SELECTING THEIR DOGS--VARIOUS METHODS OF BREAKING THEM IN--FRANK'S
SUCCESS BY KINDNESS WITH MONARCH--SAM'S TROUBLES WITH SPITFIRE--
CONQUERED AT LAST--TRAINING AND CAPTURING DOGS WITH DOGS--ALEC'S TRAIN
OF PART STAGHOUNDS.
With this question of the old Indian ringing in their ears the party in
the kitchen broke up, and as the day 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 will occasionally try to
repeat the experiment of squeezing themselves loose, and may do it at a
critical place on a long journey, and thus cause annoyance and delay.
One of Mr Ross's methods, which he now suggested to the boys, was to
have an old train of four steady dogs harnessed up in tandem style and
one of the young dogs, which was to be broken in, harnessed in between
the third and fourth dog of the train. Frank was given the first
selection. He chose a large, powerful dog that seemed to be part
mastiff and part Newfoundland. He had a fine head and kindly eyes.
Frank, who was a great lover of dogs, and knowing much about them, had
taken the precaution to make a visit to the kitchen, and now, with his
outer pockets supplied with broken bits of meat and buns, he began the
work of making friends with this big, burly young dog, which was his
first choice. The fact that only in the evening were they supposed to
be fed, was quietly ignored by Frank just now.
Kinesasis called him Ookemou. This Frank translated into Monarch, and
by this name he was always called. Frank began his approaches by a
liberal use of the contents of his pockets, and who ever knew a young
dog proof against such an argument? Growing dogs are always hungry, and
will take kindly to anyone who will stuff them. The Indian servants
speedily had a train of old dogs ready, with a vacant harness placed as
we have described. Into it Monarch willingly allowed himself to be
harnessed by Frank. The whole train was then fastened to a dog-sled,
and the word "Marche!" was shouted by the driver. The well-trained dogs
at once responded and started off, and as long as Frank ran by the side
of Monarch the young dog did very well, but when he dropped behind and
sprang on the sled with the Indian driver, Monarch also made an effort
to do likewise. This, however, he found to be an impossible feat, as
the three strong dogs before him kept him on the move, and so he was
obliged to proceed, which he did very unwillingly. Frank shouted to him
to go on. This, however, was a great mistake, as the dog, at once
recognising his voice, and not knowing as yet the meaning of "Go on,"
would much rather have come back to the one who had so thoroughly won
his friendship. Seeing him beginning to act ugly and obstinate, the
Indian driver drew his heavy dog-whip and was about to strike him. This
Frank hotly resented, and so the Indian quickly recoiled his whip and
quietly waited to see what the young white master wanted to do. Frank's
quick intellect was at work. He was a wide-awake, kindly lad, with a
love for as well as a knowledge of dogs, and so when he saw this young
dog so resolutely pull back at the sound of his voice, thus showing that
he would rather come toward him than run from him, he instantly made up
his mind that he could be broken in by kindness and persuasion. Quickly
he resolved upon his own plan of action. Ordering the Indian driver to
stop the train, Frank speedily ran to Mr Ross with an urgent request
for another train of old dogs. Mr Ross, who was at once interested by
the intense earnestness of the lad, speedily granted him his request,
although as yet he could not understand the reason why two trains were
desired, where one was generally considered sufficient.
Very quickly did willing hands harness up a train of old dogs and attach
them to a dog-sled.
"Now," said Frank to the driver of them, "you drive on ahead of that
other train and let me ride with you."
Orders having been given to the driver of the train, in which Monarch
was harnessed, to follow after, Frank, who was now on ahead and in plain
sight, began calling to his dog to follow. To this call he at once
responded, and as the train in which he was harnessed was allowed to
come alongside of the first, Monarch was rewarded by receiving from his
master's hands some dainty bits of meat. There was no trouble with him
after this. No matter how fast the first train was now driven, with
head and tail up, on came Monarch, with as much vim and dash as the best
of the old dogs, with which he was harnessed. When it was thought that
he had had enough exercise for that day, and as they were about two
miles from home, they rested for a few moments, during which Frank spoke
kindly to his dog and fed him with the remaining pieces of meat. Before
leaving he gave orders to the driver of the train, in which Monarch was
harnessed, to wait until he and the other train would have time to reach
home. Monarch, as he saw the other train leaving, became very much
excited and was eager to follow. He was, however, restrained by the
driver, as were the other dogs. All sleigh dogs of any spirit hate to
be thus left behind, and so when the word "Marche!" was uttered they
sprang forward with a will, Monarch being as eager as any of them.
In the meantime, when Frank with the one train of old dogs returned to
Sagasta-weekee, he was met with laughter and quizzing remarks from both
Alec and Sam. Coming as he did without his young dog, they could only
imagine that he had met with complete failure, and had given up the
business in disgust. Mr Ross, however, older and more experienced,
after one searching glance in Frank's triumphant, satisfied face,
surmised something better, and so was prepared for the lad's triumph,
which soon came.
Frank very good-naturedly took the guying of his comrades, but his eyes
were along the trail made by the sled, from which he had just alighted.
Keen was his vision then, and alert his eye, and so when the coming
train was still far away he knew by their rapid pace that he had
triumphed. Turning to Mr Ross, he triumphantly exclaimed:--
"There they come, and Monarch as eager as any of them, and no whip has
ever touched his back, or ever will."
It did not take the rapidly advancing train long to reach the now
interested group of spectators.
Frank's triumph was complete. None could have imagined that the finest-
looking dog in that train, that bore himself so proudly, had that day
for the first time ever had a collar on his neck. Yet such was the
case, and as Frank petted and unharnessed him, warm and sincere were Mr
Ross's congratulations.
From that day forward Monarch was a model sleigh dog, and never failed
to respond to the voice of his new master, whose kindly tact had saved
him from the lash.
There was still time before lunch for another experiment or two, and so
Alec suggested that Sam, who wanted dogs full of fun and tricks, should
make the next choice.
Sam, nothing loath, selected a handsomely built dog with the queerest
combination of colours. He had a bright, mischievous-looking eye, and
it was evident that he had a good opinion of himself. His small, erect,
pointed ears, his foxlike muzzle, and his curly, bushy tail told that
there was a good deal of the Eskimo in him, and therefore, until better
acquainted with the paleface, he would not have much love for him. Sam
soon found this out. At Mr Ross's request Kinesasis skillfully threw a
lasso over him and brought him out of the kennels. This undignified
procedure considerably ruffled his temper, and so when Sam, in sweet
simplicity, took up a harness and endeavoured to put it on him the dog
viciously sprang at him and buried his teeth in the heavy mooseskin
mitten of the hand which Sam was fortunately able to quickly throw up,
thus saving his face from injury. Mr Ross and others sprang forward to
help the lad, but Sam's Irish was up, and as the lasso was still upon
the dog's neck, and his teeth had only cut through the tough leather
without injuring his hand, he cried:--
"Please let me have the satisfaction of conquering him alone."
Suddenly throwing himself forward, Sam seized hold of the lasso, and,
tightening it about the dog's neck, he quickly tangled him up in the
loose coils and managed to throw him on the snowy ground. Seizing the
harness, he dropped down upon the excited, half-choked animal, and,
guarding his hands against his snappy teeth, he managed to get the
collar over his head. But the work was not yet completed, and Mr Ross,
seeing the danger the boy was in of being badly bitten by the now
furious animal, ordered a couple of Indian men to his assistance. He
highly complimented Sam, and said that in getting the collar on such a
dog he had succeeded well. The Indians cautiously, but quickly, muzzled
the dog, and then, letting him get up, they finished Sam's work of
harnessing him. The next thing was to get him into the train with the
other dogs, and this proved to be no easy matter.
"Give him a name," said Alec.
"Spitfire!" shouted out Sam, and by this name he was ever after known.
He seemed to have an idea that his personal liberty was being interfered
with, and so he resisted everything done by Sam or the dog-drivers.
When by main force he was placed in position and the traces were
fastened he made most violent attempts to escape. He struggled first to
one side and then to the other in his frantic efforts. Then he tried to
crawl under and then over the dog in front of him. Failing in this, he
suddenly sprang forward with such force that he managed to seize hold of
the short, stumpy tail of the dog in front of him. This was an
unfortunate move on his part, as the dogs that are accustomed to work
together will readily fight for each other when one is in trouble. So,
before Sam or the Indians could interfere, if they had been so disposed,
the dogs ahead of Spitfire, hearing the cry of pain from their comrade,
quickly turned upon him and gave him a thorough shaking. When the
Indians thought he had had enough they interfered, and once more
straightened out the dogs.
Spitfire was most decidedly a sadder, if not a wiser, dog as the result
of his rashness. But, poor fellow, his troubles were not yet over, for
the old sleigh dog behind him was also indignant at the attack upon the
tail of his old comrade, and so he was also resolved to mete out some
punishment to the rash young offender. This was just what the Indians
wanted, and so, telling Sam to jump on the sled with them, they shouted,
"Marche!" to the head dogs, while the old fellow behind sprang at
Spitfire.
At first the young fellow, seeing that he could not get away, had
resolved to balk, but when the big dog with fierce growls made his
desperate efforts to seize hold of him he was glad to spring as far away
as his traces would permit. The result was that before he knew what he
was about he was rapidly galloping in unison with the rest of the train.
Sam kept him at it until he was so tired that all the venom and fight
were worked out of him. If for an instant he tried to act ugly or break
loose, all Sam had to do was to call on the sleigh dog to attack him.
This was quite sufficient and Spitfire surrendered to the inevitable,
and in less than three hours had well learned his first lesson.
To conquer the dog's repugnance to Sam, and to make them fast friends,
Mr Ross had him, when taken out of the harness, fastened up in a dark
root cellar without any supper. The next day Sam went in to bring him
out, but was met only with savage growls.
"All right," said Mr Ross, "it seems hard on you for the present, but
it will be better for you in the end;" and so the heavy door was shut,
and Spitfire had another twenty-four hours in solitude and quiet to
ponder over his ways. The next day, as directed by Mr Ross, in whom he
had all confidence, Sam suddenly threw open the door, and, while the dog
was still blinking in the sudden sunshine that poured in, Sam without
any hesitancy or fear strode in and, unchaining him, led him out and up
to an abundant supply of food and drink.
Spitfire was conquered, and from that day he and Sam were the best of
friends. A few more lessons in the harness, with a growling, cross
sleigh dog behind him, made him one of the best and fleetest of the
train.
Sam, who was quick to utilise a good thing when he observed it, saw in
this dislike of this old sleigh dog to having fresh young dogs ahead of
him just the assistance he needed; and so, although he selected three
other dogs, that at first were about as ugly and intractable as Spitfire
had been, he was able in this way to subdue them all with firmness and
patience, and he not only made them his affectionate friends, but he
became the master of one of the most spirited trains in the country.
They were obedient and quick to respond to Sam's calls upon them, but
woe to anyone else who tried to drive them when the spirit of mischief
or contrariness which was in them showed itself.
Alec had stated that he wanted a swift train for the fun and excitement
of fast travelling. It was fortunate for him that Mr Ross had some
young dogs with a large strain of the Scottish staghound in them. The
pure staghounds are unable to stand the severe cold of the long winters,
but the mixed breeds at Sagasta-weekee, while retaining much of the
speed of the staghound, had a rich, warm coating of fur-like hair.
Still, they enjoyed a warm blanket when the weather was very severe.
The young untrained ones were very wild, and when Kinesasis attempted to
bring out from the kennels a beautiful one that he had lassoed, and
which Alec had fancied, the frightened, agile creature jerked the lasso
out of his hands, scaled the walls, and dashed away over the snowy
fields. To have followed him would have been absurd, as the frightened
dog if pursued would have continued his flight until he had reached the
distant island where he had spent the summer. Kinesasis knew a better
plan than that, and so he quickly let loose about a half dozen sagacious
old dogs, trained by him for such work, and quietly told them to go out
and bring that young wanderer back. The frightened dog, after running
several hundred yards, when he saw that he was not being followed,
slackened his pace and more leisurely continued his journey. He would,
however, frequently stop and look about him, and especially back toward
the place he had so abruptly left.
Soon he saw the dogs that Kinesasis had sent out, and that were now
gambolling and playing with each other. He was attracted by the sight,
and stopped his flight to watch them. They were apparently not noticing
him in their sporting with each other, but they were nevertheless
drawing nearer to him. At first he was inclined to be suspicious of
them, but this soon left him, and he seemed to become pleased to greet
them, as doubtless he had already begun to feel lonesome, for the dog is
indeed a social animal. When once he was thrown off his guard it was
not long ere the trailing lasso was seized by the teeth of a couple of
the most sagacious dogs, who immediately started on the return trip.
The rest of the dogs followed growling in the rear of the runaway. When
necessary they used their teeth upon him, and so they soon brought him,
cowed and submissive, to the hands of Kinesasis.
Tame elephants take great delight in helping to capture and subdue wild
ones, but not greater is their satisfaction at their successful work
than is that of old dogs who are trained to it when they have a share in
the capturing or breaking in of obstinate, refractory dogs.
The boys enthusiastically expressed their surprise as well as admiration
at this wonderful cleverness on the part of these trained dogs in
capturing the runaway. They were also amused at their evident delight
at the success of their efforts.
"Yes," said Mr Ross, "and if that young dog had been able to elude
them, either by keeping out of their reach, in the first place, or by
slipping the lasso over his head and thus escaping from them, and they
had had to return without him, they would have been thoroughly ashamed
of themselves, and would have skulked off to their kennels."
"I have read," said Frank, "that that is the way the Saint Bernard dogs
in the Alps act if they are unsuccessful in bringing any belated or lost
traveller back to the monastery, when they are sent out by the monks to
search for any in distress. They are very proud if they succeed, but if
they fail to find anyone they skulk back ashamed of themselves and sulk
in their kennels for a couple of days, or even longer."
Alec, taking advantage of the methods adopted by both Frank and Sam, and
other plans suggested by Mr Ross, at length succeeded in breaking in
his four dogs. He had the misfortune to have one of them, on account of
his small head, squeeze himself out of his harness and escape. Great
difficulty was experienced in capturing him, and then even when
conquered he at times gave endless trouble by slipping his collar and
skulking in the rear.
Another of his dogs, when being broken in, made the most desperate
efforts to cut himself loose with his teeth. He ruined in this way some
valuable harness, and several times cut the traces of the dogs in front
of him. Having exhausted the patience of Alec, he received a first-
class whipping ere he stopped trying these tricks.
In about a month the dogs were thoroughly trained and seasoned to their
work. Frank clung to Monarch as his favourite, while Sam and Spitfire
were almost inseparable. Alec, true to the romantic love of his
country, made the runaway his favourite and called him Bruce. His other
three he named Wallace, Gelert, and Lorne.