The Somerset reporter., 1891-12-17
TRAINING A COLLIE.
An Old Trainer Give. Directions for Dos
Education.

Education.
An old trainer of wide experience gives
us these rules for educating the collie 30
that he may become useful citizen; we
know from experience that an unedu.
Gated collie may easily become perfect
scamp;
II is almost useless To commence training the
pup until it is months old except To teach It
pbedienco. and this YOU can do at : to months
old II should be practiced at certain hour
every morning, before eating its meal that 1t
may understand 1t is a task 10 be done. Feed
Immediately after, that 1t may soon learn to
look rpon 1t as a reward for doing that task.
Never play with the dog while training him;
always keep strictly to business ut that time.
Never allow any one to be with you during the
lesson. that he may concentrate his dog intel
lect upon the work in hand.
lie positively must never be struck cruel
| blow While in training. or his attention VIII be
drawn to the whip instead Of the lesson. Use
| the whip To motion with. Remember II you
| break tho will OF your puppy by harsh or cruel
| treatment it will bo useless. The first few les
| sons may be blank failures; the puppy may lie
down and refuse to do what you desire Of him.
| To strike your puppy nj -uch time would take
months to overcome and would be downright
cruelty The only course To pursue is TO change
| the lesson Ia play. In one or two mornings his
| died.
| One master and only one must pup have;
| all the other meinls'rs Of the family should be
| strictly forbidden To give him orders or Guilt
| waite his affections. lie must be taught obedi-
| cncc, and to obey your commands implicitly,
| before attempting Ia work him on stock. You
| can do this by using soine word Of command
| when feeding, and You alone doing this. Your
| orders should he at all times given in quiet,
| easy tone never allowing yourself to become
angry. The very best trained dog needs re-
proving at times: but he must be made TO
| come up n hundred tirnes to be pcttcd and re-
| waried, where he comes up once to he pun
| ishcd.
Never allow him to be with the stock unless
| you are with him, as he may contract bad or
| wayward habits. hard to break him Of When
| first (for few timesl taking him with the
| stock, do not allow him TO work at all, but do
| the work yourself, and keep him close to you.
| to accustom him 10 the stock and the stock
| to him In case he il inclined to run all over
the field. use a chain and keep him with you.
| Make tho first lesson short. and be sure he
| learns one thing thoroughly before entering
| upon another task. lie must never, on any
| account, be allowed to 90 straight toward the
sheep; it is very difficult thing to prevent;
| but, II he does 1t, he must be called back and
| com pelled to circle out wide.
The old saying. "A barking dog never bites,
| is Just what you want in dog driving sheer
or cattle: indeed, dog which pursues the lat
ter course must be restrained and punished
Young dogs very apt to nip the heels OF the
sheep. They must be taught to confne them
selves to barking alone. II held back by q
rope, and great noise and hubbub is made, be
will get to barking, and once this is accom-
plished the way will be easier henceforth. In
speaking to the dog always the same word,
OF command and gestures, as go fetch 'en
| mi" Head away' Get out wider "Holdlf
etc Use the hand or whip in making ges-
tures.
Rural New Yorker.