132 THE AMERICAN HUNTING DOG 



up!" and take away the cob. Pet, praise, reward, 

 and repeat the lesson. He will soon get so he 

 will reach for the cob with his mouth and snap 

 for it at the command ''Fetch!" This is what 

 yon are waiting for. Hold it further and further 

 away at each repetition, finally dropping it and 

 commanding "Up! Fetch!" Then drop it a yard 

 away; two yards; throw it a short distance and 

 praise and pet him each time he fetches it. You 

 now intersperse the command "Fetch!" with 

 "Dead! — Seek dead bird!" until he realises that 

 the two commands mean the same thing. After 

 a week of ' ' Fetch ! " he will get so you can drop 

 the cob any time and he will look for it until found 

 and bring it to you. 



LESSON III. — STAUNCHNESS 



If your dog is of good hunting stock he will 

 notice and point birds at about three months. The 

 tendency to break and chase is very strong and 

 he should wear the force collar when afield as soon 

 as his training lessons begin. When he draws up 

 on a bird, call "Steady!" to calm him, and if he 

 starts to break and flush, call "To Ho!" and pull 

 sharply on the cord. The grip of the force collar 

 reminds him that you still have power to punish 

 him. In the same way the tendency to chase small 



