Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-28
Reasoning Power of the Dog.
wythevllIe, Va, December q, 1881.

Wythevile, Va, December q, 1884,
To the Editor OF the Dispatch
In common with great many others, l
found great pleasure and entertainment
in reading the articles which recently ap-
peared in the columns OF your paper from
the pen of Major Stiles. giving an interest
ing history OF the peculiarities OF different
dogs he had owned. He writes upon the
subject as only one who really and truly
loves a dog can do; and 1t may please
and recompense him to know that he has
the sincere thanks of many-both young
and old--for placing on record these
happy contributions. Indeed, | am not
quite sure but that IL would prove both
pleasant ana profitable to him II he were
to print them in book form. In this
shape particularly If they were well
illustrated). the little volume would form
an ideal holiday gift for our boys.
Their perusal recalled to my mind an
instance of the dogs capacity to reason
which came under my own observation,
some years ago, and which, / think, Is
well worth relating.
A friend Of mine, living on New river.
in an adjoining county, was the fortunate
owner OF a superb black setter, called
Don" He was q splendid dog In the
field, and by far the best retriever ] ever
shot over. While we were hunting one
day in the low-grounds near the bank of
the river, gang Of wild ducks alighted
in the stream within shooting-distance
from where we stood. My companion at
once fired into them killing one and
wounding another so that it could not
fly. The current Of water was some
what rapid, but about one hundred yards
below a small island had formed. Don,
who, by the way, seemed to revel I'm
water, was at once sent out into the
stream to bring the game ashore. But
when he attempted the task, he was
greatly perpleXed. He could not mouth
both OF the ducks at one time. for the
wounded bird would escape from him
every time he attempted TO take up the
other one. He evidently saw Il would
not do to come out with only one and
leave the other; for If he left the wound
ed one 1t would hide and escape before
he could swim to the bank and then re-
turn for it, and If he brought the wounded
duck first the current would soon carry
the dead duck beyond recovery. He made
several Intellectual efforts, seemingly, TO
solve the problem how 10 save both
birds before he succeeded in accomplish
ing the task, and by this time the water
had floated the ducks close to the island
This was Don's opportunity and he
grasped the situation at once. Selling the
dead duck. he swan rapidly to the upper
point OF the island and laid it down on
the sand, and then dashed into the water
again in pursuit of the disabled one. He
soon overlook and captured It, and at
once struck out for the bank of the
stream, where we were standing AS
soon as he reached us he went to his
master who received the game from him.
Instantly, when this was done, he plunged
into the stream again, and, reaching the
Island. took up the dead duck, which he
had just before deposited there for safe
keeping. and, boldly stemming the cur
rent, he again reached us with his trophy.
He was pretty well tired out by this
time, but / don't think / ever saw any
animal show as much animation In his
face and acts as did Don when he handed
up this last duck. He seemed TO know
and appreciate the fact that he had done
the only rational and sensible thing that
was open TO him, under the circumstances
and that he fully deserved the plaudit of
We'll done, good DOM Well done. old
boy that came from both our lips as
we caressngly patted his head.
Yours truly, j. T. III,