464 DOGS USED FOR SPORT. 



irrepressible, and is inclined too to hunt by the eye rather than 

 the nose." 



There are two modes of brealcing a dog to retrieve, one of 

 which is to take a puppy of five or six months of age in a room or 

 yard where escape is impossible, and by rolling a ball or some such 

 object from him, he will soon become fond of running after it, and 

 will pounce upon it, bringing it back when called. After he does 

 this well the wing of a bird should be attached to the ball, when 

 after a few lessons, he will as readily bring a bird when thrown for 

 him. Almost any one with a little skill and patience can in this way 

 inculcate in his puppy a fondness for retrieving. This is known as 

 " teaching a dog to retrieve in play," but by many is not considered 

 the best method, for the reason that if the animal thus broken 

 should mouth a bird, and not fetch properly, and be punished for 

 the fault, the chances are, that he would thenceforth cease to re- 

 trieve altogether. The other method is to break the animal under 

 compulsion, which is to first let him know what is required in the 

 matter, and then to inake him do it. It is better perhaps, before a 

 dog is thus broken to retrieve, that he be partially or fully field 

 broken, and that he be not less than eight or ten months old when 

 taken in hand. The very first thing, if he has a propensity to rush 

 in, pounce upon, and bring in things voluntarily, is to break up all 

 such nonsense at once, giving him to understand that there is to 

 be no play in the matter, but business from the very start ; and be- 

 fore giving him the first lesson a good strong check-cord and force 

 collar should be provided, for the lesson will be a disagreeable one, 

 and much care must be exercised that the dog does not escape 

 from it : should he escape once, irretrievable harm is done, as he 

 will ever after be on the lookout for an opportunity to avoid instead 

 of heeding, your instruction. 



In breaking a dog to retrieve, nothing answers the purpose 

 better than a corn cob, or a newspaper compactly wrapped with 

 twine, and he is first to be taught to sit down, hold up the head, 

 and take the object from the hand. In order to do this, his mouth 

 must be opened and the cob inserted as the bit is placed in the 

 mouth of a horse, at the same time commanding him to " take ii." 

 If he is stubborn and refuses, twitch him with the check-cord, or 

 rub his gums with it until he is forced to open his mouth, and takes 



