474 
FOREST AND STREAM 
OCTOBER, 1917 
HOW TO MAKE A MEAT DOG 
THE SECOND OF A SERIES OF SIMPLE LESSONS IN DOG TRAINING THAT WILL ENABLE 
THE EVERYDAY SPORTSMAN TO DEVELOP A USEFUL ASSISTANT IN FIELD AND COVERT 
H ERE, at the beginning of these les¬ 
sons in dog training, we wish to im¬ 
press upon the sportsman who is un¬ 
dertaking the development of a useful bird 
dog the very important fact that no bird 
dog is born into the world with a knowl¬ 
edge of its affairs. He inherits from his 
ancestors certain instincts but no knowl¬ 
edge; the latter must all be acquired by 
experience. The streets, the fields, the for¬ 
ests and the streams and all the living 
creatures are to him strangers to be sure. 
They excite his curiosity just as they excite 
that of a child; but curiosity is not knowl¬ 
edge. Your dog can learn only by experi¬ 
ence, at first he may be either bold or 
timid, reckless or cautious. Take him with 
you to your busi¬ 
ness or your of¬ 
fice so that he can 
see that side of 
life, and when he 
is four or five 
months old let him 
follow you into 
the fields. Do not 
expect him to 
know about things 
in advance and do 
not be disappoint¬ 
ed if he is con- 
fused and 
alarmed, but let 
him learn about 
things by explor¬ 
ing them. Re¬ 
member also that 
he can not under¬ 
stand a flow of 
words and if you 
talk too much you 
will confuse and 
alarm him when 
you are attempt¬ 
ing to encourage 
him. Do not dis- 
tract his mind 
from problems he 
will solve himself 
if left alone. In fact, the young dog should 
be treated like a young child. In showing 
him what you want him to do you can use 
words and signs but be sure they are sim¬ 
ple and not repeated too often or too loud¬ 
ly; and above all things, do not forget that 
a six months old puppy has a very simple, 
undeveloped brain and it is absurd to ex¬ 
pect more of a six months’ puppy than you 
would of a six year old child. Time, 
patience, repeated opportunity and ex¬ 
perience will ever be the basis of the train¬ 
ers’ art. 
We will now suppose the pupil to be 
about six months old, healthy, happy, and 
with the experience we have mentioned; 
further than that he does not know any¬ 
thing. His first lesson should be given in 
any empty barn, loft or room, where he 
can move about. Snap a light cord to his 
collar, let him go, and when he begins to 
By PIOUS JEEMS 
play say, “Come in!” If he does not come 
at once, give the cord a twitch and pull him 
in to you firmly, hand over hand, then pet 
him until he has entirely recovered from 
his fright. When he minds instantly you 
will have made an important step in his 
training, for you have taught him to rec¬ 
ognize you as his master and to come when 
he is called. This may not be accomplished 
in one lesson but after he understands and 
obeys with reasonable promptness you can 
advance to the second lesson, which is re¬ 
trieving. This accomplishment is sometimes 
taught by throwing a ball for the dog to 
run after; it works well in some cases, but 
it takes more time than the method now 
presented and in the end is not so effective. 
With the throwing the ball method, all de¬ 
pends upon the inclination of the pupil; if 
so disposed he will go after and bring it, 
but there is no way of compelling him to 
do so, and in this (as in everything else) 
the dog should perform an action because 
ordered to do so; in other words, expect 
his will to be subservient to your own, so 
that he will do as directed without consult¬ 
ing his own convenience or inclination. 
With the ball it is mere play, but by this 
method it is real work; and though it has 
its rewards and may be made a pleasure, it 
still has a tendency to teach the animal that 
he is under control and that it is not op¬ 
tional whether he will retrive or not. 
The first thing the dog should be taught 
is to sit up and deliver into hand, and to 
hold an article until taken from him. To 
inculcate this lesson, call the dog in front 
of you; say, “Sit up!” If, as is probable, 
he does not understand, take him by the 
collar under the throat with one hand so 
as to hold his head up, and passing the 
other arm round his hind legs above the 
hocks, force him to a sitting position, but 
be careful to do this quietly and gently so 
that he will not be frightened. When he 
becomes accustomed to the position and will 
take it readily at the word, take a news¬ 
paper and fold it into a flat, tight fold of 
about four inches long, then with the dog 
in position before you, open his mouth by 
pressing the fingers against the back part of 
the jaw so as to force them between his 
teeth. Place the paper in his mouth, clos¬ 
ing the jaws, and saying “Pick up!” Re¬ 
tain it by holding one hand under his chin 
for a few seconds, 
then take it out 
and by petting the 
dog let him see 
that you are 
pleased with him. 
Should he at¬ 
tempt to turn the 
paper, or to open 
and shut his jaws 
upon it, check him 
at once by a light 
tap under the jaw 
and the word 
“Careful!” The 
folded paper is 
preferred to any 
other object be¬ 
cause the dog is 
less likely to bite 
or turn it, and 
from becoming 
accustomed t o 
holding it quietly 
and steadily he 
will be more like¬ 
ly to turn out a 
tender - mouthed 
retriever. When 
the dog holds up 
well, take a few 
steps, allowing 
him to follow you with the paper 
in his mouth, and, if he attempts to 
drop it, place your hand under his 
jaw as you walk, and at every attempt 
to eject the paper lift his head quickly, with 
a sharp “Careful!” He will soon learn to 
follow you and carry the paper, which will 
confirm him in holding it, and teach him 
also to carry well, a thing which many dogs 
will not do, even though they may fetch. 
The second part in the retrieving lessons 
is to teach him to pick up from the ground. 
You want now something that will attract 
the dog’s attention as it lies on the ground. 
The best thing is a cleanly-scraped bone. 
First let the dog smell of it as he sits in 
front of you, take him by the jaw so as to 
hold his head up, and drop the bone at 
your fjpet; naturally he will try to stoop 
for it; restrain him for an instant, then let 
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