74 MODERN TRAINING. 



eight months, at least, will be required to complete the edu- 

 cation, although, as a matter of course, every day of that 

 time is not necessarily or desirably devoted to it ; overwork 

 is as incorrect and useless as any other erroneous method. 

 Occasionally a dog performs well with a less period of 

 instruction ; on the other hand, there are dogs which require 

 two full seasons. However, six months can be safely esti- 

 mated as the average if the last three months of the training 

 are in the open season, and ample opportunity afforded for 

 field work. If all the training is done in the fall and winter 

 in the South, the climate of the South being peculiarly favor- 

 able for such work, the training may be done in less time, 

 the weather being cooler, the cover less dense, birds easier 

 to find, the temperature more favorable for scent, and the 

 dogs can work without distress. 



Taking a finished field education as a standard, the pro- 

 gressive education, from start to finish, may be divided into 

 three distinct stages, namely: First. The yard training, 

 during which the dog is taught and comprehends certain 

 acts with certain experiences, but does not understand their 

 application in actual field work, such being obviously impos- 

 sible. Second. The stage in his field work, in which he is 

 learning to hunt, learning the application of acts taught in 

 yard breaking, and the relation of his work to the purposes 

 of the gun. This stage varies greatly in individuals accord- 

 ing to their intelligence, tractability, and the skill of the 

 trainer. It is the most difficult stage of training, and usually 

 has distinct sub-stages the dog at first has no knowledge 

 of what is required of him, and, as is his nature, hunts 

 impetuously, solely for himself. Partly by his own observa- 

 tion and partly by restraint, he next learns that by modi- 

 fying his efforts so that they will act conjointly with the 

 efforts of the shooter, there is a more uniform result and 

 success. Gradually, with experience, he progressively 



