SPANIEL TRAINING. 



BY F. H. F. MERCER ("D. BOULTON HERROLD"). 



Author of "The Spaniel and its Training." 



WING to the space at my command being limited, 

 the interesting subject of Spaniel training can not 

 be gone into, here, in an exhaustive manner. How- 

 ever, the following directions are amply sufficient to show 

 an ordinarily intelligent man the course to pursue in train- 

 ing a Spaniel for work afield. 



To thoroughly train a Spaniel for the field it is well to 

 commence when the puppy is about three months old. 

 The first lesson to be taught should be that of obedience. 

 Give your pupil to understand that you must and will be 

 obeyed. Christen the puppy, and always call him by the 

 same name. He must learn that when you call he is to 

 come. If he refuses, go to him, and taking him by the 

 nape of the neck, drag him to where you stood when the 

 order was given, saying, "Come here, - - (his name), come 

 here!" and on returning to your standing-place, unloose and 

 make much of him, repeating his name with each endear- 

 ment Taking a pair of old and soft yarn socks, roll them 

 into a ball and fasten so that they can not come apart; 

 then, calling the puppy, push the ball into his face until he 

 attempts to seize it, and when his attention is centered on 

 the new plaything, throw it about dne foot away, saying, 



"Go fetch, ," motioning in the required direction at 



the same time with the hand. If he takes it in his mouth, 

 call him to you, and should he bring it, say, "Dead bird! " 

 or "Dead! " opening his mouth at the same time and gen- 

 tly removing the ball. The greatest care should be taken 

 not to pull the ball away, as he would assuredly pull too, 

 thereby laying the seed of future trouble in the shape of 

 dismembered, perhaps eaten, birds and game. 



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