Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-05-24
How DOCS ARE TRAINED.
An Old Circus hIan Tells How Canir
AerobRts and clowns Are Made.

an Old Circus Man Tells How Canir
Aerobats and clowns Are Made.
Prof. Burton, who has troupe
clever dogs at the Eden Musee, Is a
old circus man. He used to be tuu
bier in the ring. There comes a da
in the life of every circus tumbler whe
be must quit the business and 90 int
something else. Burton went to trair
ing dogs. He has been in various con
panies, but is now on his own hook
lie had valuable troupe of dogs
New York, but somebody poisoned them
The professors present family of dog
consists of Italian greyhounds. Germa
poodles a Russian poodle, a Russia
spaniel, a liver-aud-white spaniel,
spitz, black dog that does the somer
sault act. and several others.
There is no dog" said the professor
(which can't be taught a trick of som'
sort. OF course there are some dog
that learn quicker than others, anC
more tricks, Well, there is no tricl
about it that l ever knew. 1t takes pa
thence, and Judgment and kindness.
seldom use the whip, and never in Civ
ing instructions. In fact, have to be
very cautious. The other day two o
my family got into a squabble. sep
arated them, but with trouble. In do
ing so had to cut one of them with the
whip. That fellow is heart-broken. lie
has had the sulks ever since. He won't
eat and he won't act. I've got to send
him away for few days.
"A dog should be at least a year old
before training. l select different
breeds lor different acts. The grey
hound is a natural leaper. The spaniel
is trickster. The spitz is clown. The
black dcg-the black and tan one-isl
the acrobat.
''Under ordinary circumstances the
average dog will learn his tricks in five
weeks. Then the test comes when he
goes on the stage the first time. Talk
about people having stage-fright! I've
known dogs when brought on the stage
for the first time make break and run
away and tremble like frightened
child. When they getused to it, though,
they like the stage, and the more APP
plause they get the better they act.
You may think that is stretching it, but
It is fact that trick-dogs do better if
they are applauded, and this is espe-
clally true If the-applause comes from
children.
'These trick-dogs know their places
on the stage and take their cue from my
looks. They are as eager for the show
to begin as children are for play. This,
| think, is instinct, for any body could
70 on the stage with them if he knew the
words to speak and the motions to make,
and the dogs would go through the same
programme they go through with me.
IL keep them in cages after the show.
Every morning at $50 l take them out
for exercise. They are fed twice day
i'm the morning and after the show at
night. This troupe consumes about
fifteen loaves of bread and large size
market basket of cooked meat every
day.
''They never forget trick. Ilaid of
some months ago and sent the dogs to
the country. l had a vacation of sew
eral weeks-me aud the dogs. When |
returned to the stage with them they
went through every part without a
break. There is good feeling between
the members of the present family.
They are healthy and full of fun.
There isn't cynic in the lot."-Chicago
Tribune