Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-10-08
TO TRAIN HUNTING DOGS
kl7TREATMENT AND THE BAD RE-
SUITS WHICH FOLLOW.

There Are Times When the Whip Should
Re Used AZ n Corrective; Punishment
Often Ir alcted Without Reason Does
Irrcparable Hsrm-Shyness Due to Fear
Fear in all It's forms, bird shyness
Commonly. called blinking), whip
shyness, man shyness, gun shyness, or
a shyness in taking the initiative in
anything is the common result OF
harshly repressive and tyrannical
methods Accordingly as the fear is
assoc.aSed with a particular object, so
one kind of shyness may be
exhibited, but fear may be
associated with several objects if
there is cause for it from the dogs
point Of view; and badly treated dogs
may show all the different forms, with
general apprehensiveness that some
i,thing dreadful is likely to happen at
any moment. Sometimes form OF
shyness may result from the mistake
Of moment, but generally it is the re-
sanf Of systematic. harshness.
: WhateYer the. cause. shyness Of any
Kind is more or less serious check
on the dogs training, and If it is OF
the kind known as blinking it may go
far toward rendering him him worth
less.
~ The trainer who succeeds best must
have genuine liking for dogs, else ne
is predlsposed to habitual harshness or
indifference. Those who have no fond
ness for ttsmsare rarely much OF
success assskilfull educators, and gen.
orally the dog which is so unfortunate
as to be under their schooling has met
his misfortunes of life at its very out
SET
While dog may misbehave and
therefore need punishment as pre-
ventive, it must ever be considered
that there are degrees Of it, times for
it, and manner of applying 1t which
renders Utmost effective. One trainer
smay whip a dog severely without
thereby losing his confidence or abat-
ing his ardor, another Ipne may give
a.less punishment and still evoke shy
ness. The one had the dogs conf
dence and affection; the other had but
a small part of them.
A dog over-trained Is of much less
value as worker than one that is
but partially trained but whose nat
ural capabilities are unimpaired. In
this connection it may be usefully re-
marked that practically the properly
trained dog works without orders at
all. Man and dog seek with concert
led action or supplement each others
efforts. working together for mutual
success as a team. The dog, allowed
to work, in his own manner, but re-
strIcted more and more to apply his
work in the service of the gun as his
training progresses, in time learns
that great success results from the
joint efforts of his master and himself;
and be then performs his part with
intelligence and a practical manipu-
lation Of means to ends, far beyond
any knowledge which could be con-
veyed to him by his teacher.
A knowledge of the evils Of over
training is essential in the develop
ment and training of field dogs, but
1t. Is still more essential in respect to
field trial dogs. However satisfactory
to his owner an over-trained dog may
be in field work, he will not be con-
sidered as even making good show
sing=when in competition with properly
trained dogs, which are performing
under the critical. eye Of the judge.
:. Training q dog to loud orders is a
bad, course method of teaching obedi-
ence. It Is indicative of bad temper
In the trainer, accomplishes nothing
which could not be accomplished in a
qufeter way, is distinctively offensive
to every one within hearing of the
-hullabaloo, and gives alarming no.
stice to. all the birds in the neighbor-
flood that dangerous, bloodthirsty
man has invaded their habitat. 1t
thus impairs success.
Oftentimes the amateur trainer takes
his gun and goes forth to kill birds,
taking green puppy along and max
i, ing. the education of the. latter a mere
Incident Of his sport. Such is not at
all training in proper sense. 1t Is
commencing -at-.a point which should
be at much later stage in the dogs
education.
Afstsc- the training has once been be-
; gun, Regularity in the lessons is Of
prime Importance. For instance, 1t
will be conceded at once tnat it Is
mnckA bettes to. give a dog
~ hslfhour lesson on each
. Of : ten day" than it is to give
him: III lesson of five hours duration
on one, day. While dog has very
good powers of memory, he soon for
gets his first lessons if it is not re-
fre5hed by daily repetition in respect
to. them. The trainer may have a
similar forgetfulness concerning his
rwn first lessons, which should ad.
monish him to be considerate.
punishment times is ne
@.cessity, its use as whole is unnec-
essarily comprehensive. There is no
doubt but that 1t is inflicted in most
scasesl under mistaken belief that it
SIS useful in forcing the dog to learn
what the trainer desires he should
learn and that it really accomplishes
the desired purpose. The idea, so ap-
piled, Is q mistaken one. Punishment
lever teaches a dog anything other
than in a negative manner; that is
to say, it simply deters him from do
ngicerta,n sslings.: 1t does not in the
least add to the dogs sum total Of
knowledge in developmental manner.
For instance, If the dog is punished
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