158 MANtTAL FOB YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



talk, remonstrance and scolding, has much more effect 

 than a savage, passionate beating. 



When obdurate stubbornness is evinced and persisted 

 in, chastisement proportionate must follow, until victory 

 remains with the authority and the right. But, where a 

 dog is so incorrigibly obstinate and vicious a brute for 

 vicious and wicked dogs do occur, just as much, though 

 not nearly so often, as vicious and wicked men, and both 

 are equally conscious of their own wickedness and vice 

 it is by far better to get rid of him at once, than for one 

 to sour his own temper, harden his own heart, disturb his 

 friends' nerves and equanimity, and torture the worthless 

 cur by incessant fustigation, in the hope of bringing him 

 into subjection. 



To my mind, no excellence of nose, of ranging quali- 

 ties, of speed, endurance, or stanchness, can compensate 

 for such inherent defects of temper in the animal, as re- 

 quire continual chastisement. 



It is as easy to ascertain whether a dog is docile, reason- 

 ably mindful and good-tempered, as whether he has a good 

 nose, sufficient speed, and enough intellect to be worth 

 breaking. If he have not the former qualities , I would 

 reject him as quickly as for the lack of the latter. 



But it may be set down for certain, that not one 

 highly-bred and highly-spirited dog in a hundred but cau 

 be broke, thoroughly and to perfection, by steady, firm 

 and temperate management, without, I will not say, pun- 

 ishment or occasional severity, but any thing in the least 

 degree approaching to cruelty. 



When a dog is once thoroughly broke, it is his master's 



