Training Dogs 35 



THE BREAKING OF DOGS FOR FARM PURPOSES 



The essentials to a good trainer of dogs are: (1) An 

 interest in the animal; (2) a knowledge of what is 

 required; (3) good judgment and patience. It is an 

 excellent plan to have an older and well -broken dog 

 to assist in the training, as dogs are imitative. The 

 puppy quickly learns what is wanted by association 

 with the older dog. In breaking dogs to handle stock, 

 it is also a great advantage to have stock that is used 

 to being driven by a dog, upon which to break the puppy. 

 Stock that is not used to a dog is often easily frightened, 

 or it may fight the dog. If a puppy is hurt or gets into 

 a notion of chasing stock, bad habits may be formed 

 that are difficult to overcome. 



The first essential in breaking a dog for any purpose 

 is to teach him to mind. Dogs are intelligent and 

 affectionate animals, and are usually gratified to do 

 the will of the master. If possible, an animal should 

 be broken to mind without fear of punishment. When 

 a dog obeys and does the required task, he should be 

 rewarded by a word, caress or bit of something to eat. 

 When it is necessary to punish a dog for disobedience, 

 the trainer should be sure that the animal understands 

 what is wanted, and if he refuses to do the task he 

 should be punished judiciously — the punishment de- 

 pending largely on the nature and disposition of the 

 dog. Dogs of a sensitive organization must be pun- 

 ished cautiously; it is usually a good plan to shut the 

 dog up alone after punishment and allow him to think 

 it over. A mistake that is commonly made by novices 



