7— PUPPIES AND THEIR CARE 



IV.— TRAINING THE PUPPY 



Obedience is Basis of Training 



Logically we could present this subject 

 in precedence to housebreaking ; it is 

 obedience. At first, the dog, like a hu- 

 man, does what he thinks he can "get 

 away with." In many cases, the certain- 

 ty of punishment keeps him from such 

 acts as soiling, chewing a curtain, eating 

 from the kitchen table, and yet, most acts 

 of the dog are done willingly, gladly, with 

 pleasure and out of the great overpower- 

 ing desire which every dog has — to win 

 the approval, the pat of the hand, and 

 the kindly spoken word of the master. 



Disobedient Dog a Nuisance 



The foundation of all training of dogs is 

 obedience. The dog must obey commands, 

 obey them promptly and definitely. 



A disobedient dog causes trouble to all ; 

 he dashes across the street, perhaps is 

 killed by an automobile ; he tears up the 

 flowers in the neighbor's garden ; he leaps 

 up on people and soils their clothes with 

 his front paws ; he barks needlessly so that 

 the neighbors cannot sleep ; he is an irri- 

 tation even to his family. 



A disobedient dog is a serious reflection 

 upon the master for, to a substantial ex- 

 tent, the statement is true, "Like master 

 like dog." 



Begin your system of training early — 

 on the day the puppy joins your house- 

 hold. Maintain it day after day, indeed 

 act after act, for one exception is like 

 one fly in a bowl of soup — too many. 



Obedience is the vital accompaniment of 

 every act of training ; hence we discuss it 

 as the silent partner of every act of 

 training. 



Many books have been written on train- 

 ing the dogs. The author has written the 

 book Training the Dog, now in its sev- 

 enth large edition. Consequently, here is 

 given only a brief summary of the most 

 important considerations in moulding the 

 dog's mind. 



Punish and Reward Promptly 



When yoa punish your dog, punish him 

 instantly after the deed so that he con- 

 nects the deed and the punishment. Pup- 

 pies have short memories. 



If the dog does his work well, always 

 reward him; a pat on the head or a kind- 

 ly spoken word are as gold to the dog 



the only pay he wants. 



Never strike a dog on the head or back- 

 bone. Use the palm of your hand or a 

 rolled newspaper. Use a rough voice with 

 your punishment for in many cases the 

 verbal reprimand affects the dog more than 

 does physical punishment. 



Much Shouting Bewilders 



Commands should be short in words and 

 plainly spoken. The same command should 

 be given for the same purpose at all 

 times. Do not shout your commands or 

 lose your temper or give too many com- 

 mands at one time. Control yourself if 

 you wish to control the dog. 



17 Training Don'ts 



We give here seventeen training don'ts 

 from the author's Training the Dog: 



1. DON'T punish your dog while you 

 arc angry or lack control of yourself. 



2. DON'T punish your dog with the lead 

 or any instrument of training or anything 

 he should associate with duty or pleasure. 



3. DON'T sneak up on your dog or grab 

 him from the rear, or surprise him or 

 reach for him quickly. 



4. DON'T chase your dog to catch him ; 

 he must come to you or run after you. 



5. DON'T coax your dog to you and 

 then turn upon him with the whip ; you 

 will regret the deception. 



6. DON'T trick or fool or taunt your 

 dog. It is cruel and inconsistent to tease 

 your dog to come to you when he can not. 



7. DON'T punish a dog by stepping on 

 his paws needlessly ; they are exceedingly 

 sensitive. Don't twist his ears playfully 

 or otherwise. Never strike him on the 

 backbone, on the ears, or in the face. 



8. DON'T nag your dog ; don't be giving 

 orders to him constantly; don't pester him 

 with your shoutings. 



9. DON'T praise a dog for doing a cer- 

 tain act, then at a later time, scold him 

 for doing the same act. 



10. DON'T train your dog immediately 

 or soon after he has eaten. 



11. DON'T lose patience with a puppy 

 younger than six months, or train him in 

 feats requiring strength and endurance. 



12. Never throw or kick a puppy nor 

 lift him by the head or leg or skin of the 

 neck. 



13. DON'T work your dog without some 

 short rest or play periods during the period 

 of training. A five-minute rest for every 

 fifteen minutes of training is desirable. 



14. DON'T permit evei-yone and anyone 

 to give commands to your dog. While you 

 are training him, he must be a one-man 

 dog, depending on you to feed him and 

 care for him. 



15. DON'T consider tricks the chief ob- 

 ject of training. Usefulness is the object 

 sought in all instruction of the dog. Acts 

 that spring naturally from the dog's 

 instincts are to be fostered. 



16. DON'T expect your dog to be a 

 wonderful dog after a few weeks of train- 

 ing ; four months to a year may be nec- 

 essary in order to make the master proud 

 of him, but the work is worth the effort. 

 Training never ends. 



17. DON'T jump to the conclusion that 

 your dog is dumb. He may differ with you, 

 believing that the trainer should know 

 more than the dog. 



Muddy Feet on Best Settee 



Let us mention briefly some specific acta 

 of training which concern the proper con- 

 duct of the dog, particularly in the home 

 and on the street. 



Dogs are epicureans and sensualists. 

 They seek to get the utmost joy out of 

 life. Consequently they soon find your 

 softest cushions and upholstered chairs. 



Once the dog has gotten upon the chair. 



