Some dogs will prove to be headstrong and others will try to do whatever their master wants.  There is an amazing difference in dogs and their intelligence seems to have no limits.

A dog must never be allowed to annoy our neighbours or friends.  One of the most annoying habits that a dog cultivates is that of running out and barking at passing carriages or people.  A few lessons in discipline early in life will break him of this habit, but once acquired it is practically unbreakable.

Another very annoying habit is that of allowing a dog to put his paws on us.  We may not mind it when we are dressed in old clothes but friends or callers are possibly not so considerate.

Nearly every bad habit that a dog learns is usually the fault of the owner rather than of the dog.  The training of a dog should be done as a puppy.  Therefore we must secure our dog as young as possible.

In training hunting dogs the first step is called “yard-breaking.”  With ordinary dogs a thorough course in yard-breaking by teaching the simple command is all that will be necessary.  First of all, teach your dog to lie down and come to you at call.  The usual word for the former is “charge.”  A dog can be taught this in a very short time.  Take him by the neck and back, and at the word, force him to lie down.  Do not use any other words, or even pet him.  Simply impress on his mind that when he hears “charge” it means lie down.  As a rule a puppy is taught to come by snapping the fingers or by making a noise with the lips similar to that by which we urge a horse.  It is almost natural to say “Come here.”  After a puppy learns to follow us at the command “heel in” and to run ahead when we say “go on,” we must also teach him to come when we whistle.  Most boys can make a whistle with the fingers sufficiently penetrating to call a dog for a long distance but a small metal whistle to carry in the pocket is the best way.

After a dog has acquired the simple lessons of training we shall find that he learns to understand us and to do our wishes very quickly.  There should be a complete understanding between a dog and his owner.  He will know our ways and we shall know his.

I have hunted in Virginia with a dog so intelligent that merely by watching him his master could tell whether he was on the trail of a rabbit, wild turkey, or deer.  For each kind of game he had a different manner of barking and what is more remarkable, he was a thoroughly broken quail dog with the best “nose” or scent I have ever known and of course did not bark under these circumstances.  Such a dog would be a mystery to any one who did not know his ways.

This dog “Old Doc” would hunt with any one on quail, but if the hunter did not succeed in killing game the dog would soon show his disapproval in every way, sulk along behind, and if the poor shooting continued, finally leave for home.  A friend who took him out told me, “First I missed the birds and then I missed the dog.”  He had left in disgust.