PREPARATORY EDUCATION. 123 



highest-bred dogs do not always " back" as well as " stand" 

 as soon as they are taken out, it is better to teach it with 

 the other words of command. It is enforced as follows, 

 and it may be efficiently carried out in kennel, or in the 

 dwelling-house of the master. There is one great advantage 

 attending it namely, that it encourages a habit of self- 

 control; and I have no doubt that dogs educated in this 

 way are far steadier than others. But to proceed; the dog 

 should have a collar on, to which is attached a cord, held by 

 his master; then throwing down a piece of meat on the 

 ground, he is restrained from it, and the word " Toho" at the 

 same time is uttered in a stern voice by the master. In a 

 short time the cord may be dispensed with occasionally ; and 

 if the dog neglects the word " Toho !" put it on again, adding 

 a check-collar if he is at all inclined to be disobedient. The 

 plan should be persevered in until the puppy is so obedient 

 that he can be restrained from approaching his food at all 

 times without the cord ; but he should not be so cowed as to 

 slink away, the object being to make him stop, but not leave 

 the position in which he was when the word " Toho" was 

 uttered. Hence the punishment must not be severe, and 

 there must be no more fear felt than is sufficient to procure 

 obedience. 



As soon as these several habits are instilled, and the dog 

 readily obeys the seven words of command, he may be taken 

 out and shown game, and if well bred he will be readily 

 broken. Colonel Hutchinson advocates a much more com- 

 plicated preparatory education than this; and, among other 

 things, he raises the right arm to the dog to enforce " Toho !" 

 and the left to compel him " down." He also finds that he 

 can educate a puppy to hunt high, by making him understand 

 the word " Up," by means of food placed in a high situation 

 indoors; but I confess that I cannot see the use of such 

 complicated means to enforce comparatively simple ends. 

 Consider the time that must be employed in teaching the 

 difference between the right hand and the left ; for even the 

 hayband which is said to be necessary to the raw recruit to 

 enable him to distinguish his right leg from his left would 

 here fail to be of any assistance. I fully admit that a clever 

 dog may be taught any of the arts recommended by Colonel 



