and it is done in the following manner :-They take a little mucus from the nose of a dog having the distemper, and put it up the nostril of the whelp this must be repeated till it takes properly, and before inoculation the animal should have a few doses of syrup of buckthorn.

The earlier you take young dogs into the field the better, and be sure to ascertain in the first instance what sort of temper they possess ; some require severe treatment, others the mildest. Without proper attention on this head the best dog may be rendered worthless.

Well-bred dogs will begin to hunt at a much earlier age than crossbred ones, and will likewise require less breaking. And here I will recommend the young sportsman not to be too hasty in forming an opinion as to the merit of the animal he is breaking, as some dogs are a long time before they exhibit the disposition required. I had a dogand he was the best I ever had-which I gave away after a few trials, thinking it perfectly useless to attempt to make anything of him. Now this dog turned out a first-rate setter, and I purchased him back from the man I had given him to—a keeper. This has been a lesson to me ever since not to pronounce a dog good-for-nothing till I had given him a good trial.

At five or six months old you should take your whelps out, at first only for a walk; by degrees let them ramble about, always teaching them to come back when you call-this leads to obedience; at the same time you can teach them to down. If a dog will not do this, you must push him gently down; after this he will soon come to understand what you mean him to do; if not, a little of the whip must be given, but recollect whenever you correct a dog always to make friends with him before you let him go, otherwise you will not in a hurry catch him again, and he will always be shy of you. Some flog their dogs without holding them, and frequently give them a parting lick by way of disposing of the wrath they may have left-a worse plan cannot be adopted, as after this you can rarely get a dog to approach you.

When a whelp is first taken into the field it should be with an old dog, and one which cannot easily be spoiled. At first he may be allowed to chase anything (excepting, of course, sheep; otherwise he may take to kill his own mutton-an amusement rather too expensive to be permitted), for if stopped of this too soon he will become shy. In a short time he will understand the thing, especially if worked with an old dog, and will go cautiously when he scents game; but, after many trials, should he evince no disposition to do this, he must be taken to the spot from whence the game sprung, and compelled to crouch to the word to-ho! at the same time push his nose down to the ground: after this, the moment the old dog draws, you must caution the young one by holding up your hand, and calling out to him (in rather a sharp tone if he is inclined to disobey you) "To-ho!" When he points walk quietly up to him-do not run, or he will certainly move-and give a few words of encouragement, such as good dog!" "to-ho!" &c. Should he run in, take him back to the place he moved from, and there make him point; and the same course may be pursued if he chases hares. When the old dog stands, the young one must be taught to back him; he must be stopped the moment the point is made: if you cannot get him to back, a little whip must be used. Holding up the hand is a signal to back, and therefore you must use him to that. Begin early to teach

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the young dog to quarter his ground from right to left, or vice versâ, and not to break fence. Always give him the wind when you beat a field, and if he does not cross properly he must be whistled to, and signalized by waving the hand which way he is expected to go. Your dog should cross about twenty-five or thirty yards before you, and if he beats too wide should be recalled by a slight whistle, which he must be taught to obey if he pays no attention to it you must show him the fruits of disobedience by giving him a little chastisement. By encouraging dogs when they behave well, and punishing them when they do badly, they will soon become tractable; but, as I before observed, according to the dog's temper so you must punish or encourage. attention must be paid to this, otherwise a young dog will be soon spoiled, and become fit for nothing but the rope. "He is so shy I can make nothing of him," is an observation I frequently hear made: the truth is, he can make nothing of you, and really does not know what to do. I have had many dogs given to me as being perfectly useless, which have, after a little time, turned out well. I remember once breeding some whelps: I kept two for myself, and gave one away to a neighbour. Those I had turned out very well, whilst the one he had was good for nothing. And how was this? Why, simply that the temper of the animals was shy. This I took care to find out, and acted accordingly he did not; the consequence I have shown. Some young dogs are alarmed at the report of the gun, in which case much patience and gentleness is required; for, if roughly dealt with, they can never be cured of the fault; but with encouragement, and occasionally allowing mouthing of the bird, the fault in time may be cured. Every young dog will chase hares at first. If he persists in doing so after a little time, you must be severe with him, bringing him back to the spot from whence he started, and there making him point, using at the same time the words ware chase.

For dogs difficult to break, the line will be of service for myself I have broke many dogs and have never used it; but still, in such cases as the one mentioned, it may be attended with service. This line is about fourteen yards in length, and is fastened round the animal's neck; the use of it is this: should he attempt to run in, you check him smartly with it, using at the time the word to-ho! if he be not obedient and come back when called, the cord may be made use of to remind him of his duty.

Many persons, who otherwise take a pride in breaking their dogs, frequently omit to teach them a most important accomplishment, or at least neglect to keep them to it after they have been taught. I allude to down charging. By want of attention on this point many shots are lost, especially in turnips and potatoes, where birds being dispersed, rise one or two at a time. The instant you fire, each dog should down, and not move again till you say "Hold up. A dog I once had always remained quiet till he heard the click of the lock preparatory to putting on the cap; this he took as a signal that all was right. Nine keepers out of ten neglect to teach their dogs to down charge. I cannot make out why such should be the case, but certainly so it is. I observed a short time since, as I rode along the road, two men-keepers I imagined them to be by their appearance-who were shooting. Each time they fired their dogs were on the move whilst they were loading. As it happened

no birds, were sprung, for the covey had all risen nearly together, but had there been any remaining the men would have lost the opportunity of getting shots.

When you first take a whelp into the field, from that time begin to teach him always to follow, and never to go before you over a hedge. If brought up in this way he will never break fence.

I do not like to see a dog rake—that is, hunt with his nose to the ground—as he is more apt in that case to spring the game. If he is inclined to do so, you must call to him, in an angry tone, “ Hold up!” A dog which goes with his head high will find the most game, and in the best style.

The first season is a critical time with the young dog: if he is then neglected, or allowed to indulge in any bad habits, he is for ever spoilt. At that time no error should be overlooked, and no deserved encouragement omitted. Then will be the time to determine his worth, whether or not he is good for anything.

I have always preferred to break my own dogs, as I think it of importance that the master and dog should understand each other. I am also an advocate for every coachman driving his own horses-that is to say, each man should drive his own ground double, or go through and return next day. Men have such different hands, that horses cannot work pleasantly when driven by different people; in fact, they never know what to be about, as one man makes play over one part of the ground, the other over another.

Keepers and dog-breakers are frequently a set of muffs, and do not, or cannot, make their teaching plain; their pupils are licked, for what they do not know; in fact, the dog would, if he could speak, say with Hercules—“ I still know nought; thy teaching is not clear." However, I do not mean to include all in what I have been saying; there are doubtless many excellent men who understand their trade: to such I would recommend the gentleman to go, for unless he has time, understands and takes an interest in the thing, he might doubtless spoil the young dog; but, for any one who has time and inclination, it is certainly the best plan to bring your dogs up at home. Every man has a different way of teaching; consequently, when you get your whelps home, most likely you cannot understand them, nor they you; whereas, had you broken them from the beginning, all would have gone on merrily.

Be careful never to name your pointers or setters Carlo, Ponto, or any name ending with o, as they will frequently confound it with To-ho! Let the name you choose be one syllable, such as Nell, Poll, or Bell, but never take out a Bell and a Nell together, but each dog should have a totally distinct name.

Nothing

Your spaniels should be always much of a size and colour. can be prettier than a team of such dogs when they match, and are properly broke. Each when you fire should drop to the gun this has a very pleasing effect: six or eight dogs are beating together, and some of them tonguing; you fire, and all is silent till you have loaded, and given the signal to move on by saying " Hold up!" Woodcock shooting with spaniels is beautiful sport: it is most pleasing to see how they search every spot, and their activity is most surprising; not a place escapes them; how quick they move round every bush and tree! Ah!

mark that cock just risen from the foot of yon stub; he thought himself secure there, but Dash found him out and soon put him to flight. I warrant he is secure enough now in the game-bag, and may be soon

have company.

How

Some persons prefer mute spaniels. I cannot say I do, for I like a little music, but not too much, which is worse than having none. ever, mute dogs have of late years come very much into fashion.

As regards a dog's power of scenting, it is unfair to judge by first appearances, for it varies so much according to the day, soil, and weather. In a north wind there is never any scent, whereas in an east wind, with snow upon the ground, I have seen it lie well; but a south wind is to be preferred to any other :

"A southerly wind and a cloudy sky
Proclaim it a hunting morning,"

says the old song, and therefore if it is good for hunting it is good for all sport. In foggy weather there is very little scent, and the same may be said of a white frost, and when it is going off.

It is strange, but nevertheless true, that when dogs roll much, and when they come out of cover with their tails bloody at the point, there is never any scent.

All dogs with broad heads have a better sense of smell than those with narrow heads. It is so with the fox and wolf, and their olfactory organs are known to be great. For this cause I like to see my puppies with good broad heads, and always choose such as are so formed. I also look to their ears and feet; the former should be large and pendant, and the latter round and well spread.

A good retriever is a most difficult dog to obtain, and will always, if perfectly broke, fetch a good price in the market. Almost every sort of dog may be taught to retrieve, provided pains are taken; but where the commencement of the education is suffered to be carrying sticks, and other hard substances, they never turn out well; their mouths become hard, and, in consequence, all the game they carry is spoiled. A stuffed glove is a good thing for them to carry at first, as it is soft; should the young dog hold it rather tight, do not force it from him, but gently coax him to let him have it; if you pull he will pull too; it will be "pull devil, pull baker," and if it is torn, from that time he will learn

to tear game.

Retrievers should never of their own accord rush to recover game, but ought to remain perfectly still till desired to move.

Many teach their setters to retrieve-a plan I do not approve of. An old dog may be made use of in this way, but to accustom a young one to it is certainly a way to spoil the animal. I know dogs that have been perfectly steady till their services were required to find a wounded bird, and after then have taken to rush in. To endeavour to recover a bird which runs with either a pointer or setter is the most certain way to spoil them; and yet I frequently see persons who profess to know a great deal about sporting pursuing a bird they have wounded up and down a potato field, encouraging their dogs to hunt as though they were terriers; and when the same dogs make a bad point, and are unsteady, finding fault with them, forgetting with whom the fault really lay. Now, I would ask, are such persons to be trusted to break a pointer or setter?

Certainly not; and I would advise my generous friends not to lend such as they anything but an old dog which cannot easily be spoiled.

As regards feeding your sporting dogs, let it be upon oatmeal and a little boiled flesh, such as leavings from the house. Never give them raw flesh; that fills them with every humour, and leads to distemper. Every week I give my dogs some sulphur in milk, and I always keep a lump of rock sulphur in the water they drink; this, I am convinced, tends to keep them in health. If you are constantly with your dogsthat is to say, in the habit of seeing them-you will soon discover if they are getting out of health, in which case you must prevent illness by a little medicine, judiciously administered; by strict attention you may prevent anything serious attacking your kennel.

One of the most troublesome complaints to get into your kennel is the mange; for where it takes hold, there it will remain for some time, spreading from one to the other; it is catching, and therefore any dog attacked with it must be removed, without loss of time, from the rest; and not only that be done, but the straw the diseased animal has been lying on must be taken away and destroyed, and the place it has been on well cleaned. The mange will proceed from dirt and bad food. The

best cure for it is

Oil of tar,

Sulphur vivum,

Train oil (of each an equal quantity).

With this the dog should be well rubbed several times in the day, and at the same time sulphur should be administered. When the disease is very bad, mercurial ointment may be rubbed on the part affected; but, as this will kill a dog if applied injudiciously, it must be done carefully, and the dog muzzled.

Of hydrophobia I shall say nothing; there is no cure for it, and I recommend the dog should be destroyed immediately, if you have any suspicion it is going mad.

I shall conclude this article with a few words on kennels and their management, and shall first notice cleanliness, without which no dogs can thrive. To such as are too lazy to see after their own affairs I would recommend the adoption of the box kennel, as that will require less trouble to keep it clean than the house. With a long chain the animal will be able to come out, and consequently will not dirty his abode. I always have my boxes made with drawers, which come out behind; these I scour, and put in the sun afterwards to dry, any day when the dog is out. The chain with which the dog is fastened I have made with a swivel upon it, to prevent any fear of the dog hanging himself, should he struggle to get free. Any blacksmith will make the chain I have described.

To prevent the effect of damp upon the dog, I have adopted the plan of having wheels under my kennels. Thus, by raising them off the ground, I keep them dry, and am able to move the dogs wherever I please; thus in cold weather I put it in the sun, and in hot weather in the shade-arrangements, according to the seasons, most grateful to the dog. Extremes of cold or heat that animal feels most acutely, which may be seen by noticing that it wraps itself in winter in anything warm, such as hay, straw, &c., of which it makes quite a nest; and in summer chooses the coolest place to lie in.