132 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 



misunderstanding and confusion. A dog's name should consist 

 of one expressive syllable, which comes forcibly from the mouth, 

 such as Nell) for instance, and, where more than one dog is used, 

 their names should sound as differently as possible. 



It but too frequently happens that young dogs manifest an 

 inclination to hunt and worry sheep, which must be instantly cor- 

 rected. If a severe flogging have not the desired effect, the dog 

 should either be tied to a strong ram, leaving a sufficient length 

 of cord to allow the ram to make a run ; or they should be con- 

 fined together in a barn or some building. Flog the dog till he 

 cries out, making use of the words 'ware sheep! The ram will 

 not fail to commence a furious attack upon him, and will butt 

 him most violently. They should be kept together for twenty 

 minutes ; the ram will not fail to continue his butting, and it 

 may not be amiss to flog the dog several times during this period, 

 making use of the words just mentioned at the same time. This 

 will, most likely, prevent the dog ever looking at sheep after- 

 wards, unless, perhaps, where he has absolutely bitten them be- 

 fore this system of correction was put in practice, in which case, 

 I am not aware of any mode of punishment or correction that can 

 be depended on ; for, although the dog may not even notice 

 sheep in your presence, yet he will, nevertheless, be very apt to 

 steal away, as opportunity may offer, for the purpose of depre- 

 dation : when once dogs have tasted mutton, they are never to 

 be trusted. Indeed, I have seen an instance or two, where the 

 dog, after being a little butted, has fiercely turned upon the ram,* 



* On this subject, BECKFORD relates the following anecdote : 

 A late lord of my acquaintance, who had heard of this method, and 

 whose whole pack had been often guilty of killing sheep, determined to 

 punish them, and to that intent put the largest ram he could find into 

 his kennel. The men with their whips and voices, and the ram with 

 his horns, soon put the whole kennel into confusion and dismay, and 

 the feounds and ram were then left together. Meeting a friend soon 



