TRAINING AND HEALTH OF DOGS. 1 87 



THE WATCH DOG. 



For a good watch dog, select one of a breed adapted 

 to the business. There is but little that you can teach 

 such an one, as it is somewhat of a natural trait, and 

 any other than a natural watch dog, however much 

 you may labor with him, will never be reliable. A 

 barking dog, one that will be noisy on the approach 

 of intruders, is the best. A dog that bites, but does 

 not bark, is only fit to put in barns or other outbuild- 

 ings, nights, chaining him up day-times; and then he 

 is dangerous even to his keeper, as a sudden start will 

 cause him to bite any one. To teach your dog, give 

 him something to watch, saying, " Take care of it," as 

 you place him near the object. He will soon learn 

 the word, and upon being directed to any particular 

 thing will faithfully guard it. While teaching him, 

 allow no one but yourself to approach him without 

 setting him on. You may have a stranger approach 

 him and tease him, you urging him to drive the 

 stranger away, and as soon as he starts let the per- 

 son run, you calling the dog back. While young do 

 not compel him to stay too long at one thing, and 

 when you go up to him and say " That will do," feed 

 him something. 



After the manner spoken of in the previous illus- 

 tration, whenever you wish the dog to bite, or go at 

 any person or thing, you will teach him the words the 

 reverse of what you mean, such as *' Be still," " Get 

 out," " Lie down." You will see that a person not 

 understanding the dog will not be very apt to get near 

 him, as he would naturally make use of those words, 

 and they would be setting him on instead of quieting 



