Connecticut western news., 1888-07-11
TRAINING ANIMALS.
Qualities Requisite in Training
 Dumb Brutes.
Acrobatic Dogs, Bibulous Goats
 and Singing Geese.

Washington Star, troupe of persor m- ing dogs attracted much attention. Professor J. w. Hampton, tho ownv,t and trainer of the performing ( $, when questioned by the reporter ut his dogs and his method of trbe g them, said: "This business of mi, | is one of tho most interesting In tho world. Few are in it, for tho simple reason that few people possess the kuack of imparting knowledge to dumb animals. Some folks might try to train a dog forever and accomplish nothing.'
 ''What qualities mutt man possess in order to be good traincr9' asked the reporter.
 ''In the first place." said tho Profess sor, "nuch decision of character, a strong will-power, and cheerful, pleasant voice. Of all things the will plays the most important part. It is by it's use that animals may be most easily trained"
 'How do you commence to train anil mals2' asked the reporter.
 Taking a dog year old, for in stance, first teach him to mind. This might take six and even ten lessons, but don't start out to train dog before you teach him to mind you. After he understands you are his master and must be obcyed, commence to teach him to sit up. Hold him in the correct DO. sition against tho wall, show him what you want done, and concentrate your mind upon his doing it. When he has learned to sit up, try him standing on his hind legs. This will come very easily to him. Then comes the waltz you'll find that very hard, but persevcr- ance and judicious training will accom- plish even that Teaching him to jump is tho next thing and supplement this with leaping, if he be alarge dog. Now, there are great many people, con- tinued the professor, who try to teach a dog to jump by holding piece of meat on the other side of cane and bidding the dog to get it. That's wrong and will ruin good dog ia little while. If you want to train dog to jump, show him what you want him to do, and by little patience you will see him perform the trick with ease and pleas ure. When a dog goes through his part of tho programme in sluggish manner it is only question of few days when he will shirk it altogether. ]"
 ''You train monkeys also, don't youa" asked the reporter.
 "Yes," said the Professor ''monkeys, geese, cats, goats, dogs, rats-in fact, can teach almost every thing"
 'How about monkeys; are they hard to train?"
 "Well, yes. There are great many people who think that monkeys are very easy to train, but thatis mistake. They will probably do what you want them two or three times all right, but they soon forget. E, These monkeys, " continued the Professor, 'tare great druukards. This one," pointing to a wee bit of one clinging to the clown dogs tail, ''is drunk even now."
 The reporter looked, and sure enough the little fellow had strange glare in his eyes, and was trying his best to dis locate tho chain that bound him to the box.
 'sBut the greatest drunkards in the animal world" sail the Professor, Care goats. havc ono that is very good performer, knowing how to count, stand up, jump through fire and do many other tricks, but ho knows how to drink beer better than anything. But come this way and I will show you the great est trained animal ever known"
 The Star man followed and in a pri- vate room saw full grown goose strid- ing around. The Professor was greeted with series of discordant cries. The goose was once wild one and shot in Canada. The Professor passing bought her and took her to the theatre where he was giving an exhibition. It was hero the thought of training her first presented itself and in less than six weeks, old "Moutry' '-that's her name could count, add, subtract, multiply, divide, tell the day of the week, hour, in fact, could do almost anything with figures.
 "Her greatest act," said tn, Profes- sor, "is sing ing. I claim that this goose can sing song, giving the proper pitch and I'll prove it."
 Taking the goose he placed him upon a small stool and gave the key. h. stant:y the goose threw up her head and quac,zcd out tho air of cover the Fence Is Out" There was cat that followed the goose all around tho room and when the reporter inquired about her accom- plishmcnts, the Professor said:
 'Im just training her. I am going to try to teach her to sing, and then by few additions have chorus of ami m,ls. Any one," said the Professor, 'can train dog-that is, to certain extent"
 'How?" queried the scrib,.
 ''Procurc your dog. If possible, pick out one that in your judgment is intel ligcnt. You can easily do this by look ing him in the eye'. Teach him, as have told you, to know and realize that you are his master and must be obeyed The rest will follow. Don't whip him