Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-10-27
AN ANIMALS EDUCATION.
HOW FoUR-FoOTED CIRCUS PER
FORMERS ARE TAUGHT TRICKS.
In Which Horses, Elephants, Dogs
and Pigs are Trained.

- and see horses, elephants and
dogs perform wonderful tricks
must often ask themselves how
the animals are taught to do them. A
leading ring master supplies interest
ing information concerning horses.
''The horse" he says, CONTRARY to
general belief, is the most stupid ami
NAL on earth. He has only one fac
ulty-memory. Having forced tricks
into his head, you must use the short
whip when he resists, and give him
carrot when he obeys. Whips and
carrots form the secret of the trainer.
The horse must be from five to seven
years old Before that age he is too
spirited, after it his muscles are not
elastic enough.
"The first thing to do is to accus-
tom your horse to the ring, to mako
him run round regularly and then to
stop at given signal. To accomplish
this the animal is brought into the
ring. The trainer holds in his left
hand tether, which is passed into
the cavesson, kind of iron crescent
armed with sharp points fixed on the
nose of the horse. In his right hand
he holds the long whip. Behind the
animal an assistant with stout, short
whip is posted. The trainer calls on
the horse to start, and pulling his
tether and smacking his long whip
forces him to gallop round. If he re-
fuses the assistant uses his whip also.
If he is obedient he is rewarded with
q carrot. To make him stop short the
trainer cracks his long whip again,
while the assistant with his short whip
throws himself suddenly in front of
the animal, and the result is obtained.
"The horse has u great objection to
kneeling or lying down Mt any mo-
ment. This feat is taught by means
of iron bracelets placed on his ankles
and attached to tether held by the
trainer, who, by sudden jerks or pulls
as he Is moving, makes him fall or
kneel. The animal remembers the
lessons, md, by dint OF whip and car
rot, ultimately performs them at the
mere command of the trainer. The
horse is taught to dance to music
in the same way with the foot brace
let's"
With respect to dogs, celebrated
trainer, who is now exhibiting n
troupe of them, says their education
is a work of time and patience. Some
times it takes two years. 81 ueo
neither sugar nor whip" he informs
us. 81 take my dog in my hands, talk
to him and try to make him under
stand what he is to do. Iperform the
tricks myself, and the dogs follow and
initiate me" At present he is show
ing carriage dog which performs on
the single wire. II will tell you how
taught him to become an equilibrist.
/ made him first of all walk on II plank
which was balanced to and fro. The
plank was gradually reduced in width
every day and the movement accel-
Grated. At length the plank dwindled
down to narrow slip; this was re-
| placed by long, round stick, and ul-
timately the dog found himself on the
single wire" Strange to say this dog
is blind. Scent is the great quality
which enables dogs to perform some
tricks. For example, the poodles are
taught by their scent. The trainer
! touches the dominoes which the dog
has TO play, and the animal, smelling
them, picks them out from the rest
and plays them.
The pig is said to be the most diff
cult animal to train. A clown who ex-
hibits troupe of performing porkers
does not believe in learned pigs. They
are to be taught only by their weak
point, their gluttony. 'When | have
got my young pig" he says, 81 begin
on the principle that | shall obtain
nothing from him without satisfying
his appetite. feed him myself, and
during Il few days | vary his food III
order to find out what he likes best.
| As soon as have discovered his favorite
dish | deprive him OF it completely.
This dish is my great talisman. Tn,
chief pig | am now performing with
prefers beef fnt, put piece IN my
pocket. jump over hurdles and the
/ pig follows me, doing likewise, in thi'
way he learns his exercise and gets hi'
fat. 1 decrease the piece of fat every
| day and at last | give him nothing
Should he refuse 10 work ! thrash hin
/ till he does, aud having completed hi
performance | recompense hm with
his favorite meal.
The elephant, on the contrary Is ex
tremely intelligent, and bis education
would be easy hu, ion hi' cumbersome
weight, which forcestho fninef 30 have
recourse 30 cruel means. For IN
stance, o. make him raise and hold oni
his foot an iron ring with sharp points
is placed on Il, and being drawn hy =
rope the points enter the iiesh. Tn
elephant, feeling the pain, lifts up hi'
ioat aud keeps u ia the air till the pain
ceases After few repetitions he e
laembefs the pain, and AZ the sight %
the iron raises his foot Ills Instruction
thanks 10 his Intelligence, Ia soon com
f pieted Some elephants are taught u
lees than q fortnight toplaF on drum
work a tricycle., anl beg on theif hiHs
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