The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-11-11
The Biting Cog.

lie DUNG GOSS
If vicious dogs used more discrimina
ton in selecting victims to sample, they
would be more popular than they are.
AS it Is, there is a general prejudice
quite as liable to hang themselves up by
the teeth on the person of well-dressed
alderman of good family as upon the
anatomy of Il dsreputable tramp or an
obnoxious organ grinder. Nobody really
enjoys being bitten by dog. Besides
the lurking dread of possible hydropho-
bia, it hurts to tow a dog along by his
teeth, which he has inserted in your per-
son for that purpose. Why should
gentleman pull dog along the street,
when the animal is well and able to walk?
The biting dog is a nuisance on general
principles. He lies about the house as if
he were the landlord, and was trying to
rent it. Apparently the biting dog is
harmless. He usually makes out that he
is asleep, but he is more apt to deceive
than an unloaded gun. Very frequently
he will wag his tail and strike up an &C
quaintance with tramp who has invaded
the premises with burglarious intent,
and, perhaps, the very same day, he will
bite chunk out of some dear friend of
the family. from whom you expected to
borrow money. Like the proverbial I'M
loaded gun, he is never in working order
when there are thieves and burglars
about, but when he does bite, he is GER
tain to hurt somebody who does not need
it. The average biting dog is almost as
uncertain as the result of a county con-
vention.
However, people will keep dangerous
dogs on their premises, hence it behooves
prudent persons to know how to act when
a vicious, ignorant brute of dog tries to
swallow them alive. There are some
rules which, if observed, will prevent the
atfectionate animal from becoming too
closely attached to your person. The
first thing you must do when dog comes
at you with his mouth open, as if he ex-
pected you to feed him is not to run. As
there is a great deal of dog in man,
just so there is great deal of human ia
ture in dogs. If you run they will be-
come furious, but if you remain on the
spot, as if it belonged to you, the dog
will very frequently change his mind,
and, wagging his continuation, indica-
tive that he wants you to pat him on the
head, and say good doggy, pretty
doggy"
Above all things, we repeat, never run
from vicious dog. The first impression
man has when a big dog comes at him
with hostile intent is to run. If he fol-
lows that inclination the next i'm preston
he will receive will be from the dogs
mastcating apparatus, which is always
in excellent working order. If the man
who is in danger from the canine will
only reflect, and hold brief caucus with
himself, so to speak, he will perceive
that he is at disadvantage in the COM
ing race. If he will count the dogs legs
and then count his own he will become
convinced that the dog, as is almost al
ways the case, has a clear majority Of
two to one in the convention, hence the
man had better come out in a card, sta
ting thatin order to promote harmony in
the party he will not run.
A gentleman who has given the sub
ject close attention furnishes the follow
ing campaign plan to avoid being bitten
by vicious dog. which we, in all seri-
business, publish for the benefit of those
of our readers who may be interrupted
by biting dog while they are stealing
tirewood, or are in neighbours yard
for any other improper purpose:
'If you enter lot where there is
vicious dog, be careful to remove YOUR
hat or cap as the animal approaches you,
hold the same down by your side, be-
tween yourself and the dog. When you
have done this you have secured perfect
immunity from an attack. The dog will
not attack you if this advice is followed.
Such is my faith in this policy that
will pay all doctor bills from dog bites,
and funeral expenses for deaths from
hydrophobia. 1t is the unknown danger
the dog does not like to meet"
Why the dog refuses to bite the man
who carries his hat in his hand, we are
unable to say, but such is the fact, new
ertheless. Perhaps the intelligent and
appreciative animal is disarmed by the
politeness of the intruder in removing
his hat, or, may be, the dog becomes
paralyzed at the idea of the intruder
taking up a collection for some charita-
BILE purpose. TeEQS SiftinqS.