MORE ABOUT GUN-SHYNESS 49 
ject of gun-shyness. I am sorry that Belle has de¬ 
veloped this tendency because she never did like a gun 
any too well, although I had hoped she would come to 
feel more friendly to it as game was killed over her. 
Correcting this evil, however, is something that you 
yourself can do better than any one else, and I will 
make what suggestions I can. From what you say 
of Belle in your letter I infer that the unfortunate 
auto accident is the cause behind her timidness hav¬ 
ing increased to actual gun-shyness. 
In the first place, be absolutely sure that Belle has 
implicit confidence in you and do not give her any 
cause to strain this implicit confidence. If she 
loves you and has the proper confidence, then you 
have the right foundation to work on. 
In the second place, try to pay absolutely no at¬ 
tention to the fact that she is afraid of a gun. The 
great trouble with most people is that they become 
so worried over the fact of gun-shyness that they 
show the dog they are worried, and then the dog 
thinks there is really something to worry about. 
Consequently the condition is merely aggravated. 
The thing to do is to try to appear absolutely 
unconcerned and as though you did not even notice 
the gun-shy condition. Then she will think there is 
nothing to notice and you will begin to make some 
progress. 
Try tying her securely to her kennel and let her 
