BREAKING AND HANDLING. 71 



too old, or two years if the dog has not been ruined by bad 

 handling, although an earlier age is desirable. The dog's 

 mental, muscular and nervous organizations are not suffi- 

 ciently matured till he is a year old, at least. Occasionally 

 a puppy is well developed at ten months; but very little is 

 gained by working puppies at an early age, and there is 

 always possible injury. With respect to the human subject, 

 no intelligent man would advocate placing a ten year old 

 boy in severe training in general athletics and a severe 

 course of study at the same time. In such early training, 

 neither the boy nor the puppy would have any comprehen- 

 sion of the application of what they were taught, besides 

 which their organization would not be sufficiently matured 

 to endure the severe mental and physical strain. In youth, 

 the puppy's mind is immature and only adapted to such 

 thoughtless improvement as is incidental to playfulness. 

 His physique also has all the tenderness of immaturity, 

 therefore his own free will should determine how much or 

 how little exercise he will take. The same physiological 

 laws which are universally recognized as applicable to the 

 best development of children apply with like force and pre- 

 cision to the development of puppies. 



The dog undoubtedly is capable of receiving a higher 

 education than any other species of the lower animals, his 

 natural fitness for his place in the economy of man's servi- 

 tude demanding that he should have a peculiarly high edu- 

 cation. All other domestic animals are controlled largely 

 by mechanical appliances; the dog, if a long or short dis- 

 tance away, can be controlled, when trained, by a motion of 

 the hand. He voluntarily co-aids his master in the pursuit 

 of game, in a methodical manner; and from love of him, 

 and comprehension of his purposes, he is faithfully reliable, 

 and an intelligent assistant. 



There is an important element in successfully developing 



