Part 35 (1/2)

113. Common sense shows that you ought not to correct your dog for disobedience, unless you are certain that he knows his fault. Now you will see that the initiatory lessons I recommend must give him that knowledge, for they explain to him the meaning of almost all the signs and words of command you will have to employ when shooting. That knowledge, too, is imparted by a system of rewards, not punishments. Your object is not to break his spirit, but his self-will. With his obedience you gain his affection. The greatest hards.h.i.+p admissible, in this early stage of his education, is a strong jerk of the checkcord, and a sound rating, given, _when necessary_, in the loudest tone and sternest manner; and it is singular how soon he will discriminate between the reproving term ”bad”--to which he will sensitively attach a feeling of shame--and the encouraging word ”good”--expressions that will hereafter have a powerful influence over him, especially if he be of a gentle, timid disposition.

114. In educating such a dog--and there are many of the kind, likely to turn out well, if they are judiciously managed, often possessing noses so exquisite--perhaps I ought to say cautious--as nearly to make up for their general want of const.i.tution and powers of endurance--it is satisfactory to think that all these lessons can be inculcated without in the slightest degree depressing his spirit. On the contrary, increasing observation and intelligence will gradually banish his shyness and distrust of his own powers; for he will be sensible that he is becoming more and more capable of comprehending your wishes, and therefore less likely to err and be punished (245).

115. I fear you may imagine that I am attributing too much reasoning power to him. You would not think so if you had broken in two or three dogs.

What makes dog-teaching, if not very attractive, at least not laborious, is the fact that the more you impart to a dog, the more readily will he gain further knowledge. After teaching a poodle or a terrier a few tricks, you will be surprised to see with what increasing facility he will acquire each successive accomplishment. It is this circ.u.mstance which, I think, should induce you not to regard as chimerical the perfection of which I purpose to speak by-and-by, under the head of ”refinements in breaking.” Indeed I only adopt this distinction in deference to what I cannot but consider popular prejudice; for I well know many will regard such accomplishments as altogether superfluous. It is sad to think that an art which might easily be made much more perfect, is allowed, almost by universal suffrance, to stop short just at the point where excellence is within grasp.

116. Far more dogs would be _well-broken_, if men would but keep half the number they usually possess. _The owner of many dogs cannot shoot often enough over them, to give them great experience._

117. I am, however, wandering from our immediate subject. Let us return to the lecture, and consider how much knowledge your pupil will have acquired by these preliminary instructions. We shall find that, with the exception of a systematically confirmed range, really little remains to be learned, save what his almost unaided instinct will tell him.

118. For it is wonderful how much you can effect by initiatory instruction: indeed, afterwards, you will have little else to do than teach and confirm your dog in a judicious range--his own sagacity and increasing experience will be his princ.i.p.al guides--for consider how much you will have taught him.

119. He will know--

I. That he is to pay attention to his whistle--the whistle that you design always to use to him. I mean that, when he hears _one_ low blast on his whistle he is to look to you for orders, but not necessarily run towards you, unless he is out of sight, or you continue whistling (18).

II. That ”Toho,” or the right arm raised nearly perpendicularly, means that he is to stand still (19 to 21).

III. That ”Drop,” or the left arm raised nearly perpendicularly, or the report of a gun, means that he is to crouch down with his head close to the ground, between his feet, however far off he may be ranging. Greater relaxation in the position may be permitted after he has been a little time shot over (22 to 26).

IV. That ”On,”--the shortest word for ”hie-on,”--or the forward underhand swing of the right hand, signifies that he is to advance in a forward direction--the direction in which you are waving. This signal is very useful. It implies that you want the dog to hunt ahead of you. Yon employ it also when you are alongside of him at his point, and are desirous of urging him to follow up the running bird or birds, and press to a rise. If he push on too eagerly, you restrain him by slightly raising the right hand--XII. of this paragraph (18 to 21).

V. That a wave of the right arm and hand--the arm being fully extended and well to the right--from left to right, means that he is to hunt to the right. Some men wave the left hand across the body from left to right, as a direction to the dog to hunt to the right; but that signal is not so apparent at a distance as the one I have described (32).

VI. That a wave of the left arm from right to left--the arm being fully extended and well to the left--means that he is to hunt to the left (33).

VII. That the ”Beckon,” the wave of the right hand towards you, indicates that he is to hunt towards you (33. See also 67).

VIII. That the word ”Heel,” or a wave of the right hand to the rear--the reverse of the underhand, cricket-bowler's swing,--implies that he is to give up hunting, and go directly close to your heels (40).

IX. That ”Fence” means that he is not to leave the place where you are. After being so checked a few times when he is endeavoring to quit the field, he will understand the word to be an order not to ”break fence” (42, 43).

X. That ”Find” or ”Seek” means that he is to search for something which he will have great gratification in discovering. When he is in the field he will quickly understand this to be game (30, 31).

XI. That ”Dead”--which it would be well to accompany with the signal to ”Heel,” means that there is something not far off, which he would have great satisfaction in finding. On hearing it, he will come to you, and await your signals instructing him in what direction he is to hunt for it.

When, by signals, you have put him as near as you can upon the spot where you think the bird has fallen, you will say ”Find;” for, until you say that word, he ought to be more occupied in attending to your signals than in searching for the bird. When you have shot a good many birds to him, if he is within sight, in order to work more silently, omit saying ”Dead,” only signal to him to go to ”Heel” (18, 30, 31, 40).

XII. That ”Care” means that he is near that for which he is hunting. This word, used with the right hand slightly raised--the signal for the ”Toho,” only not exhibited nearly so energetically--will soon make him comprehend that game is near him, and that he is therefore to hunt cautiously. You will use it when your young dog is racing too fast among turnips or potatoes (35).

XIII. That ”Up” means that he is to sniff with his nose high in the air for that of which he is in search (37).

XIV. That ”Away”--or ”Gone,” or ”Flown”--is an indication that the thing for which he was hunting and of which he smells the taint, is no longer there. This word is not to be used in the field until your young dog has gained some experience (41).

XV. That ”Ware”--p.r.o.nounced ”War”--is a general order to desist from whatever he may be doing. ”No” is perhaps a better word; it can be p.r.o.nounced more distinctly and energetically. If the command is occasionally accompanied with the cracking of your whip, its meaning will soon be understood (43).

XVI. He will also know the distinction between the chiding term ”Bad” and the encouraging word ”Good”; and, moreover, be sensible, from your look and manner, whether you are pleased or angry with him. Dogs, like children, are physiognomists (36, end of 104).

120. You will perceive that you are advised to use the right hand more than the left. This is only because the left hand is so generally employed in carrying the gun.

121. You will also observe, that when the voice is employed--and this should be done only when the dog will not obey your signals--I have recommended you to make use of but _one_ word. Why should you say ”Come to heel,” ”Ware breaking fence,” ”Have a care?” If you speak in sentences, you may at times unconsciously vary the words of the sentence, or the emphasis on any word; and as it is only by the sound that you should expect a dog to be guided, the more defined and distinct in sound the several commands are the better.