BREAKING AND HANDLING. 151 



should not be neglected. As intimated in other places in 

 this work, obedience may b'e given to orders under the con- 

 ditions and surroundings which prevailed when the dog was 

 taught, and he may absolutely refuse under all other condi- 

 tions, except force is used. 



In the preparatory yard and field lessons, it is beneficial 

 to give the dog some discipline in carrying the bird steadily 

 for several minutes, while following his trainer. Also drop 

 the bird slyly in such a place that the dog will come across 

 it. If he picks it up without any order, after he carries it a 

 short distance relieve him of it, and praise him generously. 

 This lesson should be repeated until the dog will pick up 

 the bird without any order, and without feeling his trainer's 

 eye upon him, for the eye has a great controlling influence 

 over a dog. It is advisable to repeat this lesson betimes in 

 the field. It has an application in regular shooting; occa- 

 sionally the dog will find a dead or wounded bird which the 

 shooter shot at, but was not conscious of hitting. When 

 the dog finds a bird some distance away from his handler, 

 he should retrieve it without orders. If trained nicelyj he 

 will take a great deal of pride in so doing, knowing well 

 that it is commendable. Occasionally a dog of superior 

 intelligence will voluntarily retrieve a bird which he acci- 

 dentally finds; but a few lessons while training are not 

 injurious or troublesome, and they should not be neglected 

 when they so particularly enlarge the scope of a dog's ideas 

 and usefulness. 



In introducing him to the first actual retrieving to the 

 gun, some precautions are necessary to insure a correct 

 beginning. If the dog is gunshy, excessively timid, bird- 

 shy or unsteady to wing or shot, he is not ready for field 

 retrieving until these are cured; otherwise objectionable 

 complications are sure to arise which may require weeks to 

 cure. Notwithstanding all the care expended on his pre- 



