66 MODERN TRAINING. 



chapters he will perceive that it is quite as serious a fault to 

 be all method as to be without method. He can have so 

 much educational method as to suppress the dog's hunting 

 capabilities. 



A fair degree of manual dexterity is very important, par- 

 ticularly in applying force to perfect a retriever. The awk- 

 ward, forceless amateur who cannot put a checkcord on a 

 dog without immediately entangling himself and every 

 object within reach, or who gets the whip, checkcord and 

 his hands mixed, every act going contrary-wise to his inten- 

 tions, would do well to practice these acts by himself till he 

 is proficient, thereby saving a dog much pain from his 

 bungling. If he cannot attain the necessary dexterity, his 

 special talent as a trainer lies in suasive methods, and he 

 should cultivate it in that relation; for it is better to be an 

 indifferent trainer than an inefficient infliction. On the 

 other hand, the trainer who has great strength and dexter- 

 ity should only apply such force as is necessary, and should 

 proceed with due deliberation. Excessive punishment will 

 injure a dog much more than is commonly supposed. A 

 dog may start in full of fire and energy, and gradually 

 become listless, the amateur frequently ascribing it to fail- 

 ing health, he not knowing that severe, long-continued pun- 

 ishment would produce it. 



