TRAINING A DOG.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1912, 18 February 1875, Page 3

TRAINING A DOG.

GervaseMarkham, alearned gentleman, and a gallant soldier withal, who lived in the reign of James I. and Charles 1., gives directions as to th« training of a water-dog, which may be attended to by all who care for man's four-footed companions, -K-Thedirectionscontain nothing Mt sense and humanity, and two hundred years or so has not bettered their applicability. They run as follows : — " JXow for the manner, of training or bringing up the water-dog," he writes, " it is to be understood that you cannot begin too early with him—that is to say, even when you first wean him, and teach him to lap, for even then you shall begin to teach him to couch and-lie close, not daring to stir or move from that posture in which you put it, without your especial license, cherishing it ever" when it doth your will, and correcting it when it d< th the contrary; always observing this maxim in J^ first teaching of him, that you mevef let your dog eat or taste any meat bjut when he doth something to deserre i t; -'that custom may make it known that food is a thing which cometh not by chance, or the bounty"of your,hand, but for reward or merit when he doth your bidding^ and this will not only make him willing to learn, but apt to remember and retain what he learnetb, and dilligently to perform your pleasure without stick or amazement, tbe character of your commands beiug so deeply imprinted in his knowledge; and to this end you must havi> : rib more teachiers,' no" more feeders,' cherishers, or correctors, but one—for multiplicity breeds confusion, and to teach divers ways is to teach no way well; also, you must be very constant to the words 1 of directions by which you teach, choosing such as are the most significant for your purpose, and fittest for^ the action you would have the dog dp, and by no means alter that word which you first use. When, therefore, you have made your whelp understand these several sounds of words, and that he will couch and lie down at your feet how you please, when you please, and as long as you please, and that with a single word or a look only, you shall then -proceed to teach him to Jeßd in a line and collar, following you at your heela in decent and comely order, neither treading upon y6ur heels, nor going before or side by you, which shows too much haste, r<or banging back or straining your line by the means of too much sloth, but following in decent and orderly manner, without offence either to his dog or leader, and this kind of leading is, to make the whelp

iamilar with you, that he may love and ! acknowledge you and no man else. When this general obedience is taught (which is clone by observation of his going, and moving him by sight or sports which may tempt him to stray beyond his bounds, and then to correct his offences, and to cherish and reward his obedience), you shall then teach him to fetch and carry anything you shall throw forth of your hand ; first try him with the gloye, shaking it over his head and making him snap at it, and sometimes ldt him hold it in his mouth, and strive to pull it from him, and at last throw it a little way and let him worry it on the. ground, so by degrees make him bring it to you whenever you throw it. From the glove you may teach him to fetch bags, nets, sticks, &c. If you use him to carry dead fowls, it will not be amiss, for by that means he will not tear or bruise what fowl you shoot. Having perfected this lessen* drop something behind you which the dog does not see, and being gone a littlo way from it, send him back to seek it, by saying, 'Back, I have lost.' If he seem amazed, point with your finger, urging him to seek out, and leave hjni not till he hath done it. Then drops something at a greater distance, and make him find that too, till you have taught him to go back a mile."