94 LEWISES AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



" carefully." Very often the dog will drop the bird as soon as he 

 pricks himself, and in this case the breaker should put it into his 

 mouth and prick him, with the command. The command should 

 also be given when the dog is in the act of picking the bird up. 

 If the dog has been forced to retrieve, he can always be compelled 

 to bring the wired bird ; but if, on the other hand, he has not been 

 forced, he will probably refuse to bring, and then must be rebroken 

 by the force system used with a pup. In any event, a confirmed 

 bite, should never be allowed to retrieve a wounded bird till fully 

 cured and firmly established in his improved retrieving by long 

 practice. This is one of the most difficult of all faults to correct, 

 because there are so many circumstances that prompt a dog to it, 

 and these circumstances must be appreciated and avoided by the 

 breaker if he expects to make him tender-mouthed. 



A LAST WORD. 



It is impossible to provide by any system for all contingencies. 

 Dogs, from their varying dispositions and characters, require in 

 some measure different treatment. Some, too, will display faults 

 uncommon and peculiar to themselves. All can, however, be broken 

 by the system we have given, more or less sharply applied according 

 to circumstances. Breakers must exercise patience and discretion, 

 study their dogs, and vary the system to suit them. If peculiarities 

 or faults which we have not mentioned are displayed, their cause 

 must be investigated and removed. We claim that by the system 

 we have given any dog can be broken by even an inexperienced 

 man. We mean by this any dog that is breakable. Some will, 

 of course, give more trouble than others, and some men will find 

 more difficulty than others in applying the system. All we pretend 

 to give is a thoroughly good general rule, and we must leave to our 

 readers the intelligent application of it. The great secret of success 

 is thoroughness and frequent practice in the lessons, with firmness 

 but good temper on the part of the breaker. With these any man 

 can break a dog, but without them he is not fit to attempt it. 



