DOG-BREAKING. The field dog is a hunter by nature, but before requiring him to exercise his faenities to scent and locate game, and yet re frain from catching it, he must be specially trained. This training begins with yard-break ing, in which the puppy is taught to remain quiet in confinement and to beeome accustomed to collar and chain. His subsequent field eduea lion will depend neon his breed. .spaniels, point ers, setters, and retrievers all duce d ifferent Inlet ions to perform, VIZ. spaniels are expeet(.(1 to flush their game; pointers and setters not. to do so, not are they usually expected to retrieve it, as retrievers are for that purpose. The most important general principle is to estab lish the habits of obedience and eontidene., after which the dog is taught to keep at the hunter's heel until, if he be a spaniel, pointer, or -et ter, he is sent forward. Then he must quarter or range over his field only within certain limits of the gunner, and on signal must not exceed thi-, limit. The next step is to ineuleate the knowledge that (except in the ease of a spaniel) when he has located the birds he Inu•-t not thedi them. To teach him to 'down' is a comparatively short process with the average well-bred dog, and keep ing to heel is as easily learned. ,Most dogs will
range when told; all they five() is a direction as to where they should begin. The dog under training should he started always against the wind, that he may catch I he scent. The lessons to be impressed on him arc to stop when sig naled, to return. and to start again. When a puppy first flushes a coney of birds he will usual ly proceed to chase them. a fault which is eor reeted by taking him hack to the exact spot where he should have stopped and dropping him to hand; he will thus gradually learn to drop to wing. If a perfectly seasoned and steady dog is available when the puppy is being taught to back, it will be found to (•xpedite the training great ly.
Field trials are over definite areas, before competent judges, who follow the dogs and gunners over a game country and award prizes according to the points of merit estab lished by each dog in the class for which it is especially fitted by nature and training. trials are not restricted to bird-dogs. The fox hound and the beagle as well are tried out after their respective quarries. Consult : Hutchinson, Dog-Breaking (London. 1865) ; Tie tific Education of the Day for the can (London. 1890).