The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-02-12
VOCABULARIES OF DOGS.
Terrier That Il Believed to Know
$50 Words, a. Many ~ some
Men Have.

"How many words are there in the
vocabulary of the averagedog?" asked
the man who takes considerable inter-
est In the canine tribe, and more par
ticularly in that class of dogs having
some training, reports the New Or
leans Nmes-Democrat. Here Is a
| question no man can answer certainly,
and yet believe you may get within .
reasonable range Of the truth by lit
tie reflection. Pet dogs as rule have
a much larger vocabulary than any
other kind. Trained dogs, the kind we
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 aw-
fully close observer. Hearing sound
repeatedly itsoon learns to associate it
with a certain object. Take the we'll
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 understanding
of dogs when 1t comes to the words
and phrases most frequently used in
connection with the sport.
"Of course, all dogs become familiar
with the commands used in directing
them during the hunt, and under other
circumstances. 4 pretty example of
~. l. In, ha
curacy with which pointers and set
tiers do their work on the field. While
1t cannot be claimed for hunting dogs
that they have very extensive vo-
cabulary, they understand enough
words TO go about their work intelli-
gently, and at times with precision
that Is little less than marvellous. Pet
dogs, poodles fox terriers and animals
| Of this kind have more extensive vo-
cabulary. An illustration Of this is
found In a fox terrier belonging to
Manager Bray, of the Orpheum the
alter. terrier Of royal lineage, hav-
ing come from the kings kennels at
Buda-Pesth. Few words in common
use around the house are beyond the
understanding of this pet of Manager
Bray and his wife. The pet knows the
name of every article of furniture and
clothing in the house.
"A few evenings ago a test was made
for the purpose of determining the
accuracy of the terriers understand
ing Of words. 4 want you to walk on
your hind feet to the front room, and
bite Mr.. Bray on the ear said men,
Der Of the household to the pet.
Forthwith the terrier was off. and be-
fore Mr.. Bray knew anything about
the plan the pet dog was playfully
pulling at his ear. Here was rath-
erintricate command. 1t was not simply
a command to 60. 1t said how to go,
where to go, what to do, and to whom.
But the terrier understood perfectly.
| Now here Is a dog having an extraor-
| dir a-y vocabulary. understanding, no
doubt. no less than $50 words. This
one case will show that the pet dog
has . wider understanding of words
than dogs belonging to any other class,
and there is reason for 1t, of course.
| They are talked to all the time, and
naturally learn to associate certain
sounds with certain objects. 1t would
be interesting to know what the aver
| age vocabulary is among dogs, and /
| would like to see some expert take the
matter up for thepurpose OF determin-
ing more definitely just how many
words dogs definitely understand"
| "That reminds me of another inter
esting thing in connection with dog
| life," said listener, "and 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 approaching the
humorous things. am not speaking
Of the clownish dogs which we find on
the stage, and with trained animal
shows. Dogs Of this kind are trained
for the purpose, and often pass
through these funny maneuvers with
out feeling. They do II indifferently
mechanically. Spontaneity is the
| spicy element Of humor. I like the
dog that Is spontaneously funny. !
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 anus
ing deviltry, something laughably mis-
chievous. Acts Of this sort are in
finitely more amusing than the more
| complex performances of trained dogs.
"We have pet terrier at home who
is naturally dog humorist of the kind
l 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 a
fash he was up and made break for
the door. through which my wife
would enter. He was quiet about his
movements. and was awfully careful
not to make the least noise. He pulled
himself up In as small bunch as pos
sible and hid behind a parlor pillow
which was on the floor near the door.
As my wife came singing through the
door he made a wild, desperate plunge