xxxu. Jfoir TO TKA/N A RETRIEVER (LESS. VII) 501 



At length we will suppose you are able to kill a 

 bird that falls in full view; if you can see it lying on 

 the ground all the better. 



Your dog will probably make a frantic spring 

 forward on seeing the bird drop ; do not move, but 

 jerk him back with the cord and ' down charge ' 

 him saying, ' Steady, steady ! ' After the dog has 

 been ' down ' a minute wave your arm towards the 

 dead bird, and give your pupil his liberty, but with 

 the cord to his collar as a means if necessary of catch- 

 ing him. Eemain where you fired, for you wish the 

 dog to understand that he has to fetch the bird, not 

 his master, and in a stooping attitude coax him to 

 you the moment he picks it up ; if he shows the lr*f 

 hesitation in bringing up the bird, turn from him 

 and call him after you as you run away, as this is the 

 only method of teaching a young dog to fetch game 

 smartly, which should be your chief object when 

 training him to retrieve in the field. Your dog will 

 bring the bird to your side perhaps, but in his joy at 

 first retrieving and carrying warm game hejrnay be 

 loth to give it up ; catch hold of or step on his cord 

 and coax him to your hand, but do not drag the dog up 

 to you, for he cannot escape whilst you hold the cord. 

 X )W gently open the dog's mouth and take the bird in 

 your hand ; if you drag it from him you will certainly 

 make him hard-mouthed ; pat your dog, and stroke 

 the bird and show it him ; if he snaps at it, box his 

 ears and say ' Steady ! ' till he will merely smell or 



