CHAPTER III. 



OHABGE ! 



will take it for granted that, after a week cr two Of 

 daily practice, our pupil has so far advanced in his 

 education as to be rea r onably proficient in his performance 

 at To ho t and we will now take another step and try him 

 with something new, and endeavor to teach him the meaning 

 of the word charge. As this word is in constant use among 

 sportsmen the world over, we always teach our dogs its 

 meaning; but for our own use we greatly prefer a low 

 breathed Sh! It is just as effective and far more quiet, es- 

 pecially when you take your dog into company, for instead 

 of attracting the attention of every one in the room by 

 commanding him to charge, you cai give him this signal, 

 and scarcely one even of those nea- est you ^ ill notice it. 

 We have used this for more than t wen y years, and can 

 heartily recommend it. Most persons train their dogs to 

 charge at the upraised hand. We do not quite like this, and 

 have never adopted the custom, for it very seldom occurs 

 that you wish your dog to drrp at any great distance from 

 you, but should you from any cause wish your dog to remain 

 quiet when he is at a distance, how much better it is to teach 

 him to come to a full stop at the raising of your hand, and 

 remain upon his feet when he can see you and be ready to 

 obey your next signal. Even at the discharge of the gun or 

 rise of the bird, we greatly \ refer that the dog, instead of 

 charging, should instantly stup and stand up, where he can 

 readily see what ii going on. There are many arguments in 

 favor of this course that we will not mention until we get 

 further on. 



We will now take our pupil in hand and see if we can 

 teach him to "charge." Place one hand upon his shoulders 

 and neck and the other upon his hips, and gently, yet 

 firrniy, force him to a recumbent position, at the same time 

 repeat the word charge, prefaced with the low ah. Do not 



