The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-04-01
rreating Animals with eentlenesa.


Dueb brutes have everything to learn.
They are nearly as capable of appre-
ciatfng kind words and gentle treatment
as many of the human species. Many
persons are disposed TO think that II
young horse or OK does not obey the
commands of his driver he is obstinate
or perverse and must be lashed. But
the truth is, animals do not understand
what is wanted of them. All domestic
animals should be made familiar with,
and encouraged to form a sort of affec-
ton for and confidence in, their owners
and managers. This can easily be
brought about, especially if commenced
when they are Young and perseVered in
by earessing and talking to them in a
mild, pleasant voice, and showing
mild, familiar and pleasing expression
of the countenance, and especially of
the eye. Few seem to understand or
realize the great effect the expression
of the eye and tone of the voice have
on domestic animals. Take the horse
for instance. Few teamsters seem to
consider that his eye and ear are con-
stantiy on the watch to discover and
understand what his master is going to
do, or wishes him to do, and that 10
small share of this understanding Is
conveyed TO him by and through the
expression of the eye and countenance
and tone of the voice. This is more es-
pecially true in regard to the colt, or
young animal, which has learned but
little in regard to the meaning of words,
and can aud will be Influenced much
more by the eye and voice than the ma
ture or meaning of the words used.
Hence it is important to make the colt
| tame and familiar with its owner, to in
duce it to form liking for ard conf
dence in him. By exercising a kind,
patient but persevering frmness in all
our relations with colt he Is always
made to know and expect that he is to
| do whatever is required of him. This
is the more readily ard easily done for
the reason that whatever bad temper or
| disposition he may have, never being
| aroused, Will have but little if any
chance to show itself, and consequently
give no trouble in subduing or breaking
him of it. But by learning to have
confidence in and dependence on his
master, he is soon and easily brought
TO q condition in which he needs no
breaking, but only needs to learn to do
whatever is wanted of him. This can
| be done the more readily for the reason
! that he is used to being caressed and
talked to, and to understand and obey
| all the words that will be ordinarily
used in driving and working him.
The great difficulty in training colts
| is the unaccountable stupidity of the
| drivers. When a colt is harnessed he
| is told to 'go on ;" but he unders lands
that language no more than a Tartar
would understand an Englishman if he
were to direct the Tartar to go to the
/ al m " 1o- -
Season to do some blowing. He had
valuable pair of mules. He was fire.
! quently heard to say to his team,
"Whea, haw, gee, peddy." What sort
Of obedience could a mule, horse or any
! other team render to a driver given
such directions? "Whoa" should
never be employed except when it is
desirable to have the team stop and
| stand still. If certain language is en-
ployed to signify certain movements a
team Will soon learn what is required of
/ them but when a teamster is inces-
sanity bawliDg "Whoa p' "Haw -
"Geef'' "Peddy I" or Whoa-gee 7"
f" Gee whoa or "Whoa back 4"
"Gee !" GolOng I" a team Will be
confused, fear will be excited, SO that
OK, horse nor mule will know what to
do more than run, if possible, from
/ such stupid driver. Many teamster5
seem to think it an important part
of driving to keep up a constant bawl-
ing at the team. Animals are not deaf.
A horse, OK or mule will obey much
more readily if he is commanded in a
low tone of voice. We have known
teamsters so addicted to the habit of
| hallOoing and bawIing at their teams that
we have frequently heard them, when a
full mile distant, all the day long, bawl,
bawl, bawl at the team. It is inexcusa-
bic for any teamster to allow himself to
become addicted to such an obnoxious
habit. Speak in a low and pleasant
tone of voice not only to teams, but to
mich COWS, calves, sheep and all other
| animals. Think for a moment, respect
ed reader, how you would feel or act
were you among the Hindoos without
being able to understand one word ad-
dressed to you, while they were talking
boisterously to you, swinging their
fists about your head and occasionally
giving you an unceremonious slap be-
cause you failed to do as they had di-
rected you IN Y Herald.