548 DOG-BEEAKING. 



139. If, being liable to catch the dog's eye, you are 

 forced to use the whistle frequently, and he continues 

 inattentive to it, notwithstanding his previous tuition, 

 stand still make him He down by the word " drop," if 

 he will not obey your raised left arm go up to him 

 take hold of his collar, and rate him, saying, " Bad, bad," 

 cracking your whip over him let the whip be one that 

 will crack loudly, not for present purposes, but that, 

 when occasion requires, he may hear it at a distance 

 and whistling softly. This will show him should you 

 beat him, you would confuse his ideas that he is chidden 

 for not paying attention to the whistle. Indeed, when- 

 ever you have occasion to scold or punish him, make it a 

 constant rule, while you rate him, to repeat many times 

 the word of command, or the signal which he has 

 neglected to obey. There is no other way by which 

 you will make him understand you quickly. You 

 must expect that your young dog will for some time 

 make sad mistakes in his range; but be not discou- 

 raged. Doubtless there is no one thing, I was going 

 to say, that there are no dozen things, in the whole 

 art of dog-breaking, which are so difficult to attain, 

 or which exact so much labor, as a high, well-con- 

 firmed, systematic range. Nature will not assist you 

 you must do it all yourself; but in recompense there 

 is nothing so advantageous when it is at length acquired. 

 It will abundantly repay months of persevering exertion. 

 It constitutes the grand criterion of true excellence. Its 

 attainment makes a dog of inferior nose and action far 



