THE TRAINING OF DOGS. 



H3 



holding it there and obliging him to carry it and finally deliver 

 it to his trainer ; reward him, and then try him again. 



Some dogs take to retrieving naturally, requiring no training, 

 while it is almost impossible to get others, often of high intelli- 

 gence, to learn this at all. 



Most puppies need a good deal of attention before they are 

 perfectly steady on point, and to wing and shot, as their natural 

 tendency is to secure the game when they have found it. How 

 best to overcome this it is not always easy to decide. The dog 

 must be encouraged to remain steady while his trainer moves up. 

 Often the assistance of a second person to flush the bird will be 



The Rough-coated St. Bernard Champion Sir Bedivere. 



useful, while the dog is approached and encouraged but not 

 allowed to rush on. In this case a check-cord may be useful — to 

 be employed as little as possible. The examj^le of .a reliable old 

 dog is invaluable. Some form of check that will make the dog 

 defeat or punish himself is preferable to direct administration of 

 punishment by the trainer. 



Gun-shyness is but an exaggerated form of fear of unusual 

 noises, and must be treated accordingly. Let the dog be gradu- 



