44 TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



to learn by taking him frequently into the woods and 

 fields, and permitting him to range and seek and 

 chase in his own manner. 



The period of youth is a period of development. 

 Nature utilizes it in the most beneficent and proper 

 manner. It is the preparatory stage for the tasks of 

 mature life. Therefore, until the mind and body 

 have been developed in their powers according to 

 Nature's laws, the puppy is not old enough to at- 

 tempt his education. 



Puppies play furiously with each other till they are 

 exhausted by fatigue. After a short rest they may 

 resume their frolics with unabated ardor. They 

 simulate a close imitation of pursuit and escape, of 

 cunning attack and crafty evasion, or of ambush or 

 battle, dog against dog, seizing, wrestling and strug- 

 gling in play as they do in actual fight, with the 

 difference, however, that they use their teeth in a 

 "make-believe" way, and do not intentionally hurt 

 each other. At times the sham battle may develop 

 into a real one, and then there is but little difference 

 in the struggle save that teeth are used in earnest. 



This exercise develops the dog's muscles, his power 

 of actively using his bodily capabilities and his 



