INITIATORY LESSONS WITHIN DOO11S. 479 



eager, joyous expectation. You might, if you did not 

 dislike the trouble, in a similar manner, soon make your 

 pup regard the report of a gun as the gratifying sum- 

 mons to his dinner, but coupled with the understanding 

 that, as a preliminary step, he is to crouch the instant he 

 hears the sound. After a little perseverance you would 

 so well succeed, that you would not be obliged even to 

 raise your hand. If habituated to wait patiently at the 

 " drop," however hungry he may be, before he is per- 

 mitted to taste his food, it is reasonable to think he will 

 remain at the " down charge," yet more patiently be- 

 fore he is allowed to " seek dead." 



28. If your pupil is unusually timid, and you cannot 

 banish his alarm on hearing the gun, couple him to 

 another dog which has no such foolish fears, and will 

 steadily " down charge." The confidence of the one 

 will impart confidence to the other. Fear and joy are 

 feelings yet more contagious in animals than in man. It 

 is the visible, joyous animation of the old horses, that so 

 quickly reconciles the cavalry colt to the sound of the 

 " feeding-pistol." 



29. A keeper who had several dogs to break, would 

 find the advantage of pursuing the cavalry plan just 

 noticed. Indeed, he might extend it still further, by 

 having his principal in-door drill at feeding-time, and by 

 enforcing, but in minuter details, that kennel discipline 

 which has brought many a pack of hounds to marvellous 

 obedience. He should place the food in different parts 

 of the yard. He should have a short checkcord on all 



