Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-12-03
sHARPEsT DOG IN TENNESSEE.
Remarkable Exhibition of Intelligence by
Pet Canine of Shepherd Breed.

Remarkable Exhibition of Intelligence by
Pet Canine of Shepherd Breed.
The tricks and feats that Nip can
perform are beyond credibility, but
| they are vouched for by responsible
parties, who will wager that Nip can
perform all the seeming impossibilities
claimed for him. He can jump dis
tance of twenty-five feet from posi-
ton fifteen feet in height; rolls a baby
buggy or barrel; spells his name, Nip,
by barking; plays 81 spy with any
body, and it takes good one to hide
from him. He can catch ball at a
distance of seventy-five feet. Nip can
perform other extraordinary feats, chief
among which is his love for singing and
playing. He mounts the piano-stool with
all the grace of a polished scholar, runs
his paws over the keys, throws his head
back in singing posture, and gives
vent to his hymnnl feelings in prolonged
bowls, which are either high or low, as
may be his sympathy. When Mrs. Bruce
plays Nip comes in, and he will not be
satisfied until he is allowed to play. too.
He does other tricks which are per-
formed by circus dogs and painted in
huge advertisements all over the coun-
try. He can pick out any card from the
deck from the ace to the ten, and he
plays ball enthusiastically and with ap-
parent delight. Nip is very fond Of
apples, and when shown a basketful
always picks out the choicest one of the
lot for himself. When sent after per-
sons, no matter at what distance, he
invariably returns with them, and he
h,sxr Ill L. 80 x-%s II III
common, however, with any intelli-
gent dog. Passing a lake one day
Mr.. Bruce threw a stick in the water,
which floated under sunken boat
and lodged there. Nip went in, but
failed to get it. At the second COM
mand he lay down at his masters feet
aud stubbornly refused to go. Finally
he plunged in and dived beneath the
sunken boat, remaining under the
water some minutes, but when he
made his appearance he held the stick
tightly clutched in his teeth.
Nip had companion once, a little
rat terrier, on which, when he was
brought to Mr.. Bruce's house a mere
puppy, the shepherd looked with plain
contempt and disgust, as much as to
say; "You don't call that thing a
dog?" But afterward they became
firm friends, and when the little dog
died Nip lay beside him, whining as if
his heart would break. He would look
at the little fellow, place his paw ten
derby upon him, and look up at his
master with almost human sorrow in
his eyes.
Once when Mr.. Bruce was passing his
pig-pen Nip leaped in and ran the hogs
about. He came out at Mr. Bruce's
command, but leaped in the second
time, and the third time, and when Mr.
Bruce saw strange pig crawl out of
the pen he understood why Nip was SO
excited.
Nip is great lover of ball-play1ng,
and rag ball was made for him. On
visit to town one day Nip lost his ball,
and week later, when passin near
the spot, Mr.. Bruce asked him where
his ball was. Nip turned, and seeming
around few moments. found it under
some lumber. A gentleman afterward
confessed that he himself had hidden it.
Nip was renowned as the sharpest dog
in Kentucky while his master resided
at Princeton, and he will probably hold
his honors in Tennessee Nashville
A