The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-13
EDUCATING THE CANNES
TIE FAD TO HAVE A TRICK DOG To
AMUsE YOUR WISH ORs.

TIE System of instruction ana tb,
Results That May be Rxpected-It
Not so Hard if Rightly Undertaken
(CopHt9htl
NEW YORK, April l1.-Educated dogs ar
becoming quite the fashion in New York
The society young men and women enrrus
their pets 10 professors of canine culture
and the requirements Of the beasts make n,
fog their owners DEFICIENCIES when there ar
callers to be entertained. Anfntelligent do,
can be trained in five or six mouths to a de-
gree Of development so high that a Fiftl
avenue dude is hardly fis companion fol
him, intellectually.
It hasn't yet become enough of a fad Z,
induce many men TO enter the ranks O.
canine instructors, and as a rule the worl
is done by some exhibitor of trained dogs
who may he laying Off for the season
With society women it is quite the thing Il
say: 81 taught dear little Fido all my owl
self and entirely by love-never SO much a,
boxed his ears"
When little Fido hears this, he lies dowr
and dies, if that trick is in his repertory
The spreak of this fancy is made slower
than it might otherwise be, by the popu-
iarity OF the pug dog. A pug doesn't dc
anything and is proud Of his Ignorance
He doesn't want to learn, and if YOU ham
mer a trick into his thick head he will al
ways do it just as badly as he can. l OBJ.
tanned this information from Prof, Harry
Parker, who exhibited the trained dogs al
the big show in Madison Square Garden.
He also gave me number of points about
the proper method Of conducting the edu-
cation of dog, which may be useful To
outsiders who desire to copy the latest New
York society fad and haven't an instructor
at hand. 1t isn't so hard a task, nor SO loag.
as one might suppose; and it's quite worth
Undertaking. for there's lots of fun to be
had with well trained dog, After the first
drudgery IS over, the work progresses
rapidly and the extent and variety of the
resulting amusement depends principally
upon the ingenuity of the trainer. But the
process must be gone through systematically.
1t is nearly useless to attempt to teach dog
spherical geometry in the first lesson.
After talking with Prof Parker began
to understand one Of my own early failures.
when l tried to instruct one of the most in
telligent Newfoundlands that ever-well, |
won't begin to lie about that dog. Suffice
1t to say that made no progress whatever.
be ause l never taught him the primary
lesson of obedience. That dog had no more
idea of high authority than New York
tough with pull" He would receive nv
instructions with contemptuous disregard
which was as much as to say, Ego learn a
few tricks yourself so that | can have a
proper respect for you.n l should have
made him understand that l was the master,
and then might have been.
The most difficult trick of all is to teach
dog to mind, and it is ordinarily made
nearly impossible by complicating the idea
with several others Let the obedience be
very simple at first, says the professor. Do
net try to train dog in a room full of
furniture or people. Take him, if possible,
to an entirely bare room. and let nobody
else in. Begin by teaching him to sit in a
certain place, aud not to leave until he IS
called. Make him come instantly when he
is spoken to, and return when he is COM
manded. Don't let his mind get away
from these fundamental necessities in the
course of a lesson, and do not experiment
with him aimlessly or allow anybody else to.
In connection with the work in the room
you may carry on an outdoor training
which is equally simple. Teach the dog to
walk with you. For this purpose tbs much
better to lead him by chain than to let
him run loose. Make him walk by your
side for while; then little behind you:
then a little ahead of you. Do not let him
pull hard on the chain, but teach him to
walk with steady gait.
OF course he will try to do everything
you don't want him to do ,at first. Simply
show him that he can't, but don't whip
him. Encourage him when he does we'll,
but not TO lavishly. AS to whipping, the
bad effects of 1t can never be overcome.
Not even those who who make training
dogs profession can break dog with
the whip, and prevent him from showing
the method of his education. He will hang
his head and carry his tail between his
legs whenever he is told TO do trick, and
the more you try to break him of the habit
the more persistently it will show itself
Teaching the dog to walk with the chain
is called 'chain breaking" and the best
men in the business regard it as an indis-
pensable rudi mentary exercise. When the
dog has learned this, and hiss also learned
to keep his seat until he is told to leave it.
and to go back to it promptly and cheerfully
when sent, the worst of the work is over.
1t should not require more than two months
with good dog, and the amount OF in
struction per day that his master would
ordinarily be willing to give.
Then begin with simple trick. A dog
trained to obedience will learn to shake
hands" in single lesson. Always use the
same form of words with each trick, and
piOuOunC6 Uu6Ll IL Is WOuu6T-
full how perfect will be his recognition of
the words after a little while, and how wide
vocabulary he can be given. When he
knows how to shake hands politely, let him
shut the door. This may be easily
taught by simply leading him up to
1t, and such other guidance as will con-
stantly suggest itself. Then you may teach
him to go lame. Make him walk slowly by
you; and as he goes, touch the leg in such
way as to give him the gait you desire. Be
careful not to hurt him. Three or four les
sons will give him good counterfeit limp
In fore leg,
Then he may die for his country" Pro-
nounce the words clearly and then roll him
over into the proper position. If he.is a
bright dog he will "catch on" quickly, and
may very likely surprise you by clever lit
Tie poses which show how truly he has
grasped the idea. Probably he doesn't
Know that he is counterfeiting death, but
ne percelves that an apparent entire sus-
pension OF animation and a general air Of
detection are required of him.
For saying ais prayers pose him in chair
with his head upon his forepaws. He can
soon be taught to take that position. Then
stand behind him with your hand a couple
OF inches above his head. Every time he
htts his head, press it back again. Call out
various orders likely to make him raise
ms head and catch him every time he does
IL. Then say Amen" and take your hand
away. 1t isn't hard to make hun under
stand that that is his eicruoI If UotIiva triad