FOR THE FIELD AND FIELD TRIALS. 185 



standpoint, however, the handler has no more rela- 

 tion to the pursuit of game than he would have to a 

 bone which the dog might be gnawing. 



While the dog takes a certain degree of pleasure in 

 the pursuit of game, a material purpose, the capture 

 of the prey, dominates, and thus his eager pursuit 

 has a basis of self-interest. The latter must be pre- 

 served, therefore it is seldom good training to at- 

 tempt to check his unsteadiness too suddenly. It is 

 better done by easy degrees, even if the dog is dis- 

 tinctly hard-headed in his obstinacy. 



Steadiness is one of the easiest parts of the train- 

 ing to enforce when the trainer engages in it seri- 

 ously, although it is one of the most difficult for the 

 average shooter, on account of his failure to method- 

 ically control the dog by mechanical means. 



Some nice judgment should be exercised as to how 

 much freedom to give the dog, in case of timidity, 

 apathetic interest, natural indolence, etc. Some 

 dogs, whose self-interest is exceptionally assertive, 

 will hunt with the greatest enthusiasm for them- 

 selves, while hunting only with half-heartedness for 

 their masters. Thus the matter of how much re- 

 straint should be exercised is one of expediency, 



