Evening star., 1934-11-01
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

"Police dogs are intelligent, digni-
fed, graceful, gentle, loyal and alert;
but If neglected may become restless
and ill-natured"
This is the opinion of James Gill
christ Lawson, author of "The Book oi
Dogs" just published by Rand Nc
Nally. The book gives pictures of all
81 breeds recognized by the American
Kennel Club.
Two good ways to neglect this beau
tiful creature, by many regarded as
the handSomest Of all dogs. is to keep
1t shut up all day and then take II
out on too short leash.
In the best German training
methods the short leash is used as q
sort Of discipline when the puppy OF
6 months Is first taken out for pre-
liminary work.
This Is necessary, for one Of the
first bits Of training involves respect
for passersby.
This wonderful dog is often stub
born, despite its intelligence, or maybe
because Of 1t, and must be trained to
absolute obedience, else it will frighten
strangers who by no means deserve
to be frightened.
This action on the part of the police
dog is bad for the dog, as an individual,
and hurtful to the breed at large.
X
One OF the best means to teach q
young dog to mind its own business is
to step on its hind feet few times.
This can only be done, of course,
when the dog is on the short leash.
II the dog jumps up on people step
on his feet. Experienced dog men say
this Is an almost unfailing way of
teaching the fellow to behave himself
in this respect.
Absolute obedience to the masters
commands Is the first essential in all
training. Schooling usually begins at
8 months, and by the fifteenth month
the dog should be educated in the ele-
mentary actions of going to a certain
place-any place designated-and ly-
ing down; should recognize the word
down" and obey: should lead easily
and well on a leash; should know the
command to lie down" and crawl
forward" and should be able to give
tongue" or bark, at the proper time,
also to hush on command.
In training this dog, as all others,
the use of the whip is only necessary
with dogs of the utmost stubbornness,
and even then it should be of the very
flexible variety. and applied only
lightly across the back.
1t is best. however, to get along en-
tireiy without the use of force.
Since this is held by its admirers
to be the most intelligent of all dogs,
a fact which most persons who have
seen their wonderful featS will be
willing to admit, it seldom needs force
or chastisement to make 1t obey.
There are other ways of making a
dog understand when it Is not doing
what the owner desires it to do. The
best Of these is the proper use of the
voice of praise and the voice of shame,
The word shame" may be used, at
the appropriate times, always in the
same tone Of voice, when the dog does
not do what is desired, or does some
thing that is not wanted by the owner
\ X
One German method of punishment
is to carry pocketful of grains of
corn and to use these to fling at the
hind quarters of the animal when he
goes contrary to orders.
1t is said that wonderful results
may be achieved by such simple
methods, If the striking of the corn
is coupled Immediately with the voice
Of dissaproval.
Punishment, according to the ex-
perts. should be only for disobedience
or sheer wilfulness. never when the
owner is angry, or because of lack of