LESSONS IN " FETCHING." 51? 



his depth, and finds that nature has given him useful 

 swimming powers. On no occasion will the example of 

 another dog more assist you. Your youngster's diving 

 can never be of service ; therefore throw in only what 

 will float. Otherwise he might have a plunge for 

 nothing, and so be discouraged ; and evidently it should 

 be your constant aim to avoid doing anything likely to 

 shake his confidence in you. 



90. If you ever have occasion to teach a dog to dive 

 and retrieve, first accustom him, on land, to fetch some- 

 thing heavy, of a conspicuous color. When he brings 

 it eagerly, commence your diving lesson by throwing it 

 into the shallowest parts of the stream. Only by slow 

 degrees get to deep water, and let your lessons be very 

 short. Never chuck in a stone. The chances are 

 twenty to one that there are several at the bottom not 

 very dissimilar, and the young dog ought not to be sub- 

 jected to the temptation of picking up one of them in 

 lieu of that he was sent for. Should he on any occasion 

 do so, neither scold nor caress him ; quietly take what 

 he brings, lay it at your feet', to show him that you 

 want it not, and endeavor to make him renew his search 

 for what you threw in ; do this by signs, and by encou- 

 ragement with your voice, rather than by chucking 

 stones in the right direction, lest he should seek for 

 them instead of searching for what you originally sent 

 him. 



91. Some teachers make a young dog fetch a round 

 pin cushion, or a cork ball, in which needles are judi- 



22* 



