Training and Management 77 



meantime the broom is brought into play, and by bringing 

 it down bristle end on the dogs' noses it will be found they 

 will quickly realize the game is up. The broom need not be 

 used heavily, as they dislike the bristles very much, and 

 usually let go without further trouble. It should be 

 pointed out that the dogs must not be drawn roughly 

 apart, as that would only injure them, but they must be 

 drawn out just to that point where they can only hold each 

 other, but not take further grip. If this method is followed 

 it will be found that the dogs will never seriously injure 

 each other. In the event of a good " mix-up " fight, where 

 several are joining in, good play round among them with 

 the broom, thrusting the bristles in between the com- 

 batants, will be found quickly effective, and without injury 

 to the dogs, and all hands must be called on to select a 

 tail, and make the owner captive whenever it is separated. 

 Fighting dogs should only be handled by their tails. 



The first training each day is the firing drill. The entire 

 parade of dogs, excluding the new arrivals, are led to a large 

 shed, where a certain number of keepers are drawn up with 

 rifles loaded with blank cartridges. Several rounds are 

 fired, and many of the haughty spirits that have been 

 making such a display on the parade ground are now 

 inclined to put up a sorry show. Much gentleness is, how- 

 ever, extended at this lesson, and any dog that shows 

 timidity is taken further off until it gets accustomed to the 

 firing. This they very soon do, and the old hands proudly 

 stand right under the firing keepers. After this there is 

 a system of bomb-firing, which is a further call upon nerve 

 force, and has often to be carried on for some time. The 

 dogs are also trained to run among the keepers who are 

 firing their rifles from a recumbent position across the road 

 by which the dogs have to come. They are also taken to 



