BREAKING AND HANDLING. 133 



and the tact in developing the dog's ideas, are all valuable 

 and important adjuncts to the forcing system; precisely the 

 same skill is required, inasmuch as, if the forcing system is 

 properly applied, it is, in a great measure, accessory to this 

 system, and not a distinct system by itself, as many imagine. 



THE FORCING METHOD. 



Establishing retrieving by force, particularly if properly 

 done with the spike collar or the spike collar and whip, is the 

 superior method of all methods. The dog's actions are con- 

 stantly within the control of the trainer; and even the manner 

 and force with which the dog grasps an object can be regu- 

 lated. If, at any time in the dog's life, he should refuse to 

 retrieve, there is always the means at hand to make retrieving 

 compulsory; but when once properly taught, a retriever per- 

 fected by force is always a retriever. It is more difficult to 

 apply to dogs of a certain disposition than the natural 

 method, hence some trainers give the latter method the prefer- 

 ence at times; yet it is never then as well done, although it 

 may serve the purpose of satisfying a purchaser or owner. 



It is established simply by associating certain acts with 

 freedom from punishment, and the non-performance with 

 punishment. The spike collar has advantages because it is 

 handier and more efficacious. Pinching the tail, toes, nose, 

 pulling the ears, or, in fact, any other punishment within 

 proper limits, can be applied effectively, but some of them, 

 particularly pinching the nose, are unnecessarily brutal. 

 There is no method whereby the punishment can be so 

 effectively administered conjointly with keeping the dog in 

 hand and quickly impressing the desired associations, as 

 with the spike collar, or spike collar and whip. 



A few trainers use the whip alone, but it is unnecessarily 

 harsh and has many undesirable results when so used, 

 although there are dogs of such obstinacy that the whip is 



