470 DOGS USED FOR SPORT. 



recognizes the cause of his chastisement. On no account whip 

 him more than once a day, for if you continue to lash him for every 

 mistake committed, his dumb instinct becomes mixed, and the 

 animal remains the same as when you began his schooling, except 

 that you have cowed and injured him. Accustom the puppy to 

 the sound of your voice ; he will soon learn to distinguish the pe- 

 culiar tones, and understand their meaning ; by this means you 

 arouse the dormant instinct of the animal. 



Every animal which possesses an average quantity of good sense 

 and temper, is so eager for his master's approbation that he will 

 exert himself to the utmost to obtain it ; and if this fact were con- 

 stantly kept in mind there would seldom arise a demand for cor- 

 poral punishment. We have no hesitancy in saying that at least 

 five out of every six dogs may be completely broken without a 

 blow of the whip, quiet, patient reasoning being all that is requi- 

 site to secure obedience and attention. We know this is quite con- 

 trary to the opinion of most breakers, who depend mainly upon the 

 whip and loud rating ; which, however, are generally but escape 

 valves to the temper, which blows off at high pressure in full force 

 upon the poor animals. The oath and the whip are inseparable ; 

 he who uses one demands the other to give the first pungency. 

 We object to the whip for this very reason ; it is too handy, and 

 in a moment of passion the puppy is so severely lashed that in- 

 stead of understanding that he has done wrong, and writhing with 

 pain, and frightened at the violent manner of his master, he seeks 

 only to escape," and once successful in so doing he is ever after 

 a confirmed runaway. Moreover it effects nothing that the check 

 cord will not do as well, even better, and that too without danger. 

 Many naturally fine dogs have been utterly ruined by a single in- 

 judicious thrashing ; but we have yet to note the first instance in 

 which the cord has produced ill results even in the hands of a 

 novice. 



After a dog has been thoroughly broken, we grant you the whip 

 may be used to advantage in certain cases. . And when you do 

 punish, flog soundly ; but only when you catch him " red handed " 

 in flagrante delictu. He cannot then mistake the cause ; but at 

 the same time watch the animal critically, never allowing castiga- 

 tion to go beyond reasonable punishment, lest you awaken an 



