PART EIGHTH, 



TRAINING AND HEALTH OF DOGS. 



TEACHING THE SHEPHERD DOG. 



Take a well-bred shepherd dog about six months 

 old, reared in some secluded place, hearing no words 

 with a meaning intended to be attached, except his 

 name. He should know nothing of the ordinary 

 words in use towards dogs, and not have been handled 

 by boys or careless persons. Take him alone with 

 you into a large room. The first thing to be done is 

 to teach him to lead. To do this, place a strap around 

 his neck that cannot hurt him, to which attach a cord 

 six or eight feet in length; Stand still, and hold upon 

 the cord for a few minutes, until he ceases struggling 

 to get away. It is best to give one lesson each day 

 during the whole training. The first *two lessons 

 should be devoted to teaching him that he cannot 

 get away. 



Now commence teaching him to come to you by 

 pulling upon the rope and saying, "Here," using 

 only the one word. In the use of this, as well as all 

 other words used in training the dog, one word is all 

 it is best to try and teach him for any one act, it be- 

 ing so difficult to make him understand if you attempt 

 to teach him more. When he is once fixed in the 

 habit of minding the word, you may then use such 



