BREAKING AND HANDLING. 83 



strument of education ; and ill-natured punishment should 

 not be confounded with training. The distinction is very 

 positive ; the two purposes are not even remotely related 

 to each other. Barbarity, \vhich justly excites the most in- 

 tense indignation, is considered, by uninformed spectators, 

 as being a necessary adjunct to the collar, if they have un- 

 fortunately seen it applied in a disgraceful manner, naturally 

 inferring that such manner is the approved one of using it. 

 The injurious effects of the collar, when used with unnec- 

 essary violence, are not transient. The terrible punish- 

 ment never fails to cow the dog, or make him nervously 

 apprehensive, or cripple him by breaking down his con- 

 stitution, or by injuring his neck and spine from the vio- 

 lent shocks. Partial or complete paralysis may be produced 

 by excessive violence ; and many instances are known 

 where dogs have been killed outright. Contrary to the 

 general exposition of its advantages by its advocates, the 

 spike collar will cow a dog if unskillfully used. There is 

 less demonstration in its use than in the use of the whip, 

 but it will have similar cowing effects in time. Dogs which 

 are punished regularly and severely with it may not show 

 positively disabling effects, but they gradually become 

 more and more listless and less vigorous ; and this broken 

 down state may last for months or for life. The novice, 

 observing the falling off in working capabilities afield, im- 

 putes it to the effects of field work or deficient stamina; he 

 would be more likely to find the cause in the abuse of the 

 collar, if he uses one. Many dogs have been completely 

 ruined by it, but such effects were the natural conse- 

 quences of ignorance of its proper use, and the injurious 

 effects. 



As between those who claim every advantage for it and 

 those who claim every ill, its true place will be found to be 

 intermediate. As a matter of fact, the spike collar should 



