BREAKING. 81 



The length of this first fight depends upon the dog's character, 

 some resisting much longer than others. We have conquered some 

 in half an hour, and have had to work nearly a day with others, 

 but we always push the first lesson to submission, no matter how 

 long it takes, because if we stop short of this the dog naturally 

 supposes he has got his way, and this makes him more stubborn 

 at the next trial. Where a breaker cannot give so much time to 

 a lesson, he must make up his mind to more trouble, but he will 

 win if he persists, though it will be harder for both him and the 

 dog. 



It must not be supposed that the dog maintains his sitting pos- 

 ture during the first lesson ; on the contrary, he makes every pos- 

 sible effort to escape, and if he finds this impossible, as it should 

 be, he throws himself upon the ground. No effort should be 

 made to keep him sitting up, the benefit of that position will be 

 discovered later, and we have only taught it thus early to pre- 

 vent having to diverge from the direct line of instruction in re- 

 trieving. It is proper to say here that, no matter how enraged 

 the dog may become, there is no danger of the breaker being 

 bitten if he keeps his eye upon the dog while twisting him, as 

 the hand upon the nose cannot be caught, and in addition to this 

 immunity it serves to keep the teeth away from other parts of the 

 person. 



The submission already gained is seldom permanent, and at the 

 next trial we generally meet with refusal, when we immediately 

 apply the twist till the dog gives up ; and as the first experience was 

 a severe one the second struggle is comparatively brief, but we per- 

 sist, rewarding every hesitation with a twist and every obedience 

 with approval, till the dog opens his mouth promptly. 



We next teach him to hold the roll till ordered to give it up, 

 which is done by first closing the jaws with the hand, giving the 

 order " hold," and when resistance to this ceases, we simply give 

 him a slight slap under the jaw if he attempts to drop it. By this 

 method and encouragement he is soon taught to retain the roll as 

 long as we desire ; but we make the time brief, as we desire now to 



