I5 MODERN TRAINING. 



measures about it. This is a very common and vicious 

 fault with amateurs, and a very obstructive one in many 

 cases. 



It is desirable that the dog retrieve with a high head, or 

 at least delivers the bird to hand in such manner. He can 

 be habituated to this manner by giving him a reward when 

 he fetches the bird or by petting him, and refraining from 

 taking the bird from him until he holds his head up. 



Some sportsmen prefer that the retriever will assume a 

 sitting posture while delivering the bird; such has no special 

 value, but is considered as being more elegant. To make 

 it a part of the act of retrieving, it should be taught in 

 separate lessons at first. Tie a rope to his collar, tap him 

 gently over the hips till he sits down; the trainer can pre- 

 vent him from lying down with the rope. A snap of the 

 fingers is all the order that is necessary at first; later he can 

 be taught to obey a slight motion of the hand alone. The 

 lessons should be continued until he is obedient to the 

 signal. While in a sitting position he maybe given rewards, 

 and will soon learn to be seated for them. When perfected, 

 it may then be added to retrieving. 



Even when he will perform accurately, the lessons must 

 be continued during some weeks to establish a lasting disci- 

 pline. His powers of observation by cultivation are also 

 improved, and by association he becomes affectionately 

 attached to his trainer. The lessons can be given under 

 different surroundings, such as different places in the fields 

 while giving him a run, different places about the yard, and 

 different objects. He can be trained to retrieve a piece of 

 steak, an egg, a bunch of keys, or other small objects, but 

 these partake of the nature of a trick. If the trainer lives 

 in a section where he can procure quails, snipe, woodcock 

 and prairie chickens, he can make his dog a finished retriever 

 on each kind. The lessons under different surroundings 



