Winter Adventures of Three Boys | Page 9

had been a long one they all soon
retired to rest.
The boys were more than delighted with the day's experience, and were
full of joyful anticipation for the morrow, for then it was that they were
to select the dogs that were to constitute their own trains and at once to
begin the work of breaking them in. So long and soundly did they sleep
the next morning that the second breakfast bell was ringing when they
awoke, and so they had but little time in which to dress ere breakfast
was served. However, to their joy they found that others had also
overslept themselves. Even Mr Ross himself, who was one of these,
declared that the capital outing of the previous day had done him a
great deal of good, as he had not slept so well for a long time.
The events of yesterday and the anticipations of the present day were
discussed with great animation. The boys were questioned as to the
style and disposition of the dogs they each desired, and the methods
they intended to pursue in their training. Frank wanted his to be strong
and powerful, able to carry him over any difficult place and able to
draw any reasonable load assigned him. Alec's ambition was for a swift
train, that he might have all the fun and excitement of rapid travelling.
"All right," said Sam, "but give me the darlings with any amount of
mischief and tricks in them. Those are the dogs for me."

A hearty laugh from all greeted Sam's queer wish.
"I think, as regards the tricks, we can easily satisfy you," said Mr Ross.
"And it will be amusing to see how a young Irish gentleman can
circumvent them; for you will find out, before you get through with
them, that tricky dogs are not only very clever, but very provoking, in
some of their deals."
Mr Ross had been very careful for years in the selection and breeding
of his dogs. There is as much difference between good and bad dogs as
there is between high-spirited horses and miserably lazy ones. The
hardy Eskimo was still the prevailing element in his dogs. There were,
however, many crosses with some of the finest breeds of civilisation,
such as the English mastiff, the Newfoundland, and the large Scottish
staghound. Dogs are considered old enough to be broken to harness
when they have reached their ninth month. They should not, however,
be expected, no matter how willing, to draw very heavy loads until they
are considerably older. They are much more easily trained when young,
and are not so apt to be sullen and ugly as are dogs which are only
broken in after they have reached the age of two or three years.
Soon after breakfast and prayers an early visit was made to the kennels.
The boys were desirous of having the pleasure that morning of giving
the dogs their breakfast. They were very much surprised, however,
when informed that the dogs were only fed once a day, and that that
one meal was given to them in the evening, when their day's work was
done. This information at first aroused their sympathies for the dogs,
but after some experience they found out that they could not only do
much better work on one good meal a day, but were always in much
better health.
Some dogs submit readily to the harness and never give any trouble;
others are very obstinate, and will take any amount of whipping before
they surrender. Some that seem docile and affectionate before being
harnessed, when they find themselves collared and strapped, develop
the ferocity of wolves and make the most desperate efforts, not only to
get loose, but to attack their own masters. Mr Ross had, after some
discussion with the boys, promised them the privilege to do the

breaking in of their own dogs, provided the animals did not develop too
obstinate dispositions, which would require a good deal of punishment
ere they would submit. Generally this work was done by the Indian
servants, as many kind-hearted masters cannot bear to inflict the
punishment themselves, which seems to be necessary for some dogs to
receive ere their are conquered.
Several methods are used in breaking in young dogs. Some trainers
securely harness them up and fasten them to a sled, then vigorously, by
voice and whip, keep at them until they yield and do what is demanded
of them. They must at the first harnessing be so securely fastened that
they cannot possibly in any way squeeze or pull themselves out from
the harness. Nearly all dogs at first make desperate efforts to escape. If
they once succeed in doing so, during the process of training, they are
never absolutely reliable afterward. They