THE DOG. 161 



probabilities of that fate ; as I advise all my readers to 

 do, under the like circumstances. 



Before I have done with this part of my subject, in 

 order to avoid being misunderstood, I will add, that when 

 correction is needed, it should be given, in kindness to the 

 sufferer, in earnest, and once for all; so that he shall 

 remember the infliction, and need no repetition. One 

 sound flagellation, when really deserved, will do twenty 

 times the good, morally, and not inflict half the suffering, 

 physically, of twenty, or twenty times twenty, insufficient, ' 

 teasing corrections, which keep the dog in constant agita- 

 tion and irritation, without making him once really care 

 about it, or remember it. 



A dog, when he has once learned what a whipping is, 

 will be sufficiently warned by the mere sight of the 

 instrument of flagellation, shown menacingly, with a word 

 or two of objurgation. The menace must not, however, 

 be repeated in vain, or it will be a short time only ere 

 it lose its effect, from the offender perceiving that no exe- 

 cution follows. 



In such cases, with old knowing dogs, who are as much 

 aware as their master that they are doing wrong, if they 

 neglect warning and take no heed of threats, two or three 

 smart cuts, with a long rating, is as good in its effect as 

 half an hour's flagellation. Where the offence is very 

 grave, such as rushing in on a fallen bird, breaking point 

 from jealousy of another dog, chasing violently heedless 

 of the call, paying no attention to the call or whistle, 

 refusing to come to heel or down charge ; where the fault 

 evidently arises from wilfulness, and not from accident or 



