382 UPLAND SHOOTING. 



point birds, taking especial care to make him steady at 

 the rise; but do not shoot until his passion for the sport 

 has become very strong; then you can begin on singles, 

 using wood-powder. Your only chance of failure is in 

 commencing to shoot too soon. If you have a perfectly 

 staunch dog to take with him, so much the better. 



Yard lessons in retrieving may begin as soon as " to-ho" 

 has been mastered. Use any soft object, such as a roll 

 of cloth or a leather glove. Show this to him; say 

 "fetch," and put it gently in his mouth; make him hold 

 it an instant, and then take it away, saying ' ' give. ' ' You 

 can gradually take a step or two away as he holds it, and 

 draw him to you with the check cord, repeating all the 

 time, ' ' fetch. ' ' He will soon take it from your hand, hold 

 it, and bring it to you, at command. Then you have to lay 

 it on the ground and make him pick it up. He may be 

 induced to do this by blowing or spitting on it, and wav- 

 ing it to excite his interest, before you throw it down; 

 or you may have to take his nose in your hands, bring it 

 down to the object, open and close his mouth upon it, 

 using force, but quietly and gently. All severity is worse 

 than wasted. Patience, firmness, and gentleness will 

 insure success in every case. I have tried severe force 

 systems without success, but on the above plan have 

 never failed. Remember that lessons must be short; so 

 do not try to do too much at once. From the first, 

 accustom the dog to remain quiet while the object is 

 being put or thrown down for him, and to go out for it 

 only at the word "fetch." 



When you begin to let your dog retrieve birds, he must 

 be sent for such only as are cleanly killed. Cripples 

 may be tried when he has had more experience. When 

 he has become very fond of retrieving, he will probably 

 begin to pinch the birds. To cure this, take him by the 

 lower jaw and ram the mangled bird down his throat until 



