x.\ xn. How TO TRAIN A RETRIEVER (LESSON III} 487 



hand.* In two or three days the puppy will rea- 

 lise that, though he is unable to eat the ball or glove 

 on fetching it, he will, to make amends, obtain a tit- 

 bit that will reward him for his trouble equally well, 

 and he will soon learn to drop the ball or glove into 

 your hand, in the expectation of receiving the morsel 

 you give him instead which he can eat. Never teach 

 a puppy to find or fetch meat or other food, as you 

 do not want him to cat what he is sent for, as this is 

 contrary to all his training for game. 



Now by degrees leave off rewarding the puppy so 

 often, though do not discontinue the practice alto- 

 gether, and he will gradually learn to hold the 

 glove or ball till you take it from him. When he will 

 do this you can go a step farther and teach him to 

 ' fetch ' what he is sent for to you as you walk along, 

 in fact to retrieve. At first commence cautiously, and 

 when the puppy has found the article he is sent for, 

 step back a few yards, call him to you, and reward 

 and praise him if he brings it quickly to hand, which, 

 if he is of ordinary intelligence, he is pretty sure, with 

 a little encouragement, to do. Increase the distance 

 yard by yard till your puppy will bring you the ball 



* If you place your hand down over a dog's mouth, you will 

 cause him to carry his head low and to perhaps even lay on the 

 ground what he has fetched you. By placing your hand under a 

 puppy's mouth to receive, or take from him, anything he brings you, 

 you will teach him to raise his head to give you what he has re- 

 trieved, and you will thus not only avoid the tiring action of stoop- 

 ing down to take it, but, what is far more important, there will be 

 less likelihood of the dog dropping his game at your feet. 



