BREAKING AND HANDLING. 149 



petted until he has regained his self-confidence and cheer- 

 fulness. A short run, giving him perfect freedom, will serve 

 to keep a good understanding between handler and dog, 

 particularly if the dog is kindly noticed betimes. No train- 

 ing in actual field retrieving should be attempted between 

 lessons before the dog is reliably obedient; it never fails 

 to end in trouble or failure, frequently it causes the dog 

 to bolt. 



Thus we have followed the dog's progress step by step 

 through the simple act of fetching an object; we now con- 

 sider some accessory acts which are necessary to give it an 

 approximate resemblance to the manner of field work. 

 When the dog will fetch in the early lessons with a fair de- 

 gree of certainty, the cob can be thrown out and the dog 

 held by his collar for a few moments, then give the order 

 Fetch. This should be repeated a sufficient number of 

 times in a sufficient number of lessons till he is familiar 

 with it. If he has been taught to drop, which as a matter 

 of course should be done in separate lessons, he may be 

 required .to drop and remain steady when the cob is thrown 

 out, until he receives the order Fetch. It will be necessary 

 to use the checkcord in these lessons. They should be con- 

 tinued until he is perfectly steady to the drop when any 

 object is thrown out, and will not stir till ordered to re- 

 trieve. If he is over-enthusiastic and willing, do not de- 

 stroy his confidence by severity. Restrain him mildly with 

 the checkcord, and it is an easy matter to keep him at the 

 drop, without violence. When he understands what is 

 required, he will gradually submit. Hence it is apparent 

 that jerking the dog about is unnecessary. 



When he is given the order to Fetch, do not balk him by 

 immediately afterward commanding him to drop. It con- 

 fuses him and is no part of field work in any relation. 

 When a puppy is sent to retrieve there are no half way 



