The Hole

Every dog has got a hole
The old wisdom says
How to work round it
Every handler’s test

Won’t back
Circles back
Head trails
Tail trails

Wants to fight
Wants to sniff
Wants to quit
When its hot 

Won’t hit the briars
Or stay out of them
Drops after two finds
Or three or four

Won’t go an hour
Won’t come in at the end
Won’t reach off the breakaway
Won’t come back from opening cast

Get away is his game
Won’t hunt into wind
Folds if it’s hot
Won’t go in a rain

Fights if braced with a male
Fights if braced with a bitch
Stalks if braced with a setter
Or a pointer 

Bird hunts after a find
Or a second quick
Won’t point a libby
Or a wild bird — or either 

Won’t reach if a bye
Won’t come back if a bye
Runs away from a scout
Heels bracemate’s scout

Attacks bracemate’s scout
Or a white horse in the gallery
Or a prancing Passo Fino
Or a racker or a pacer 

What’s the hole most dreaded?
Flagging
Fix it?
Good Luck Buddy