, 1888-04-12
THE BLACK PUP PETER.
A VERMONT DOG THAT CAN DO ALMOST
ANYTHING But TALK-soME OF Uis
rItTE TRICKS


There is very clever dog in Mon
ipol,e., W., belonging to Joseph Al
mop and the Boston Globes CORES
pOn.lonL went to see him the her
day.
The dog was year old last July, is
: a full bluoded English bull terrier,
; weighs lorty-three pounds, and is as
black as ~ ravens wing, only two
snlull white spots--betwcen his for.
ward legs and under lis throat break
ing he jettnuss Of his coat. The dog
was rai cd BY Mr., Almon, and the or-
ly limo thai has been devoted to his
education has been IN he evening,
after Mr.. Almou has finisned his day $
work.
Mr.. Almon spoke to the dog, which
was lying apparently asleep, s'ying
III an ordinary tone o. volce: Peter, l
want To speak to you."
The dog at once irotted across the
room, und standing on his hind legs,
turntd his ear 10 his masters mouth.
rhe I'M 1uc ion "GO and take your
Chairl" was whispered to him so low
that no one in the room could hear,
but il was evidtNt that the dog under
stood, for he at once trotted to IL chair
and took IL scat.
A sco-saw, consisting of board
twelve feet long, b lanced on u full
crum eighteen inches high, was tin IL
| produced, aud to n waltz Peter teeier-
ed with as much apparent enjoyment
us any child. A barrel with straight
stav, $. two feet loug, eighteen inclRs
N and Wai frI, uh,rt
thirty pounds, was next brought out
and placed ut the end of the see saw.
At the word OF command Peter, who
had been sittin in his chair, calmly
contemplating proceedings,pl placed
his forepaws the barrel aud rolled
1t up the incline until it passed the
center, and then carefully held it
while it rolled slowly down the other
side. To indicate the quick intelli
gence of the dog it may be sta ed that
he has been given but two lessons IN
The trick prior to performing it in the
lr, sence Of the writer. The see-saw
was removed and Peter was called to
mount The barrel. He rolled it across
the room and back again without
changing his position, the latter feat
heing something that is very seldom
done, even uy the most thoroughly
trained dog.
Hi m,sler then said: "Feter, what
Go the boys do to'the girls"
With what seemed to be almost a
mischirv'us twinkle of the eyes, the
dog walkeL across the room on his
hind feet, placed his forepaws around
his masters neck, and dainty kissed
him on one cheek.
The writer was asked TO designate
which paw he would have the dog
shake hands with, and he at once
named the LIFT. Without the slightest
motion Of hand or body Peter WAS
requested to present his lett paw, and
obeyed with far less hesitation than
may be seen in the eases of hundreds
of men. Later, whem there cnld be
no chance to think he would he in
ilueuced by rotation of acts, he was
suddenly asked to 'shake" with the
right raw, when he put forth the pro-
per forefoot at once.
His master put on his wraps and
went out doors for n moment, tho dog
in the meantime sitting in his chair. I
The moment th,t Mr.. Almon entered
the door Peter rushed to meet him. and
without II word having been said, stood
upon his hind feet, took his masters
hat from his head, and carefully car
ried it to a table. He then returned
and removed the masters gloves and
placed them with tn hat. His master
then announced that it was time for
prayers. whereupon Peter devoutly
knelt beside chair, dropped his head
upon his forepaws across the seat, and
remnined in that position until
"Amen" was said.
Calling the dog up in front of him,
Mr.. Almon said: "Peter, what would
you do if you We're shot - AS quick
rs IA fash the knowing brute dropped
TO the floor, where he lay limp and APP
parently llfeless until informed that
his illustration was sufficiently lucid.
He then performed the difficult feat of
standing perfectly still, erect on his
hind feet; then without putting down
his forcfeet, he settled TO his launches,
rose up erect. aud lat down again, re
pc ting the operation several times.
His master then, while looking away !
moan the object, said: ''Peter, will |
you bring me the whip?" The request |
WAS obeyed much quicker than most |
would have obeyed it. He |
performed many miner tricks, like /
swiftly THROWN ball, rolling |
over, sneezing, tossing up bread with !
his nose and catching it, jumping
through twelve-inch hoop three feet |
from the ground, etc. Mr.. Almon is
constantly teaching him new tr' 'cks.
1t might be suspected that the tricks
had been performed in regular order
20 many times that the dog had learned