You can nearly always count on late 19th century writers to come up with elegant ways to discuss just about anything. Here I have a few delightful passages from S. T. Hammond's "Practical Dog Training" (1885)
"We do not claim absolute perfection for our system, nor that one can by adopting it invariably succeed in turning out a well-trained, well-behaved dog, for we know that with dogs as with men we often find one who, for lack of brains, will never amount to much, no matter what pains we take with him.
In selecting a puppy there are many things to be taken into consideration. In the first place we must be sure that both sire and dam are first-class field performers. This we consider of the utmost importance. They must also be possessed of endurance, and must be reasonably intelligent. The more ancestors of this type our puppy can boast the better will he suit us. He must also have life and ambition; indeed, we care not how high-strung he is, for although he may not submit to restraint quite so readily as his sleepy brother, yet when we once have him under subjection, he will not only mind more quickly, but he will do his work better, and much more of it. Of course he must be well formed, and we should like him to be of good color and coat; but these last are not indispensable, as we much prefer good performance to good looks.
Having selected our puppy, we will take him home when he is six to eight weeks old, and at once begin his education. Many writers will tell you that your dog should be mueh older before you begin to instill into his mind even the rudiments of knowledge. If you are going to pursue their system of instruction, we should advise you by all means to put off the evil day as long as possible; but if you are to follow our plan, begin at once; not a moment is to be lost. In the first place you must secure his affection and entire confidence. This will be the first lesson, and nothing more should be attempted until you have completely won his heart and taught him to place the utmost confidence in you. At this tender age his mind is easily impressed, and will long retain the ideas then formed; and it will take but a few days to teach him to love you with all his heart. If possible, give him a good roomy pen on the ground, with a warm, well-sheltered house or box in which to lie. Do not forget that he will be very lonesome for a few days, and therefore glad to see you often; and you cannot better employ your time than in paying him a visit every half hour for the first day or two. Always, when you go to see him, have a bit of something for him to eat that he will relish. As you approach the pen you should invariably blow upon your whistle the note that you intend to use to call him in. We sound a long note for this purpose, beginning loud and gradually dying away. This, with a short, sharp note to attract attention, is all the signal we ever sound upon the whistle; the last we do not use until his education is further advanced. By associating this long note with something good to eat, it will soon become fixed in his mind that when he hears it he must run to you as fast as he can. We much prefer to have two puppies, for it takes no more time to teach them both than it does to teach one, as they will learn from each other; and if one is inclined to be dilatory we withhold his reward, and he, seeing the other one enjoying his customary allowance while he is himself deprived of his share, at once comprehends the true reason, and will be on hand the next time."
