The handling of a dog should start when he is a puppy, and simple lessons in obedience are good for the daily management of a dog, just as some degree of discipline is good for his owner. The properly trained and handled dog is not a cowed dog, but one who is a credit to his owner, and not a constant nuisance and irritation to others. Therefore simple obedience training, which the animal enjoys learning, is an important part of his education. Answering to plain commands such as coming when called, sitting when told, and coming to heel at a word, are simple orders which should be impressed upon every dog.

To own a dog is not only to care for it but to control it as well. If this truth were more widely recognised dogs would be less frequently subjected to criticism that should properly fall upon the owner. More important, accidents would be reduced, as it is usually the undisciplined dog which causes, or is involved in, accidents.

Control of a dog in an emergency is even more important than in the daily run of life. Control is essential; the ability to apply any first-aid measures rapidly depends upon it. Many dogs, especially when in pain or shocked, resent efforts to help them. It is therefore important to be able to apply, quickly, efficiently and firmly, methods of control as and when required. These measures are best carried out by the owner, as even the most frightened dog will usually heed a person he knows. Even the most disciplined dog will, if in pain, be inclined to snap, often unintentionally. Some control of the biting end can be obtained with a lead, tape, or bandage. Obviously any restraint should be carried out with minimum disturbance of.

Few dogs pass through life with at least one illness during which the owner must give nursing care, and very often the animal’s recovery or the reverse depends to a large extent on the quality of the attention he receives. Canine patients differ from humans in that they cannot be kept in bed unless they are too weak to get out, and their co-operation has to be obtained by persuasion rather than by request.

A human patient will submit to the unpleasantness of constant intramuscular injections of penicillin, for instance, because he knows it is for his own good, but a dog cannot be expected to reason in this way. As some treatments given to sick dogs (inhalations, for example) are not welcomed by the patient, the attendant may have a difficult time. On the whole, however, dogs— even very young ones—make good patients provided they have confidence in their nurse and less important, in the veterinary surgeon. If a dog trusts his attendant he submits with quite good grace and often astonishing resignation and stoicism to many unpleasant measures, and even shows gratitude in a touching fashion.

When an animal is sufficiently ill to require nursing he should be put in a separate room or kennel, even if the malady is not infectious. The general hubbub of the kitchen or living-room is not restful, and every sick animal needs plenty of sleep and peace. This is particularly the case with distemper and hard-pad. Some dogs spend most of their time sleeping during the early stages of the former and, in addition, the nervous system is often affected in both diseases and a noisy, restless environment may result in the dreaded distemper or hard-pad fits.

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