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Show y THE CORRECT USE OF THE LEASH 1 'Tta&atf tyam Doy a Set tat itt$ea by Tom Farley Before starting the first lesson it is important that the handler thoroughly understand certain fundamental things. First, keep your dog on the leash for most of the training so that every command can be enforced immediately. Second, give the commands in a friendly tone of voice, without shouting. And third either use praise (as at right) lavishly or disapprove strongly so that the dog is never in doubt as to whether he has done right or wrong. The lessons should last only so long as you can hold the dog's Interest without tiring him. For puppies at the beginning IS minute lessons are long enough. For older dogs and for later lessons they may be worked a half hour or longer if they are healthy and well fed on a properly balanced diet. Naturally it will be very much easier to work the dog in a quiet room, away from other dogs or people. If you must .have an audience, keep them as far away as possible and keep them quiet. Remember that a side remark cannot be understood by your pupil who is straining to understand exactly what you are trying to tell him and will confuse him. In general, apply the same rules of training that you would use for a child p!us a little extra patience. The type of leash and collar used and the correct handling of the leash are extremely important to successful training. The leash should be s;x feet long with a loop in the end as shown above. The collar must be a simple slip chain collar (as can be seen in pictures 1 and 2) and must be put on exactly as shown. Note that when the rings are under the dog's chin the ring on the end coming down the left side of the neck is used as the slip ring and the leash is attached to the ring at the end that comes down the right side. This is important because if reversed it is apt to pinch the dog. To, correct with the training collar give a qu'ck, sharp jerk and at all other times keep the leash and collar loose. Never pull on this type of collar. The jerk is painless but the steady pull can hurt, (picture 3). i V; ' ' 1 - I ! LjX - KvX X ' 13'? V' i W.- r- V i M i r ----- - ' , I 4 , - , j , In nearly all training (and always when the dog is at heel) the loop of the leash is in the right hand as shown in the first picture. The slack is then taken up as shown in the second picture and the left hand is, at all times, kept free for qu:ck correction or to help or pet the dog. Too much emphasis cannot be given the importance of the leash. Never, under any circumstances, let your dog pull against his collar. i This is particularly important when som. . .TT another dog attracts hfs attention: H h C , "'T5' Ec snfw;rg thar,,l please you but he fcX Tliit it the first of a leriea of picture articles on dog training featuring Frances llartsook, nationally I- prepared in a campaign to- make dogs belter citizens. Tlie lessons must be studied from the beginning la'b ,0n lr"'".u'rt t'hotogranhrd I the articles we suggest that you purchase the back issues so tliat you hate the complete series. rJfcctive, If OI, P-D Photos). |