the dog, “that is undoubtedly the finest hair restorer I have yet seen.” From almost time immemorial dogs have been the chosen companions of mankind in their pursuit of game.'Under any circumstances it was necessary to educate the dogs in the duties they were required to fulfil, and it is until this subject that I have now to deal. It is, of course, impossible to conjecture how the capacity of each breed for working game came to be displayed in the first- instance, but tin) fact remains that from very early times indeed many breeds had each their respective duties in the fibltf, "as they have in the present day. One of the earliest evidences of the fact that the art of training dogs is by no means a modern one' will be found in the following curious agreement:— Uibbesford, Oct. 7th, 1685.

“I, John Harris, of Willdon, in the Parish of Hastlehury, in the County of Worcester, yeoman, for and in consideration of ten shillings of lawful English money this day received of Henry Herbert, of Ribbesford, in the said county, esquire, and of thirty shillings more of like money promised to be hereafter pay’d me, doe hereby covenant and promise to and with the said Henry Herbert, his executors and administrators, that I will from the day of the date hereoff, untill the first day of March next, well and sufficiently mayntayne and keepe a spanial named Quand, this day delivered' into' my custody by the said Henry Herbert, and will before the said first day of March next fully and effectually traine up and teach the said dog to sitt partridges, pheasants, and other game, as well and exactly as the best sitting dogges usually sett the samel And the said dog, so trayned and taught,• shall and will he delivered to the said Henry Herbert, or whom he shall appoint tew receive him, att his house in Ribbesford aforesaid, on the first day of March next. And it will at my costes and charges mayntayne him for a month or longer, as often as need shall require, to trayne up and teach him to sett game as aforesaid, and shall and will fully and effectually teach him to sett game as well and exactly as it is above mentioned.—Witness my hand and scale the day and year first above written.” The art of breaking gun dogs was formerly considered a most difficult and mysterious concern, many of those denominated dog-breakers having nearly derived their solo subsistence from such employment; that charm, however, has been long since broken, and the simplicity of the process is now so generaly known amongst sporting practitioners that ai tolerably well bred dog may have the groundwork of all his future perfections theoretically implanted in the parlour or kitchen of the dwelling house before he once makes his appearance in the field. The instinctive impulse of this breed is frequently seen to display itself in subjects no more than throe or four months old; where, in still and uninterrupted situations, puppies may lie observed' most earnestly standing at chickens, pigeons, cats, and even sparrows upon the ground, by sight, before the olfactory powers can bo supposed to have attained maturity to prompt a point by’scent. When a whelp of this description lias reached bis sixth or seventh month, the process may he proceeded upon in the following way, and either a single dog, a brace, or more, may he managed with equal ease, in any convenient spot, room, or yard, at the-same time with no other assistance whatever than the alternate expression of: Hero! Go fetch’ cm, Ah,

Ah! (having the small field-whip in) hand to impress attention and enforce obedience), although most attractive meat is tossed before them ui every direction. The commencement of the ceremony consists in throwing a piece of bread at some small distance bef-ve the dog, who, upon making his eff'rt to obtain it, must be instantly checked by a quick exclamation of “Ah, Ah I” and the assistant terms alternately repeated, to keep him in a patient point of perseverance, till, having gi /e.n ample proof of his obedience to the injunction, and stood time sufficient to demonstrate his comprehension of the restraint he must ' occasionally encounter, a vibrativo, low-toned whistle, accompanied with a mild ejaculation of “Go, fetch him!” which will prove the signal for proceeding, and which be will quickly learn and obey; and it will 1)0 found by practice, that one or more may, at the very moment of seizing either the bread or the meat, be as instantly stopped and made to renew their point, by a repetition of either of the verbal cautions previously observed. Some there are who consider it a qualification in a gun-dog to bring the game to foot, when killed, and those who wish it, hud their name is legion, will find it easy of attainment, by teaching them to fetch and carry before they are at 'all accustomed to the field; it is a mode of being employed they are much delighted with, and never forget, but is attended by the chance of one inconvenience annexed to the experiment; if they become hard-mouthed and take to breaking both flesh and feather, it is a fault, or rather crime, which generally becomes incorrigible, and is hardly ever obliterated without incessant trouble and must distressing severity. This circumstances, so naturally likely to occur, is the more necessary to bring to memory, because .punishment is at all times unpleasant to humane and liberal-minded sportsmen, who will coincide with the writer in the opinion, that prudent prevention is preferable to the uncertainty of cure; and that a slight and salutary correction to-day may -sometimes render unnecessary the doubly and treblyenhanced deserts of to-morrow. In training pointers and setters, oalre must be taken to give the puppies every chance of starting them, and by careful handling and allowing them to see everything that will tend to make them hardy and not gun-shy; it is the worst thing that could , befall the puppy, as he cannot have too much pluck. Many a puppy is made gunshy by being too much kept out of sight when being exercised, and not allowed his freedom to run about until five or six .months’ : old, when he can see everything for himself, and by that time he will be getting into trouble. But you may be sure he will be full of spirit,• if he ever will have any.