80 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



that the dog will always perform willingly and efficiently, yet be 

 always under perfect command. 



We shall not stop to show the utter worthlessness of the systems 

 we have referred to, but give that which we have used for many 

 years, and which we have never known fail in either our own 

 hands or in those of any person who has given it a fair and intelli- 

 gent trial. It is, as will be seen, a force system of the most abso- 

 lute character, yet we have never known of a dog being permanently 

 cowed by it, or one that was not made tender-mouthed and careful 

 in seizing and bringing his game. 



As a preliminary the dog must be taught to sit upon his haunches, 

 and hold his head up at the command " sit up." To this end we 

 take him by the under jaw with one hand and lift his head up, 

 while with the other we bend his hocks, thus forcing him into the 

 desired position, and repeat this with the command till he obeys 

 readily. 



Having progressed so far, we next take a hard, tightly-rolled 

 woollen cylinder, about four inches long and an inch and a half 

 through, with the edge well sewed down ; this being easily grasped 

 by the dog, yet of a character that does not incline him to bite it. 

 With this in hand we make the dog sit up before us, and, opening 

 his jaws with one hand, insert the roll and close his teeth upon it, 

 with the command " pick it up." He will probably throw it out 

 immediately; but for this we care nothing, as taking, not holding, 

 the roll is what we desire to effect. After presenting it two or three 

 times in this way, without the dog making any attempt to take 

 it, we then catch him by the nose and upper lip with the right hand, 

 and with a strong overtwist, as if trying to tear the nose off, force 

 him to cry out, thus causing him to open his mouth, into which we 

 slip the roll with the other hand. This action rouses the dog's 

 will and temper, but regardless of both, we continue repeating the 

 command and twisting his nose till he begins to open his mouth 

 when the roll is presented, which submission we immediately re- 

 ward by encouragement, and as soon as it becomes decided we end 

 the lesson for the day. 



