The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1886-12-16
TRAINING A DOG.

ana Praise, 0hOulo b0 Brought Into Con.
stant Play.
There never was a boy who owned a
dog who did not endeavor to teach his
pet some tricks Of one kind or another.
Oftentimes this training goes no further
than the familiar ''shake hands," or
..give me your paw" which is o part
of the education Of every well-bred
canine. Others, however, are more
ambitious, and the dog is made to play
dead, to jump over stick, to fetch and
carry, to hold piece of bread on the
end of its nose, and at signal from its
master to throw the bread into the air
and catch It In Its mouth when 1t falls.
Not many years ago I was deeply
interested in the education of O re-
markably intelligent little skye ter
rier, and while revolving in my
own mind how to make him un-
derstand that when told him to turn
round three times, he was to do it Just
three times, and not to 90 twirling
across the floor like teetotum, /
CHANGED to meet the proprietor of a
number of trained dogs which were
performing In town, and in the course
of several conversations had with him
l learned many of what are popularly
called the secrets Of training animals.
'.Much depends upon the dog, but
more upon the trainer" he said. 'Some
dogs are like some people they are SO
stupid that they can be taught nothing,
but these instances are very rare. The
teacher must be patient, firm and good
natured. Never whip dog unless he
is ugly or obstinate. 1t Is great deal
more satisfactory to have q dog "a
through his performance cheerfully and
because he really likes 1t than through
fear Of the whip. 1he easiest exhibition
trick Q dog can be taught is jumping
through . ring. This is done by coax.
ing him to jump through when It is he d
only q few inches from the floor. After
he has done this . number of times
raise the ring q few inches, and so on
hut never make the lessons too long. I,
is better to practice often than to make
the dog repeat trick after It has beer
satisfactorily performed better pet hin
and make much of him than 90 on tt
something else. A dog which has beer
properly treated is very fond of praise
and understands quickly enough by tht
voice and manner whether he has wor
the appreciation Of the audience or not
There 10 dog" he added, pointing
to Q rather Aggod-lo0king spaniel II
tho corner, (which seems to be made
almost oraxy by the applause Of ar
audience. He will 90 through his par,
of the performance as long a. the audi.
cnce claps, and when called off thl
okn hn 10 hn inc sok
upon going on again, and dances
around on his hind-feet in frenzy o
excitement. When. on the contrary.
the audience are not sufficiently enthus
iastic to suit his notions, he limps of
the stage with his ears hanging dowl
dejectedly. and absolutely refuses to g
on again.
wonderful to the audience are tricks o
the performer; for example. tell ON
of my dogs to bow three times; he keep
one eye on my finger. which Is away
from the audience. move my finger
he bows; he 0beys the finger, not tn
words. A dog can be taught to Ii
down dead. and 1t is just as easy t
teach him to drop at the word bang!
as it is to order him in any other way
1t Is an amusing addition to this tricl
to teach him not to get up until tn
trainer calls out 'rats!' and one can us
all sorts Of persuasion and he will NO
move.
'.But It would be impossible to Civ
even Q list of the tricks dog can b
taught, much more to attempt to d.
scribe them. There is no limit to th
number of things an INTEL gent dog ca
be made to do. All It needs Is patience
perseverance, and praise ON the part Z
the teacher. Always persuade. II po.
sible; never drive when It can be avoiG
ed. and you will lind that you will hav
but little difficulty In teaching all 20
want him to learn. Allan F0rnson
in Harper's Young People.