The best way was to scold them, for a good dog feels a severe scolding as much as a whipping.
Billy was very much ashamed of himself.

Nothing would induce him even to look at a hat again.

But he thought it was no harm to worry other things.

He attacked one thing after another, the rugs on the floor, curtains, anything flying or fluttering, and Miss Laura patiently scolded him for each one, till at last it dawned upon him that he must not worry anything but a bone.

Then he got to be a very good dog.
There was one thing that Miss Laura was very particular about, and that was to have him fed regularly.