DOG TRAINING. 119 



pay to waste any time on him. However, it is very rare to 

 find one of the pointer or setter species at fault in this par- 

 ticular. Usually in their eagerness to hunt, they overdo 

 the business; and in this particular they must be controlled 

 if they are to become useful. Therefore, it is of the utmost 

 importance that they are taught obedience at the word of 

 command. This cannot be done in a few short lessons ; it 

 will require patience and long perseverance, firmness and 

 decision. All can be accomplished sooner by kindness than 

 in any other way. At times punishment will be necessary, 

 and occasionally quite severe, but never brutal. In such 

 cases, always use a whip; never kick a dog or use a club, 

 but keep control of your own temper and you will soon gain 

 control of your dog. The best whip for the purpose is a 

 common rawhide riding whip, which can be procured at 

 any harness store. The best whip for the field, one that 

 can be carried in the pocket, is a strap of heavy harness 

 leather, eighteen or twenty inches long, cut about one 

 inch wide at the butt end, and tapering to the point. Have 

 the most of the taper in the last half; braid a good, short 

 thread cracker on the point. It is also well to have a good 

 strong string fastened to the butt to hang the whip on the 

 wrist. This makes a much better whip than the worthless 

 things kept by the trade, and at about one-tenth of the cost. 

 In training your dog, first get him to understand what you 

 want him to do, then see that he does it promptly at the 

 word of command. For all his good behavior, praise and 

 caress him; when he does wrong, give him to understand by 

 the tone of your voice, he has displeased you. Dogs are 

 usually very apt scholars and will soon learn by your tone 

 of voice or look whether they are doing right or wrong. If 

 a dog persists in disobeying after he understands what is re- 

 quired, he must be punished severely, but not brutally. 

 All pups are very playful by nature; arrange your training 



