2O8 TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



interest and effort. For instance, when he retrieves 

 the object and the trainer is endeavoring to take it 

 from him, he will hold it tightly in his mouth ; if the 

 trainer pulls on it forcefully he holds it the tighter, 

 all of which has a tendency to make him hard- 

 mouthed. If the trainer holds him by the collar with 

 the right hand and grasps the object with his left, he 

 can with the collar hold the dog in place so that he 

 cannot exert any force on the object. Then he with 

 his foot pinches the toes of the puppy while holding 

 him kindly but firmly in place, at the same time ut- 

 tering the command, "Give." In a few lessons the 

 puppy will associate this command with a pain in his 

 toes, and the act of opening his mouth and releasing 

 the object he will associate with the avoidance of 

 pain: thereupon he will open his mouth to release 

 the object when he hears the command. Thus, 

 "Fetch" denotes that he is to retrieve the object, and 

 "Give" denotes that he is to release it when he has 

 brought it to hand. 



The results of this "method" are much as they 

 happen to be. The lessons are continued through 

 weeks and months, from the time the puppy is three 

 or four months old till he matures. With age he be- 



