238 MODERN TRAINING. 



spectably large number of men have a strong talent for de- 

 veloping all kinds of objectionable traits in all kinds of dogs, 

 it is a cause of wonderment that larger numbers are not 

 gunshy; indeed, it is strange that more do not die violent 

 deaths from the carelessness of some sportsmen. Gunshy- 

 ness is not confined to the dog. An experienced shooter 

 can be made gunshy, even if he has good nerves. Many 

 men will flinch when a careless companion is shooting; in 

 fact, when afield with certain men, a wholesome fear is both 

 commendable and discreet. 



Occasionally a dog will be met with which is so exces- 

 sively gunshy that it will require weeks or months to over- 

 come it. It is safe to presume that there is no case of 

 incurable gunshyness in any dog free from natural mental 

 infirmities. Many cases have been abandoned as incurable, 

 but they were simply incurable so far as the trainer had 

 made his efforts, hence were incurable only by assumption; 

 if the trainer had persisted, or used other methods, there 

 would have been no doubt of success. The writer never 

 saw but one case of gunshyness which he thought incurable, 

 although he had seen several that required weeks to cure. 

 After working months on this case ana exhausting every 

 known means to allay the fears without the slightest visible 

 improvement, it was pronounced hopeless and incurable. 

 Had this view been favored by subsequent circumstances, 

 it would probably have been something toward supporting 

 the view that an occasional dog could not be cured. For- 

 tunately, during the following season, the dog was kenneled 

 on grounds where there was a great deal of trap shooting 

 and in time was completely cured. The changed surround- 

 ings also undoubtedly assisted to promote the cure; for a 

 dog can become habituated to expect certain disagreeable 

 sensations under certain surroundings and conditions. 

 Frequently, for this reason, a change of handlers and sur- 



