Home Training for the Shooting Beagle 71 
ills of puppyhood than an older one. Real field 
training cannot begin before the puppy is at least 
eight months old, and in many cases a year is better. 
Some beagles develop earlier than that—as early as 
six months—but it should be remembered that it is 
not always the precocious boy that finishes into the 
most brilliant man and the same applies to beagles. 
House Breaking 
In the event that the beginner buys his dog at 
a very young age, he should proceed at once to take 
full charge of him. Let the puppy understand that 
he has a master and one of the first things to do is 
to teach him manners in the house, and also his 
name. While it is not advisable to keep the puppy 
in the house it is always well to have him house- 
broken, for there may be occasions when it is neces¬ 
sary to allow him to spend the night indoors. All 
dogs are cleanly by nature, but when very young 
they should be taught which places must be respected 
more than others. Watch him carefully for a few 
days or a week and at the slightest suspicion, put 
him out of doors. If ever caught in the act (and 
that is the quickest way to break him), scold him 
and put him out. Sometimes it is well to call him 
up to the place where the flagrant act was com¬ 
mitted, scold him roundly, slap him lightly and put 
him out. He will soon learn that the house is a 
place sacred to his master and that any errors com¬ 
mitted there will separate him from him. Watch¬ 
fulness and even temper on the part of the master 
will go far; and right here it might be well to state 
that no one should attempt to train a dog of any 
