154 MODERN TRAINING. 



in retrieving in the first season and finish the field retrieving 

 in the second season. By this course many of the undesir- 

 able features which casually appear in the puppy's first field 

 work are avoided. 



To recapitulate, do not hurry; teach one detail at a time; 

 hold the dog's affections; be governed largely in the applica- 

 tion of /orce by the dog's disposition; give the lessons punct- 

 ually and repeatedly, to the end that obedience becomes 

 habitual; correct all casual faults as they appear, and remem- 

 ber that the collar is simply an instrument to make the dog 

 pick up a bird and carry it, a very small part of perfect retriev- 

 ing. The comprehension of its purposes, the knowledge of 

 all details concerning it, can be acquired only by experience 

 and skillful handling when afield. When it is applied prop- 

 erly, it is a combination of the best parts of the two sys- 

 tems, /. e., the natural method and the force system. The 

 compulsory pressure is only required in the beginning; if 

 the trainer does not succeed in dispensing with force after 

 that period, he has failed to understand the application of 

 the art. 



The manner in which a dog is trained to retrieve when 

 working as one of a brace is described under the head of 

 Brace Work. 



find, Seek, Seek Dead. These commands are used inci- 

 dentally with retrieving. They denote that the dog is to 

 search for a dead or wounded bird which has fallen to the 

 gun. The trainer teaches him obedience to one or the 

 other of these orders, but such order should be given to the 

 exclusion of all others, when once taught, different orders 

 tending to confusion. 



The preparatory training in this can be given in early 

 puppyhood, it being an adjunct to the natural method of 

 teaching retrieving; still, there is no special advantage in 

 teaching it so early. It being made pleasurable and profit- 



