FOR THE FIELD AND FIELD TRIALS. 213 



CHAPTER XVI. 



THE FORCE SYSTEM. 



As THE term "force system" suggests, it is a sys- 

 tem of teaching the dog retrieving, which, in part, 

 is accomplished by the exercise of force. As a 

 title, it, too, is misleading in its significance, since 

 force is used only in the elementary stages of the 

 lessons, and then to a limited degree. 



The force, as applied, is for the purpose of caus- 

 ing pain to the dog. The absence of pain is so as- 

 sociated with certain acts that he commits them me- 

 chanically to avoid it. Pain of itself teaches the dog 

 nothing whatever in the way of intelligent and posi- 

 tive retrieving. Its scope, however, is quite suffi- 

 cient to enable the trainer to lay a firm elementary 

 groundwork upon which the educational retrieving 

 superstructure may be built. 



When left to the exercise of his own will in the 

 use of his mouth, the dog is predisposed to harshly 

 grasp such objects as he closes it upon, Under the 



