214 TRAINING THE HUNTING DOG 



schooling of the natural system, the manner in 

 which he uses it is practically beyond the control of 

 the trainer. Indeed, his schooling, under that sys- 

 tem, has a tendency to develop a hard mouth rather 

 than to preserve a tender one. 



In the "force system," the dog's manner of using 

 his mouth is under the direct control of the trainer. 

 Tender grasping of the object to be retrieved is a 

 feature of it from the beginning. The dog notes 

 that when he has the object in his mouth pain ceases. 



The manner in which the dog uses his mouth to 

 the end that pain may be avoided, and that which he 

 uses when impelled by natural impulse, are quite dis- 

 tinct. The one is gentle, the other forceful. 



If cruelty is inflicted by any instrument which 

 causes pain to the dog, the trainer should not, by 

 any sophism, assume that the cruelty is inherent in 

 such instrument. The cruelty, when it exists, 

 comes from the application of the punishment. 



Pain can be caused without any injury whatever 

 to the dog. When the trainer loses his temper and 

 mutilates and shocks his dog, he should not for a 

 moment imagine that the origin of the cruelty is in 

 the collar. The latter being absent, his boot, club, 



