The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-17
THE EDUCATION OF A DOG.
How He Ia Taught to Obey his Mas
ter's Commands.


bub SoinpdIdbANely leW pTepdTeu LOT u
that is, for wing shooting over dog. To
really enjoy wing shooting, thoroughly
trained dog is necessary. Such a dog,
ready made, will cost from SIS up. To a
man who goes out but few times in the
season this price is more than he feels like
spending, and he says: "Oh, we'll, | guess
Old Sport will do for the little shooting
shall be able to indulge in"
The opening day comes and he and "Old
Sport" try it on. "Old SPORTY is rank aud
probably deaf. On reaching the cover, he
| ranges way ahead and puts up the birds out
| OF gun shot; and after the most aggravating
kind of day. the sportsman returns home
without any birds, completely used up and
thoroughly disguised with shooting In gen.
eral, and unless he has been a marvel of
virtue and patience. it will take a weeks
hard training TO forget what that days ex-
perience has taught him in the way of pro-
| family.
To avoid experience Of this kind, it is only
necessary to have on hand reliable dog
when the season opens, and il need not cost
$40 to secure him, either. In fact, the very
best dog man can have is the one that he
has himself trained, as then dog and master
| understand each other. The dog under
stands each term of command given by his
master and the gunner knows exactly what
to expect from the dog. There is no reason
| why every sportsman should not have dog
| of this kind, lie has only to secure prom
ising pup, and with a little time and
| trouble he will have reliable dog that will
suit him better than any he can purchase.
| The proper age TO begin breaking pup
varies from To 10 months, according to the
development of the pup in question. AS a
| supposition, we will say desirable pup has
been secured and chained to his kennel. No
one should be allowed to feed, unchain or
| have anything to do with him but his mas
| ter, and he should never be unclaimed ex-
cept when accompanying his master.
The first thing he is taught is to answer
to his name, which, we will say, is Ned,
that being easily spoken, and from its
sharp ri lg, can be heard clearly by the dog.
| After he responds readily to the name, he
| is taught to charge" "Chargen should be
| said in sharp, stern voice, tapping the pup
at the same time with whip. In all proba-
bility, he will roll over on his back. Put
| him in position, and make him remain so
until he is called up. 1t takes but few
| lessons to teach tn1s, butf afterwards. when
commanded TO ''chargen he is not kept
strictly to the proper position he will soon
| change it to a comfortable lie-down.
Next throw a piece of meat some distance
and command him TO ''hie on, helping him
to find it. He will not need many lessons
in this before ''hie on" will start him to
|
| hand either TO the right or the left will
teach him TO range on the side desired.
Come in" is the expression used for call
| ing him in and ito heeln should bring him
close to the feet, where he should remain
until released
When teaching a pup to "retrieve,n he
should be put in a good humor by romping
with him over ball, which on being thrown
out, he will chase and probably bring to
1 hn word ha fra
quently when he Is dong this. After he re-
trieves readily in this way, by degrees stop
playing with him, until at the word ''fetchn
given III commanding voice, the ball,
stick or whatever it may be, is brought in,
and at the word ''drop" given up to tho
trainer in a quiet business like way.
The only reliable retriever is the one that
retrieves from command and not from play /;
for few hours hard hunting will knock all
the play out Of dog and at the same time
his desire to "fetch."
Next attach a strong cord to his collar,
show him piece of meat, and throw ii
where it will be in plain sight commanding
him to ''hie on" He will, of course, make
a rush for it. Say "whoa" and stop him
with jerk Of the cord. Hold him there a
moment, then start him up with "click"
Of tho tongue and allow him to eat the
meat. To teach some dogs this. it is neces-
sary to use spiked collar. But, as a rule,
If the dog is handled properly, he can be
taught 1t without that degree of
severity. After he understands that
"whoa" means to stop and a
"click" to go on, he will obey the COM
mands without the use of cord A dog
should be taught this 80 thoroughly that he
oan be stopped with his nose an inch from
the meat, and even have it In his mouth and
drop 1T on the command whoa
He has also to be made accustomed to the
report OF gun. This is accomplished by at
first firing a small charge of powder at a
considerable distance from him, and each day
increasing the charge and decreasing the
distance. When doing this it is a good
plan to chain dog that is not timid near
him.
A pup should never be used in the field
or cover until he has been yard-broken, as
indicated above When he has taken his
degree in this, and not before, take him out.
| Watch closely every moment OF the dog
when he finds his first bird. What he does
will give the key to his disposition and in
dicate how he should be treated.
| have seen puD on finding his first bird
make as pretty point as any old veteran.
He seems to know just how near the game
he can safely approach and when he stops
he is there for all day If necessary. TO
break such an one is all plain sailing as he
has only to be taught ranging and retriev-
Ing. lueu Juelo b JUG pup buttO Ou
his first bird will drop TO the ground and re-
main in close charge
Such dog has keen nose and is sure to
be stanch. He is, however, apt to
be to sensitive and timid. A whip should
scarcely ever touch him, and kind
words will go farther with him than cross
ones.
Another will pay no attention either to
the scent or the bird itself, but run right
over both. This is not sure sign that his
nose is deficient. 1t may be that instinct
has not taught him what game bird is;
one should be killed and shown to him, and
while it is still warm he should be allowed
to smell and even mouth it little, being at
the same time encouraged with the hand
and voice.
Another may follow the scent with much
excitement until the bird Is flushed which
shows good nose and strong hunting in
stinct but also tendency to be- hot-headed
and obstinate He must be made to under
stand which is master, and TO accomplish
this the whip should be brought into requi-
sition, but always judiciously. Never whip
him unless he understands what he is being
whipped for. When he first strikes the
scent, say, "whoa." Hold him there q
moment, and then allow him TO follow it up
short way. He must be kept well under
control while doing this, and made to do il
in steady. cautious manner. IL he does
not stop at the command to do 80, keep re-
| heating the word whoa y until he has been