WILDFOWL DOGS—HOW TO BREAK THEM 69 
whip and taken in for the day. These are delicate points, 
which may develop into very bad habits, if the dog is not 
dealt with sternly at first. 
After the pup has learned to carry well, the skin should be 
hidden or thrown into thick cover, and after a few minutes the 
dog commanded to seek. Never allow the dog under any cir- 
cumstances to bolt or seek without a command. At first it may 
be too harsh treatment to flog him for such an offence, but he 
should never be let off without a cut of the whip, or he will 
develop the habit of ‘‘breaking”’ and giving chase. For this 
he should be severely punished. To flog a big retriever is no 
easy task. Seize him by the skin at the back of the neck, and 
in your left hand hold him close up to your left hip. In such 
a position he cannot bite you, and yet your right hand is free 
to flog him. Give him a severe thrashing; let it last three 
minutes. Before he begins to howl, shout to him sternly the 
words ‘‘’Ware chase! ’ware chase, you brute!” and try to 
make him learn the sounds. Unless chasing habits are well 
curbed in a dog he will prove endlessly troublesome. Trash 
cords, as used for pointers and setters, are useless for re- 
trievers, if the dog cannot be brought down by the check close 
at hand. 
Our puppy has now gone through the ordeal of learning 
right from wrong, and may be framing very favourably. So 
as to instil him with greater confidence he may be taught to 
lie down and allow his master to walk across a large field and, 
with a whistle, call the dog over. He may also be taught to 
go back half a mile and retrieve the rabbit-skin. This is done 
by gradually increasing the distance. These are items of no 
importance in the actual working of a dog, but they serve 
well to further the education of the pupil. Finally he must be 
taught to take the water. This a well-bred puppy usually 
does the first time, if the rabbit-skin is shown to him and 
then thrown into the water. Be equally as careful about 
