Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-02-26


achieves high state of mental devel-
opment is slow to reach maturity, phys
ically and intellectually-the longer
the period of growth the greater the
heights possible of attainment A pre-
cocious puppy is apt to be like preco-
cious children, easy to spoil because
we are tempted to force them educa-
tionally beyond themselves. To push
a naturally smart individual beyond
himself results in confusing his mind
and often causes him togo on a mental
strike and suddenly to quit wanting
to learn anything new. All this you
know, of course. I'm merely calling
your attention to it.
Nov young dogs learn as much or
more by what they absorb through as
ISOLATION than they do by definite in
struction. For instance, if your dog is
much with you, he will learn the truth
about your attitude toward people and
| life in general just by being on init
mate terms with you
| Your letter and in particular your
/ question about how to make Siegfried
/ give notice when a stranger appears
and yet be quiet and polite after that
/ inclines me to conclude that you are
| by nature friendly and ready to well
come all who come your way. Some
shepherd dogs are like that Some are
| born suspicious of all strangers, just
as some humans are.
IF your dog is already inclined to
look on all people as friends, regard
less, you can by your attitude give him
to understand that he should be reserved
at first, and by going step further
you can teach him not to make up to
people until you give him permission
to do SO. Now when you see people
approaching call his attention to the
fact, and let hinf see that you are
wondering if they really are o. X.
Ii friend comes along, wait until
he is near before letting the dog see
that you recognize the on looming
person as friend When stranger
approaches keep the dog right at your
i side; don't permit him to indulge in
impetuous greetings. Don't let anyone
, whom your dog doesn't already know
make friendly fuss over him Ex-
. plain that the dog is being trained and
) that promiscuous visiting is bad. For
that matter don't permit anyone to
j overdo the business Of flattering him
!, Sooner or later your dog will begin
S to call your attention when someone
e approaches. When he does that yot
I will Join with him in being interested
$ not forgetting to call him to your
) side and keep him there while you spec
ulate as to whether or not it is friene
: or stranger who comes. You may ever
0 talk to your dog at such times, jus
S as you would to a child you were try
ing to impress with the ideas you wan
your dog to accept Not that your do
will be much helped at first by you
words, but hearing yourself put you
thoughts into words will help you
express your attitude in a way the
will be clear in its meaning TO you
- dog,
!. Now at eight months your dog
y still in the kindergarten age And 20
y can best further hi education /
!. grounding him in few simple thing
!. that every stable dog should know
First and most important teac
your dog to come to you instantly
matter what distracts him, see to it tn
he does come every time you call hif
- The use of line will insure obediens
: at first
Next, teach him to stay put whe
told Tie him to something and as yo
start to leave him tell him to sta
~ there Teach him to halt at your wor
- and to hold the position waiting yor
a next command | teach this halt-anc
A. hold lesson by stopping dog from prt
l. ceding me through doorway. After
:, have passed inside or out | then ca
: him to me I also teach him to 20 ahes
of me through a doorway on comman
8 this is easy as he generally is willir
Ia to do that When your dog has learne
that you always come back and n
- lease him after he has been tied up ar
told to stay there he will be we'll {
! his way to feeling il is @. K. for yC
to be away from home.
IF your dog has shown any intere
in retrieving a stick or ball take az
vantage of that, for by playing Il
to fetch-it-to-mc game you can plant Il
f. idea of willing obedience in his mil
quite readily When he has come
A. enjoy retrieving a stick or ball, tea'
sit him to stand or sit beside you aft
q, you have thrown the object for hi
cr to fetch until you command him
bring it to you After that, take sti
I'm or ball he has come to regard as
his plaything and let him sec you hide
where he can easily get it. Then Ia
lty him a short distance and send hi
d. bacf to bring the object to you. IT
oh teaches him to 90 places at your r
quest.
a Then let him know that you ha
ng hidden the object but don't let h
US see exactly where. though preferat
ed the chosen place should be one of I
p spots where previously he has Sc
he you conceal the object Repeat this pi
co. of the game often, seeing to it that
he is keened up to the idea that you be
hts are having whale of a time. Thu
re- when the object may have been CO
cealed IN any one Of several pla,
a where he has already found it, you m
as collaborate with him in the search
standing a short distance away a
lu guiding him by word and hand sign;
IN assisting him to locate the object.
these lessons you can teach him
tor climb Once he has discovered that y
are interested in helping him in
In fun of finding the object he will lc
ing to yo, for guidance and thus learn