310 KENNEL SECRETS. 



rebuking him meanwhile, and after proceeding a short 

 distance stop and reassure him with a few pats ; then, 

 for a time, to be even more kindly demonstrative than 

 usual. Teasing and over-petting are also errors that 

 beginners are especially liable to fall into, the one inevi- 

 tably injuring the temper and exciting aversion towards 

 the offender, while the other is absolutely incompatible 

 with implicit obedience. 



The importance of instilling good habits at the earliest 

 possible age is by no means always appreciated by those 

 who undertake the education of puppies, and frequently 

 traits are encouraged that sooner or later must prove 

 extremely annoying. One of these is, emphasizing every 

 affectionate greeting with the forefeet — an act which, of 

 Kcourse, no person neatly dressed can tolerate. This ten- 

 dency seems quite uncontrollable during the first few 

 weeks of life, yet it can soon be overcome if patience and 

 firmness are exhibited from the first, and the forefeet of 

 the offender are invariably tapped and he is forced back 

 on all fours. But assuming that a puppy has reached his 

 sixth or seventh month and this bad habit exists, the 

 following method, recommended by Mr. Waters in his 

 most valuable work, " Modern Training and Handling," 

 should be resorted to : When the puppy places his fore- 

 feet upon the person, grasp a foot gently but firmly in 

 each hand, speaking to him in the blandest tones and the 

 choicest pet phrases, the manner being the perfection of 

 kindness, at the same time stepping on his hind feet just 

 hard enough to pinch them. He will soon endeavor to 

 break away, notwithstanding the kindness of manner ; 

 but the punishment should be continued a few minutes 

 before releasing him. Soon thereafter call him up and 

 repeat the lesson. Usually two or three of these simple 

 lessons are ample. He cannot then be induced to put his 



