RETRIEVING. 33 



succeed in achieving that dainty, delicate mouth that is so 

 indispensable to the good retriever as certainly as we shall 

 if we wait until his gums are hardened and he has become 

 somewhat accus oined to his new teeth. He will also .have 

 acquired all the more experience with the added days, and 

 will all the more readily understand what you require. We 

 shall now derive no little benefit from our so-called "fancy 

 training." In fact, should our pupil possess no natural taste 

 for retrieving, we shall find it almost indispensable ; and 

 should he prove never so hard-headed and never so hard- 

 mouthed, we may rest assured that with the help of this 

 same fancy training we shall be able to bring him safely 

 through, and that no doubting fears will disturb our mind 

 when we send him for his first bird. 



Oar pupil should be well up in all his lessons by this time, 

 and so perfect at To ho that he will not only " draw " on a 

 piece of meat one step at a time, but he must be also so well 

 trained that when you cluck to him as a signal that he may 

 eat it, he will, after taking it in his mouth instantly, at your 

 command of To 7io, hold it perfectly still and deliver it into 

 your hand without any hesitancy. If this has been thoroughly 

 taught him, one-half your task in teaching him to retrieve 

 is accomplished, and you will find it an easy matter to com- 

 plete his education ; for you will have no trouble in inducing 

 him to take a single step toward you when he has the piece 

 of meat ii his mouth ; and by using great care that you do 

 not tax his patience too much by an undue haste to perfect 

 him too soon, he will, in a short time, readily take two or 

 three steps, and with proper care and good judgment on your 

 part he will soon learn to readily bring you the smallest bit 

 of meat from across the yard, and to deliver it into your hand 

 intact. 



We must again caution you to go very slow, and to be 

 satisfied with a very little progress. In this lesson especial 

 care must be had that each successive step is well and 

 thoroughly learned before proceeding any further. Thus, when 

 you have succeeded in getting him to take a step or two 

 toward you, do not try him at a longer distance until he has 



