9O TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



then being coolest. When the puppy is warm and 

 panting he suffers much discomfort, and it is then 

 difficult to. hold his interest or attention. 



His mind, being immature and undisciplined, can 

 compass only the simplest details. Therefore it is 

 best to begin with the most elementary lessons, and 

 thus his ideas will be developed in a natural manner, 

 and obedience will be enforced without breaking his 

 spirit or lessening his self-confidence. As with the 

 child in its first attempts at learning, so it is with the 

 puppy; it is extremely difficult and wearisome for 

 it to at first understand the simplest teachings or con- 

 centrate its mind on any subject which requires 

 thought. Under such circumstances, the amateur 

 teacher should not too hastily, assume that the puppy 

 is stupid. 



When teaching the first lessons it is better to be 

 within a room or yard from which he cannot escape, 

 even if so inclined. Undoubtedly he will make many 

 attempts to do so. It is good training to permit him 

 to make such attempts with the resultant failures. 

 Then, after repeated disappointments, he will aban- 

 don them. 



If the trainer commands the puppy to do some- 



