FOR THE FIELD AND FIELD TRIALS. 239 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE TOOLS OF TRAINING. 



THE whip, whistle, spike collar and check cord are 

 all the instruments the trainer needs to perfect the 

 dog in his education for work to the gun. 



Both whip and spike collar have been denounced 

 as cruel instruments. They are cruel or not, accord- 

 ing as they are used. The cruelty therefore is in 

 their application, which is a manifestation of the 

 trainer's purposes. 



If the trainer cannot use the spike collar without 

 being cruel, it is better for him to entirely forego its 

 use, as it is better also to forego any attempts at 

 training if he cannot control his temper. 



When properly applied, the collar inflicts pain 

 without mutilation. It serves a useful purpose, and 

 its use therefore can be justified on that score. Break- 

 ing the colt to harness, which at first hurts him, or 

 breaking the ox to the yoke, inflicts certain degrees 

 of pain, yet if not carried to unnecessary lengths 



