76 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



" Down" and "Down Charge" It does seem a 

 simple matter to put a dog down and to keep him there, 

 but in actual practice what do we find ? Not one in ten 

 will do so and remain there till they are ordered other- 

 wise. In the old muzzle-loading days, of course, it was 

 absolutely essential to give the guns time to reload, and, 

 in our opinion, should be strictly enforced, particularly 

 in the case of pointer or setter. In training any dog, 

 including retrievers, by teaching them this habit early, 

 you obtain a command early of the animal which makes 

 succeeding lessons infinitely more simple. Begin by 

 putting the puppy down at your feet, gradually increas- 

 ing the distance ; if he moves take him back to the same 

 spot. You may move about, keeping your eye on him at 

 firsttillyou are able to go any distance without movement 

 on his part. On no account must the dog be allowed to 

 move till he gets a command either by " signal or call." 



The value of this lesson is appreciated when the dog 

 is taken first among game. The trainer must be con- 

 sistent, and what is at first very irksome to your excit- 

 able and high-couraged youngster in a very short time 

 becomes a mechanical habit. Sometimes you will have 

 difficulty with a timid, nervous puppy in preventing him 

 from running into your feet. In such a case avoid any 

 punishment, but patiently return him to the original 

 spot. If he persists and you punish him, then he prob- 

 ably bolts. Rather than punish, try the cord and hitch 

 it round a peg or post, so that when he moves a pull in 

 the other direction will show him what you wish. 



