RETRIEVING. 37 



adopt th : s cours3 you should confine your practice entirely 

 to this bunch of feathers, and when he brings it readily you 

 should vary the performance by attaching different ar- 

 ticles instead of the stone your knife, for instance, or a 

 bunch of keys or a bit of wood, and by always making him 

 bring by taking the feathers in his mouth, he' will readily 

 learn to bring his birds in the same manner if you show him 

 how with a few of his first ones by placing the wing in his 

 mouth, or perhaps the mere showing him the wing will be 

 sufficient. 



Should you decide for the old-fashioned way, you should 

 procure a soft ball. We have found a ball of lampwicking 

 to be the best possible thing that could be devised it is soft 

 and just about the right size. Th : s shouM be stitched 

 through and through, so that it will not unravel, and after 

 he brings his bit of meat in good shape you can try him wi'h 

 this. You will find that the best plan to pursue is to com- 

 mence at the beginning, and place it in his mouth as you did 

 the first piece cf meat, and to pursue the same course by 

 asking only one rr two steps, until he gets accustomed to it. 

 And be sure and do not try to accomplish too much at once, 

 but go no faster t 'an your pupil's progress will warrant. 

 When you think that it will answer to order him to pick it 

 up and bring it to you, watch him very closely, and if there 

 is going to be any troubla, and he does not seem inclined io 

 pick it up readily, you must instantly go to him and place it 

 in his mouth, and be content to let him bring it this way for 

 this time, and wait until he is very hungry, and then try 

 him by tying a piece of meat to the ball, and he will soon 

 learn what is required and give no further trouble. When he 

 brings his ball readily, you should procure some feathers 

 from the body of a game bird if possible, but those of a 

 fowl will do very well and commence by sewing two or 

 three of them en the ball; and as he becomes accustomed to 

 them you should add more until the surface is entirely 

 covered. This will accustom him to feathers, and he will 

 not refuse to take a bird in his mouth as we have known 

 some dogs to do that were really good retrievers. We should 



