C H A P i; E R VIII. 



FiKST Lessons. — Introduction to game ; developing courage ; 

 encouraging fondness for field work. 



IT was a very common practice a quarter of 

 a century ago to put the young dog through 

 a series of kennel lessons before he was 

 taken to the field. This practice is still fol- 

 lowed by some breakers. But the most" success- 

 ful handlers of the day do no yard breaking 

 at all until the young dog has been introduced 

 to game. This has becoine more and more the 

 practice as our bird dogs reached a higher and 

 higher state of nervous development. The 

 modern setter and pointer are too nervous to 

 stand yard breaking in the beginning. It cows 

 them and a long time is wasted getting them 

 over it and making them fit to learn field work. 

 Sometimes a whole season is lost, and often 

 the utter ruination of what promised to be a 

 good dog is simply the result of his having 

 been yard broken before he was taken to the 

 field. The first real lesson in breaking there- 

 fore, should be given in the field, and this les- 

 son is a very simple one. It consists merely of 



