158 AN ENGLISH GAMEKEEPER. 



running past the peg, until you come nearly to 

 the end of the cord, and, just as he feels it 

 tightening, stop short, calUng out ' down ' and 

 holding up your hand. Be careful not to 

 throw the dog, as if he obeys you at once, it 

 gives him confidence, whereas, if he is thrown, 

 he does not know whether it is his fault or not. 

 Keep him at this practice for three or four 

 days, until he will lay quiet at the peg, or at 

 any intermediate distance between it and the 

 end of the cord. 



The next thing is the practice with the forty 

 yards cord. Put a small cord, about forty yards 

 long, round the neck of the dog, and hold the 

 other end in your hand all the time, watching 

 for a favourable opportunity to cry ' down ' and 

 hold up your hand ; this should be done, if 

 possible, when the dog is coming straight at 

 you. Now one of two things will take place — 

 the dog will either drop obediently, or he will 

 bolt straight for home. If the former happens, 

 well and good, he has profited by instruction ; 

 if the latter happens, take care to give him a 

 smart fall when he gets to the end of his tether, 



