Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-02-03
HOW 4 DOG WAS EDUCATED.


When the writer was youngster,
says correspondent of the Turf, Field
and Farm, he traded pair of chickens
for puppy dog that was precoc.ous
at six months old, and we named him
Pete. One of the first things | now
remember Of him at that time was his
killing sheep. So soon as the lights
were put out in the house he would go
into the sheep-fold near by, leading
the lambs about by the ears, and bang
would go the sheep against the fence,
We would light the lights, go ont and
the dog would be in his kennel o. X.
After a while we detected the rascal
with wool hanging to his teeth and
blood on him. The old gent said |
should kill him, but subscriber demurred
and proposed TO experiment with him
Tied him TO monstrous horned buck
Oh the barn floor and hid away to
watch results. The buck pretty nearly
knocked holes of daylight through him.
and So cured him that he would never
look sheep in the face again. Next
we were thrashing oats on the barn
floor and cattle in the yard kept troub>
ling all day. So we called the young
dog and ordered him to keep them out.
That night they worked the doors open
and in the morning we found Pete
there, master of the situation, with
two COWS over in the bay. Then
learned him to lead horses to water,
carry fork OF pail, roll a barrel and
perform q la circus generally; and
always accompanied me in setting
traps for muskrats, one or two miles
from home, and always brought one
home for me. One rainy day | did
not visit the traps and Pete went down
alone, pulled out one from trap and
brought it home minus leg and laid
il down on the doorstep, and when l
went out looked up as much as to say,
wagging his tail, CANT I done it?"
Next learned him the word ''Gnd" p
as all dumb brutes are taught one word
at time Would shut him IN another
room, put piece Of meat in mitten,
let him in, show him the meat and ask
bin to find it. First put it in simple
place, then in wood box, up in clothes
hanging against the wall, and he would
climb up in chairs and all about till
found Then gave him the meat and
patted him approvingly, and IN this
way he soon understood what fad
meant Harsh usage and whipping
makes fools of them Then would
throw away my whip in the furrow
and he would 60 clear round the land
to find it: then fed him and finally
could send him two or three miles
back On any road to find whip pros
,ided he knew the road I had travelled.
Taught him to bring the cows mile
or two away, day or night. Would
20 into the lot, give bark, and the
bovines would all march for home
One dark, rainy night sent him
o. Fl or tho nauc op1 Iaorra1 OF
they bad not been turned into the lot,
Lut left in the road. The dog searched
over the lot, and then hunted the roads
ill he found them-so one Of our
neighbors reported-on cross road
mile away.
Fearing that he might kill sheep, we
moved West, kept hotel and brought
along the dog, which always attended
the barn and allowed travellers to go
about it, but not into the granary or
take anything of value. A certain
darkey would never come there, day or
night, without halloing to as to shut up
that dog. The reason was, he had
many nightly encounters with him
when he was trying TO fish out" our
meat from the cistern and back
windows, and spirit away. Lastly he
saved the writer being robbed by a
Iighwayman. I had been collecting,
and was stopped by foot-pad, who
got in with me in twelve-mile woods.
At the halt Pete came along, and ]
invited him to ride, and told him to-
turn round and face the company and
show him his teeth, which lie did The
robber tried to make friends with him
hut all TO no purpose, and he SO ins
undated him that your subscriber got
cut of the wood in safety. The man
was afterward killed in an attempt to
LIB.
CIV has are your resources?' asked a