BREAKING AND HANDLING. 



CHAPTER VII. 



PREPARATORY TRAINING. 



Yard training consists in teaching the dog the proper 

 acts of obedience to the respective orders, and prompt sub- 

 mission to them. Sometimes the term house breaking is 

 used erroneously as having a synonymous meaning, this 

 breaking, as the name implies, simply consists in teaching 

 the dog correct everyday deportment and habits, when at 

 liberty, in or about the house. In most instances, if a 

 puppy is raised about the house, he, without any special 

 training, forms correct habits from observation and associa- 

 tion, keeping very intelligently within his proper sphere in 

 the domestic economy. If he commits a fault, he is scolded 

 or whipped for the offence, probably with no reference to 

 his education; hence his house training is given uncon- 

 sciously; however, by his powers of comprehension and im- 

 itation, he learns a multitude of details himself. So familiar 

 to every person is the sensible deportment of a dog which 

 has had the liberty of the house from puppyhood, and 

 so gradually and easily is his education aquired, that its very 

 commonness causes it to be unnoticed, or accepted as a 

 matter of course. The difference, however, is very apparent 

 when a dog which has been kept constantly on a chain or 

 in confinement is allowed his liberty; then all things are 

 alike to him; he jumps on the bed or table, or capers in the 

 parlor or kitchen with equal sang froid, and naturally from 

 his inexperience considers the house a superior kind of 



