The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-03-14
voCABULAR1Es OF DOGS.

''How many words are there in the
vocabulary of the average dog?" ask
ed the man who takes considerable
interest in the canine tribe, and more
particularly in that class of dogs hav-
ing some training. Here is CUES
ton no man can answer certainly,
and yet believe we may get within
a reasonable range of the truth by
little reflection. Pet dogs as a rule
have much larger vocabulary than
any other kind. Trained dogs, the
kind we find with circuses and on the
stage, probably come second, and the
others are ranged along according to
the lives they lead. Dogs learn words
much more rapidly than we suppose.
In the first place, this animal is an
awfully close observer. Hearing
sound repeatedly it soon learns to as
sociate it with certain object. Take
the well-trained hound, for instance,
and he soon learns what is meant by
gun, shoot, hunt, deer, fox, chase,
and so on. Experienced hunters can
furnish many evidences of the under
standing of dogs when it comes to the
words and phrases most frequently
used in connection with the sport.
"Of course, all dogs become famil-
lar with the commands used in di-
recting them during the hunt, and
under other circumstances. A pretty
example of this fact is found in the
accuracy with which pointers and set
tiers do their work on the field. While
it cannot be claimed for hunting dogs
that they have extensive vocabulary,
they understand enough words to go
about their work intelligently, and at
times with precision that is little less
than marvellous. Pet dogs, poodles,
fox terriers and animals of this kind
have a more extensive vocabulary.
An illustration of this is found in
fox terrier belonging to Manager
rier of royal lineage, having come
from the hIug n~nn~io os.,a,.t~>1..
Few words in common use around
the house are beyond the understand
ing of this pet of Manager Bray and
his wife. The pet knows the name
of every article of furniture and cloth
ing in the house.
A few evenings ago test was
made for the purpose Of determining
the accuracy of the terriers under
standing of words. I want you to
walk on your hind feet to the front
room and bite Mr.. Bray on the ear
said a member of the household to
the pet. Forthwith the terrier was
off, and before Mr.. Bray knew any
thing about the plan the pet dog was
playfully pulling at his ear. Here
was rather intricate command. 1t
was not simply command to go. 1t
said how to go, where to go, what to
do, and to whom. But the terrier
understood perfectly. Now here is
dog having an extraordinary vocabu-
larry, understood, no doubt, no less
than $50 words. This one case will
show that the pet dog has a wider
understanding of words than dogs be-
longing to any other class, and there
is a reason for it, of course. They are
talked to all the time, and naturally
learn to associate certain sounds with
certain objects. 1t would be interest
ing to know what the average vocab-
ulary is among dogs, n d would
like to see some expert take the mat
ter up for the purpose of determining
more definitely just how many words
dogs definitely understand.
"That reminds me of another in
teresting thing i'll connection with
dog life, said listener, land that is
the fine sense of humor found in some
dogs. Here again we have to turn to
the pet dog as being the highest type
of humorist, both in the matter of
originating and in appreciating the
humorous things. I am not speaking
of the clownish dogs which we find
on the stage and with trained animal
shows. Dogs of this kind are train
ed for the purpose, and often pass
through these funny maneuveres
without feeling. They do it indiffer-
emily, mechanically. Spontaniety is
the spicy element of humor. like
the little prank, the little trick, or
some little bit of foolish dog decep-
ton that just bubbles out for the pure
sport of the thing, an act of amusing
deviltry, something laughably mis-
chievous. Acts of this sort are in6n-
itely more amusing than the more
complex performances of trained
dogs.
1--WE have a pet terrier at home
who is naturally dog humorist OF
the kind have in mind. The other
day he was in the room with me, and
was stretched out on the rug before
the fire. He heard my wife coming
down the hall. She was singing.
Like fash he was up and made a
break for the door through which my
wife would enter. He was quiet
about his movements, and was awful
ly careful not to make the least noise
He pulled himslef up in as small Z
bunch as possible and hid behind
parlor pillow which was on the hool
near the door. As my wife came
singing through the door he made
wild, desperate plunge at her, giving
loud, long yelp. Of course, my
wife jumped and gurgled out few
broken notes of the song she wa.
humming. The terrier simply haC