. How TO TRAIN A RETRIEVER (LESSON //) 485 



After the dog has kept down for about a minute, 

 drop the cord (which should have a coat button at it> 

 loose end to prevent it from running free of the peg), 

 lower your hand, call him to you, pat him, and give 

 him apiece of food. Now gradually test your puppy '> 

 endurance, gaining on him a yard at a time, till he 

 will finally not only ' down charge ' the moment you 

 raise your arm and cry * Down ! ' but will remain down 

 till called up by name, though you be at 40 to 50 

 yards distance. 



When he is improving in his lesson of ' down 

 charge,' stroll from him as if you had forgotten all 

 about his existence. He will find this very trying at 

 first ; keep, however, the cord in hand, allowing it to 

 slide through the fingers as you walk away, and the 

 instant you suspect the dog moves or feel him pull on 

 the cord, turn abruptly round with raised arm and in 

 an angry voice cry ' Down ! ' at the same moment 

 jerking the cord. The puppy will finally realise that 

 even when your back is turned to him he cannot move 

 without your at once detecting his disobedience. 



After the puppy is thoroughly taught to ' down 

 charge ' in this manner up to 50 yards with a running 

 cord, it will be quite safe to allow him his liberty 

 without it, and easy enough to complete his education 

 in the ' down charge ' even should you walk 100 yards 

 or more from him. 



Finally practise your dog in remaining down when 

 you are out of sight, as in a house, or behind a fence 



