The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-25
METHODS OF TRAINING DOGS.
Various Tricks Which May Be Taught
Some of the Different Breeds.
How Dogs Can Be Taught to Do Whatever
Master May Desire Them To-An In
teryiew with Trainer.

reason that they are capable of entering more
into sympathy with man than other kinds OF the
animal race. The training of them Is pursued
as business, and various methods are en-
ployed with different species of dogs.
.All dogs remarked Mr. C. q. Hough, an ex-
perienced trainer in this city, to a Journal no.
porter cannot be taught precisely the same
kind Of tricks For example, you would hardly
expect mastiff to sit up or walk down street
with roguish smile on his face, pipe in
mouth, and a hat on his head tipped much to one
side, but this is just what you could expect of
poodle. 1t may be that there are some very In
telligent-looking animals that it would
be almost impossible to teach, but these are very
few. Dogs generally take great delight in learn
ing and in being considered clever, and they soon
learn not only to please their masters, but to
please their own canine vanity as WELL Now,
unless you love your dog, and he loves you, and
you can put yourself in accord as it were, with
his mind, through the medium of that affection,
you will utterly fail in teaching him Q
single accomplishment worthy Of name.
1t is a great mistake to suppose
that the whip is essential to the
government and regulation of these animals.
They are too often abused by their teacher when
it is his own error. To whip puppy ten min
utes after he has committed an error would ba
absurd, as his latent natural instinct is almost
lost for the time being, but if he is punished the
instant the fault is committed, he at once recog-
nizes the cause of the punishment. On no 40
count will it do TO whip him more than once
day. for it you continue to lash him his instincts
become mixed and he remains the same al
when his schooling commenced, except that
he will be cowed. Every animal which possesses
an average quantity of good sense and temper 10
IL AAnA - l. txsr~. lG
the utmost to obtain the good will of his master.
and il this fact were kept in mind there would
seldom arise demand for corporal punishment
Three out of every five dogs may be completely
trained without blow Patience and
forbearance are virtues that must be studied,
and while giving lessons the trainer should
never lose his temper, as no amount OF
forced work is of any use. While the trainer 10
patient, kind and forbearing, he must also be
persistent and firm puppy should have but
one teacher: no matter how close the methods Of
two trainers may agree. Another secret of sue.
cess on the part Of the teacher is to speak dis
tinctly and slowly. Ho should always pre-
cisely the same information of voice. the same
look and motions, as we'll as the same words, as
dogs often go good deal by this. would have
no hesitation in undertaking to train clever
dog entirely By the dumb show method,
snd would prefer ts setter Or then pons
easily ruled without noise in the field. Quite
a variety of tricks may be taught them. and tho
wiser they are and the wiser they look the more
teachable they will be-"
''What kind of dogs can be trained most easily,
and what are usually the first tricks taught
them?n
very solemn countenanced dogs seldom learn
rapidly. The most apt pupils are dogs with q
fair amount of dash and 'tget up" in them.
Plenty of natural affection and also some sense
of fun and humor are good signs. From ths
time you come in possession OF your puppies.
say at three or four months of age.
many important lessons may be given at feed.
Ing time, before you undertake the more din.
cult tasks, and in giving orders one should use
such words as do not often occur in CONVERSE
tion This is is the reason prefer charge" to
''down," and 'toho" to ''hold up with all kinds
of dogs Fetching and carrying are very useful
requirements and are very easily taught when
the dog and master perfectly understand each
other. The first Of these lessons is generally
given during game of romps with ball, stick
or newspaper Throw the article and get
he has seized it call him towards YOU take it
from him aud throw it again and repeat this. re-
warding him whenever he deserves it, but be
careful not to wear your pupil out Repeat this
until he thoroughly learns it, then change
ground when you call him, and you will soon
learn him to follow you long distances with the
article in his mouth; but you should give him to
understand that you value the article, and when
through teaching him he must be allowed to
see it put away very carefully The
same article should be used every day
for week. The next stage in fetch and-carrys
lessons is to place the article on the ground and
teach the puppy to bring it to You only when
you say ''Now go fetch" an excellent way is to
put it down and make him .'keep TO heel" by the
motion of the finger, until the order ''go fetch
is given, which he will be intently watching for.
The trainer may gradually increase the weight
of the article, and if the pup has been previously
taught to keep to heel" he vii. SOON
become very expert Keeping te heel is very
easily caught. take cane Or long stick and
attach it to tho dogs collar by string about
eighteen inches IN length and walk about the
yarcs. stopping occasionally. and when starting
give MIN the command come hesl,n at the
came time pulling the stick close up TO me.
This will have to be very carefully done, and
the words must be uttered firmly, but not too
much so or the dog may be cowed. Lessons ia
swimming can be given as soon as the dog is
broken to retrieve 1t is always best
to commence by throwing sticks in shallow
water. do not risk his going in beyond his
depth until he is quite at home in splashing
around. do not mean that there is much risk
of drowning, but there is risk of giving him
fright and making him water-shy. A dog can
be taught diving, but the water must not ba
deep at first, and it must be done by throwing in
some articles that will sink at hrst very slowly,
other accomplishment good water dog
should be taught is that Of
taking the water with spring. and still an
other is that of leaping from a height, but it
takes some time to acquire this. He must be
tanght first to jump off a bank of a stream
When he has completely mastered the art OF
springing, with his fore feet thrown we'll out and
his chin either between his feet or
high in the air, then the trainer
increase the height from which he leaps till fin
ally he will jump from high bridge as easily
and willingly as from low bank. Jumping
from boat motion is the next feat in the
water training In this case no effort must be
made to force the dog, but he must be excited by
pretending to throw the stick several times be-
fore it actually leaves the trainers hand. Hay
ing worked him up to the proper pitch
of enthusiasm. when the stick is thrown ten To
ore he will go after it. He mast then be given
the usual reward Saving lives usually comes
natural to all well-bred Newfoundland dogs.
When it does not it may be taught by getting
up dummy man and having it thrown over
board from the boat, in full view