70 MODERN TRAINING. 



training. Nothing could be more erroneous. The temper- 

 ament of each dog varies quite as much from that of all 

 other dogs as one landscape differs from all others, and the 

 trainer has quite as great a diversity of material to work 

 upon as the artist has, although both have a few fixed, sim- 

 ple, elementary principles for the groundwork. Both artist 

 and trainer must have a perfection and finish in the tout 

 ensemble which is not reducible to formal rules. This 

 ability is commonly called talent, but such does not compre- 

 hend it; it is really the ability resulting from love of the art, 

 years of close study and hard work, and a few natural qual- 

 ifications. Without the industry and enthusiasm, the talent 

 is very little to the purpose. 



A system of training is neither one of constant appeal to 

 the whip or other punishment, nor a ceaseless attempt at 

 suasion. The two must be combined in due proportion to 

 the requirements of the pupil. However, as being of spe- 

 cial importance, it should be noted that all punishment is 

 purely corrective when properly used in training. 



In the greater number of instances, the dog's training is 

 hurried too much. The all-important point is to rush it 

 through to a finish at the earliest possible moment. The 

 true principle is to train the dog by easy gradations from 

 the simple to the complex. As he progresses, he will learn 

 to coadapt his methods to those of his handler from observ- 

 ing the success of methods, adjusting his work nicely and 

 intelligently to subserve the purposes of the gun. By expe- 

 rience thus given, he acquires a full knowledge of all the 

 varied and complicated details of field work and their pur- 

 poses. 



Also, as a rule, the education of dogs begins while they 

 are too young. When the puppy is a year old he is young 

 enough to start in training, and even then he should be 

 worked with care and judgment. A year and a half is none 



