156 The Dog Book 



thrown will disappear from view, such as in long grass. With the dog 

 near and facing you throw the roll beyond him, keeping him at *'to-ho'* 

 while you do so. Then with a wave of the hand send him for the roll, 

 giving, when he has started, the command to "find." As he has now to use 

 his nose to locate the object, nothing new and without a known scent should 

 be used, an old roll being the best for this purpose. As you make the placing 

 of the roll more difficult it is well to encourage the dog by assisting in the 

 search, of course not going directly to the object, but looking in sundry 

 places till the right location is finally reached, and with many a good 

 word for his success and patting the dog realises that he has done something 

 of merit, and will naturally try to do so again. Reduce your assisting as 

 soon as possible and do not interfere so as to have the dog rely upon you 

 for assistance, but only when hopelessly at fault give him any clue to the 

 solution. He must be taught perseverance all by himself, for dead birds 

 are hard to find at times. Every effort must be made at this stage to get the 

 dog to use his nose, for upon his ability in this direction much of his future 

 success depends. As an old and thorough sportsman in a sadly depleted 

 shooting section near New York says, "Point, more point, and still more 

 point is what is wanted in a shooting dog where game is scarce. You want 

 a dog that misses no bird." 



Presuming that the trainer has now got his dog well educated along 

 the lines laid down and has had him out on his walks during which he has 

 been given orders from time to time, and has shown a promptness in obeying 

 that warrants the belief that he may be taken afield, it is well to do so, the 

 dog being taken by himself. 



The first duty taught in the field is ranging, or changing his direction of 

 running. It is better to let the dog have a good run along the road before 

 entering a field for this lesson, so as to have his romp out. Bring him to 

 heel after his run and keep him there till you reach the desired spot, which 

 should be clear of obstructions or brush so that you can see each other all 

 the time. Send your dog out and when he has gone as far as you think 

 advisable whistle once, and as soon as he looks toward you wave your hand 

 in the direction you wish him to go and yourself follow that direction, which 

 will naturally cause him to take it. As soon as he has straightened out 

 change your course to straight ahead, and when he has gone a proper distance 

 whistle, wave your hand in the opposite direction, moving likewise as before. 

 A dog of intelligence will soon recognise the one whistle as the signal to 



