The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-12

efTduC temper, Tor III ne Sn0uld attempt
training by force with either whip or col
lar the result would necessarily be disas-
trous. The whip may be brought into good
use at times by experienced trainer,
but should never be resorted to by novice,
for if applied injudiciously and without
proper judgment most harmful effects may
result.
Where a dog is trained by force the
accomplishments are permanent and will
not require a great amount of rehearsing.
1t lets the dog know that you mean bust
ness and are not playing with him. 1t
will impress things so on his mind that
he will not easily forget them. and If he
ever becomes lazy after long period of
rest 1t will not take much work to bring
him back to what he first learned.
The most essential thing to teach hunt
ing dog is to retrieve, that is, bring in
the game after it is shot. l have often
heard men say that their children, by
throwing ball and having the dog bring
it to them, had learned to retrieve, but
this is not so, for in the field retrieving
is vastly different from going after an OBJ
ject and bringing it in. A well-trained dog
should lay with his nose between his fore
legs while the shooting is going on; that
is called charging. He should lie in this
position until he is given the order to go
after the dead bird. After getting the bird
he should come to his master and sit down,
holding the game in his mouth until he is
told to let go. The only way to teach a
dog this successfully is to procure a stick
or corncob. Lay it on the floor, for this
training must be done in a room. and COM
n lii Nf 4 10
dog will not do it. You place the object in
the dogs mouth and make him bring it
to you, and then let go, each time repeat
ing the words. and in short time the ami
NAL will understand what is expected of
him.
MUST BE OBEDIENT.
Another thing that is necessary in a hunt
ing dog is to have him obedient. He must
be so trained that the minute he hears the
whistle he will stop and turn about no
matter where he is, and if called in he must
come and sit down until sent out again.
The way he must be sent on the course is
by the motion of the hand, and this Is the
way a dog must be taught to receive his
orders when in the field. He must be SO
trained that he will go through all of the
various motions without having word
spoken to him. In hunting there is gen.
orally a brace Of dogs used, which is two.
and with them the finest maneuvering that
is seen in the field can be performed. 1t
is called quartering. In quartering with
the dogs that / own l send two of them
out on their course, one to the right and
one to the left. After they have gone about
200 yards l whistle and they both stop and
turn about. / then motion for the dog TO
the right to go to the left, and he will
start. All this while the other dog is stand
ing motionless. / then give him his orders
to come to the right. In this manner they
cross each others tracks and a whole
field can be taken in without any game be-
ing overlooked This is a very difficult
thing to learn dogs, and takes n great
amount of time and practicey A thoroughly
trained dog also hunting in the lead. when
he sees the other dog come to a point. must
back up to where the pointing dog is stand
ing. AS the hunter advances and shoots
the dogs must drop and remain in that po-
sition until ordered up If there is a bird
killed the dog must - told to go get it,
He will bring me bird in and sit down a.
his masters feet until he is relieved of his
burden.
Many people think that a man to train
a dog must be on farm or have a large
lot in which to work, but this is not true
The preliminary training that 1 give my
dogs is done right here in my ..com 1t Is
in there that 1 teach them to sit down,
charge and retrieve. The dog and / are
always alone when these lessons are being
given, because the presence of another per-
son detracts the animals mind. Next I
take him in the yard and go through the
same things only on a more elaborate scale.
For instance. In having the dog charge
I fasten long line to the force collar. 1
alsu have small rife in when 1 shoot
blank cartridges. At the time flre jerk
the line and give the command Charge"
and the dog drops. OF course, he don't
always drop the first time, but after this
has been repeated several times he will
soon catch on.
Everything depends on having well-bred
dogs. They cost considerable, but 1t is the
best plan to get dogs that come from GOOD
stock for they are the most intelligent.
The question is often asked, which is the
best, a pointer or a setter? But this
should be left entirely to the individual
who Is selecting the dog. for they both
have their good and bad points. Usually
the pointing instinct is developed at an
earlier age in the pointer than the setter
The pointer is far more submissive dog
than the setter and generally less patience
is required to train him. He can be taught
to work admirably the first season; can in
dure greater heat with less fatigue owing
to his light coat, and Is also spared the
torture Of burs. But. on the other hand,
he suffers greatly in cold weather and in
going through heavy thickets and briers
water fowls, the season of which is nat
uraly at low temperature even il he
be ever willing to perform this task
may well be termed barbaric.
MORE DASHING AND ENDURING.
THE setter is much more dashing and
enduring exhibits more vim throughout
his work and is stancher al a point and
In backing. In ranging he is far superior.
and as a retriever from land or water
greatly preferable. He retains his training
better and is generally useful for many
more years than pointer, and withal is a
most amiable companion. An extensive
pedigree is no guarantee of the ultimate
usefulness of a dog in the field. yet the
offspring Of a pure strain of field dogs
cannot be recommended too highly Al
though very good dogs are occasionally
produced from inferior stoci,, no chances
Should be taken in the matter of purity