110 DOGS'. THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



man should contend with an animal, and especially with 

 a dog, whose excitement soon renders it incapable of obe- 

 dience. 



With brutes of every kind, if the mastery cannot, by 

 a bold stratagem, be gained at once, it should be only 

 established through the confidence of the animal, which 

 a few acts of kindness will, in the majority of cases, 

 easily win. I have had dogs brought to me which 

 seemed disposed rather to part with life than permit 

 their jaws to be handled. The poor beasts had been 

 harshly used by the persons who had previously under- 

 taken to treat them. T nese creatures have remained 

 with me, and in a little time have grown so submissive 

 that my shop-boy could with ease give any kind of 

 physic which I ordered to be prepared. Firmness and 

 kindness were the only stratagems I employed. I took 

 care never to give the dog a chance of mastery, but 

 while ensuring my victory, I was careful that the con- 

 quest caused no sense of pain. A few pats, with a kind 

 word, and an occasional reward in the shape of a bit of 

 meat, induced the creature more willingly to submit when 

 the next dose came round. 



A small dog should be taken into the lap, the person 

 who is to give the physic being seated. If the animal 

 has learned to fight with its claws, an assistant must 

 kneel at the side of the chair and tightly hold them 

 when the dog has been cast upon its back. The left 

 hand is then made to grasp the skull, the thumb and fore 

 finger being pressed against the cheeks so as to force 



