Sketches in the East and West 283 



that the army people fastened on a good word 

 when they selected 'halt' It is sharp and clear 

 and unlike other words. I use it always and in- 

 struct my customers to keep it up on dogs that I 

 have handled." 



He turned to his labors. The pointer was un- 

 willing and sulky, but the more he sulked the 

 more positive the discipline. " Go on ! " The 

 dog would crouch and refuse, but a touch of 

 the whip would send him on. When halfway 

 to the corner where lay the retrieving pad, he 

 would hear the call " Halt ! " Then " Go on ! " 

 Then " Halt ! " So two or three times until 

 he reached the pad. " Pick it up ! " Grudg- 

 ingly and mincingly he took the pad in his 

 mouth. " Come in ! " and the cord was drawn in 

 fast, hand over hand. " Sit down ! " He went on 

 his haunches. " Deliver ! " He rose and held the 

 pad to his tormentor and preceptor. 



" All this repeating looks foolish to you, maybe," 

 said the trainer; "but I've been over it twenty 

 times already with this dog and will go over it 

 fifty times more. In two weeks he will forget 

 all this sulkiness and be getting fun out of the 

 thing. It's peculiar how much pleasure a dog 

 finds in the mere faithful obedience to a com- 

 mand when he learns that he is pleasing you and 

 doing something in the way of a game with you 

 for a partner." 



