126 THE AMATEUR TRAINER, 
ground; also clean dry bedding, which must be 
changed often. It is a mistake to pen up puppies 
with matured dogs, because the latter are apt to 
detest the behavior of the frivolous youngsters and 
snap about vigorously, especially at time of feeding. 
The puppy should be treated kindly, never 
frightened in any way nor struck with a heavy stick 
or other object—if in his playful way he carries 
off shoes, gloves and the like; tears clothes which 
have been hung out to dry, into shreds ; chews up 
some dangling strap from the harness in the barn; 
digs up the flowerbed and scratches boles in the 
lawn; chases, catches and plugs the feathers from 
the barnyard fowl; etc., etc., then don’t get mad 
and try to break the future field-trial-winner of the 
seemingly bad habits by breaking his back! You 
may kill the youngster or at least beat the ambition 
out of him, but if he be a highly spirited, courageous 
dog, such a one as will ultimately prove himself 
possessed of the requirements to make a grand 
fielder, he will grow worse in this respect day by 
day—a fault, which is the delight of an experienced 
handler, because he clearly foresees the future great¬ 
ness of that dog. A puppy at the age of four to six 
months (if in good health) w r ho is docile, lethargic, 
devoid of inclination to ramble, lies about listlessly 
while his mates romp about, and has no other 
ambition than to gorge himself, should be hastened 
to the dog-heaven without delay. — 
Sprightliness, a sleek shining coat and good 
