2O4 TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



From the manner of his education he is predisposed 

 to a hard mouth, to rolling the bird in his mouth or 

 dropping and picking it up in a dilatory manner as he 

 fetches it to his handler, and to dropping it on the 

 ground several yards away instead of bringing it 

 neatly to hand as he should. 



If punished for any fault concerning it, he is very 

 likely to quit retrieving. Punishment inflicted under 

 any circumstances is by him understood to be for 

 having the bird in possession at all, instead of for the 

 faulty manner of retrieving it. In most instances, at 

 some period of the natural retriever's life, he ceases 

 to maintain his interest in retrieving and thereupon 

 refuses to further engage in it. 



Nearly all puppies have an uncontrollable desire to 

 play. They will romp with each other or with such 

 children as will join with them. The lone puppy, 

 left to his own resources, derives great pleasure in 

 fiercely carrying about and tossing an old shoe, or 

 other available object, simulating attack and defense 

 as if it were alive. He is not averse to engaging in 

 play with his master, though the latter in his mature 

 frolics oftentimes is too ponderous and calm as to de- 

 portment, and too conservative in his standards of 



