158 MODERN TRAINING. 



been taught retrieving by force, he can be trusted to retrieve 

 wounded birds as well as dead ones; if taught by the natural 

 method, the greatest care must be observed during his 

 training, in this respect. 



Occasionally, the trainer teaches this order during field 

 work, without giving any preliminary yard lessons, but such 

 has obviously many special disadvantages, and is not so 

 certain or uniformly progressive as when there is a course 

 of proper preparation. While the expert trainer may ac- 

 complish the necessary results without so much formality, 

 it is unwise for the amateur to attempt any training in such 

 manner. However, in yard training the experienced trainer, 

 simply by arousing the dog's enthusiasm and praising him, 

 can teach this branch perfectly without any rewards. 



This order denotes that the dog is to shorten his pace at 

 such times as it is necessary to do so, as when searching for 

 a dead or wounded bird, or for the scattered birds of a 

 bevy. 



Many dogs learn this without any assistance, if given a 

 reasonable time for experience. A few from impatience or 

 stupidity will not work at a slow gait unless forced to do 

 so. With such, a long course of training is sometimes 

 necessary. When it is desired that an impatient or head- 

 strong dog should go slowly, a checkcord can be put on 

 him, thus affording a means of forcing him to a slow gait. 

 The order Steady should be repeatedly given every time 

 that he is checked. If he will not work well with a check- 

 cord, two pieces of wood, sufficiently long to reach to his 

 pasterns from his collar, may be tied one on each side of 

 his collar. If he attempts to go fast, they will play so lively 

 on his forelegs that he will be forced to go slowly. A self- 

 willed, obstinate dog may need a liberal application of the 



