144 MODERN TRAINING. 



ing success. When once corrected, they are permanently 

 cured. 



When the dog will step forward and grasp the cob to or- 

 der, without hesitation or awkwardness, he may be taught 

 next to take it from the hand when it is lowered two or three 

 inches. He may refuse to lower his head or grasp it in the 

 new position, but he can be taught this part as before. Thus 

 he is perfected in each successive stage till he will take the 

 cob from the hand on a level with the ground. With some 

 dogs which are willing to obey, these successive stages may 

 be overcome much more expeditiously. As the dog moves 

 forward to grasp the cob to order, it can be moved forward 

 and at the same time gradually downward ; he will follow 

 it with his mouth in trying to grasp it. This should be 

 done with tact, sometimes requiring him to follow it a few 

 inches, sometimes nearly to the ground, and other times 

 simply to grasp it when held at a level with his nose. Now, 

 at*this stage, or even an earlier one, if the trainer is artful, 

 he may induce the dog to retrieve without further punish- 

 ment. If the dog has a good temper and is willing to obey, 

 the trainer may induce him to play by moving the cobteas- 

 ingly to and fro in front of him, all the other conditions of 

 collar, position, etc., remaining the same. If he springs 

 forward and grasps it, and shows some interest and pride 

 in his success, permit him to carry it, and praise him. The 

 spike collar has been applied sufficiently to accomplish all 

 that is necessary to make him always obedient and to estab- 

 lish all the necessary rudiments fora finished retriever. The 

 collar, however, may be left on him during many successive 

 lessons to enforce the necessary promptness and to suppress 

 any faults which may show signs of developing, such as a 

 hard mouth, refusal to come in, etc. This playfulness can 

 only be developed in comparatively few instances. The 

 greater number have to be drilled through each successive 

 stage, with painstaking formality. 



