Modern Breaking 83 



order is for want of knowing how, rather than 

 because of any wilfulness. After learning to 

 stop to order when close by the breaker, the 

 dog will soon learn to stop at any distance. 

 In this connection it should be said that when- 

 ever the order to stop is given the breaker 

 should raise his right hand. This should be 

 done in the earlier lessons and should be con- 

 tinued until the dog comes to associate the 

 raising of the hand with the order to "to-ho," 

 and in time the verbal order may be omitted 

 and the dog taught to stop at sight of the 

 raised hand. This lesson may be given occa- 

 sionally while the dog is out for a romp, and 

 right here it may be well to remind the breaker 

 that the field work is to be kept up while the 

 yard breaking is carried on. Whatever de- 

 pressing effect the yard breaking may have will 

 be removed by a romp in the fields. 



When the dog is bold and will stand well to 

 the verbal order or uplifted hand, he may be 

 taught to drop. Meanwhile it will do no harm 

 to allow the youngster to retrieve in a spirit 

 of playfulness. It tends to keep up his spirits 

 a:nd chasing a soft ball that can be handled 

 easily will be fun for the dog. But at this 

 period no serious attempt should be made to 

 teach retrieving any further than the dog ap- 

 pears willing to learn. The serious part of re- 

 trieving will come later, when the dog should 

 be taught by the force system. 



