132 MODERN TRAINING. 



a point where he would exhibit a look of affected cheerful- 

 ness, and on rare occasions, when he had an unusually pro- 

 fuse flow of spirits, he would cut a mild caper or two, if a 

 reward was in sight. By assiduous attention he was per- 

 fected to a degree, wherein he had the whole affair calcu- 

 lated to a nicety. If he was hungry, he would fetch a glove 

 to order for a reward, but he performed with such nonchal- 

 ance that it was hopelessly discouraging to all expectations 

 of spirited work. Hunger would not improve the quality of 

 his work although it would prolong it until his appetite was 

 satisfied, whereupon he would declare the lesson off for that 

 time, and his fiat, perforce, had to be accepted. Thus mat- 

 ters stood for several weeks, the dog knowing thoroughly 

 just what profit there was in it to him; and he, like a 

 rational animal, worked to get the most out of it that was 

 possible for the least effort. At such times as he did not 

 feel inclined to begin the lesson at all, it was necessarily 

 adjourned until he recovered from his ennui. Seeing it 

 stated that a bone was a peculiarly nice object to teach the 

 dog to retrieve, he was practiced with it. When he learnt 

 that the bone was not truly his own, he would sit and calmly 

 contemplate it. His insouciance became so irritating that, 

 sad to relate, a spike collar was procured and, one morning, 

 his self-complacency was greatly shocked by a practical 

 introduction to its application. Within a few weeks there- 

 after, a better retriever, so far as obedience, quickness and 

 tender retrieving are concerned, could not be desired. This 

 experience changed the author's views entirely in respect to 

 the efficacy and cruelty of the spike collar. 



However, it is a very beneficial experience to the trainer, 

 and one to be earnestly recommended, to train a few dogs 

 to retrieve after the natural method, as the knowledge of 

 dog character and manner of holding his attention, so 

 acquired, the necessary self-discipline in giving the lessons, 



