THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



Should he refuse to fetch, but run away and gnaw at the 

 ball, go to him, and keeping it in his mouth, draw him 

 after you to where you stood when the ball was thrown; 

 then say "Dead," and proceed as before. 



In the event of his refusing to pick up the ball, take 

 him behind the shoulders, and dragging him to where it 

 lies, place it in his mouth and proceed as before directed. 

 Care should be taken to prevent his mauling and biting at 

 the ball, and on his attempting to do so, order him sharply 

 to " Stop that!" slapping him smartly at the same time. 

 These lessons should be persisted in until they are thor- 

 oughly understood by the puppy. 



The ball should now be hidden, without the pupil's 

 knowledge, and he should then be ordered to " Seek dead," 

 at the same time being shown the direction in which to 

 quest by a wave of the hand. If he fails to find, show him 

 where it is hidden and try again. Never let him suffer dis- 

 appointment in his search, and always make him carry the 

 ball to you and lay it at your feet. (He will by this time 

 have learned to deliver without the command to do so.) 



Hide the ball in more and more unlikely places as he 

 progresses, until he will at last find it no matter where 

 hidden. He should not on any account be permitted to 

 carry sticks, stones, or other hard substances, as such prac- 

 tices would inevitably make him hard in the mouth. Prac- 

 tice the retrieving sometimes in the dark, as this will teach 

 him to. depend on scent rather than sight. 



To teach a puppy to "heel," call sharply when he is 

 walking with you, "Heel, - !" and at the same time 

 force him behind you. Should he attempt to break away, 

 tap him smartly with a light stick or whip and again put 

 him behind you, repeating the command while doing so. 

 This lesson must be thoroughly inculcated, as it is of the 

 greatest importance that a dog should come well to heel, 

 and stay there until ordered to "Hie on." This latter is 

 the easiest by far of all the lessons to impart, as a dog is 

 always anxious to avail himself of the opportunity to 

 indulge in a scamper. 



