14 TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



training, as in all other branches of human effort, 

 there are men who are eminently efficient and men 

 who are incompetent. Apart from these extremes, 

 the average man may attain to useful, practical effici- 

 ency as a trainer. To determine whether he can 

 train or not, it is necessary to make the attempt, for 

 without such trial he cannot know definitely any- 

 thing concerning his ability. 



However good may be any instruction in respect 

 to conducting the dog's education for the service of 

 the gun, from the foregoing remarks it is clear that 

 the matters of patience, industry, perseverance, good 

 temper and talent lie with the trainer himself. In- 

 cidentally, it may be remarked in respect to patience 

 and good temper, that no one can train dogs success- 

 fully without them, or, at least, a partial equivalent 

 in perseverance and self-control; yet while they are 

 prime requisites, they are oftenest the least observed 

 by the impetuous amateur. 



Hurry and harshness always seriously retard the 

 dog's education instead of advancing it. In most in- 

 stances the beginner gives the dog an order, then 

 hastily proceeds in a conversational way to tell him 

 what it all means. Failing to accomplish his pur- 



