The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-10-30
~ LID MAN NEGLEY had prom
ised Colonel Prouse to come to

~ LID MAN NEGLEY had prom
ised Colonel Prouse to come to
the colonel's Vine street house,
after work hours, to begin the educa-
ton Of his six-month collie pup.
The colonel had made false start
in this education by losing his temper
at the puppy. Thus for the first few
minutes after his own arrival in the
Prouse yard. Old Man Negley content
ed himself with romping with the
youngster and feeding him bits Of
cracker from capacious side pocket.
The little collie was in gay and
friendly mood by the time the old man
tstill in the same tone as when they
had been playing), said to him:
"Lie down."
He accompanied the words by a
softly steady pressure Of his gnarled
hand on the pups loins. Bit by bit,
under that friendly pressure, the pup
by sank to a sitting posture; Old Man
Negley continuing to repeat over and
over:
H.. AAG OOWhs AIAC uOWus 4IIS uOWus
AS the collie seated himself, the
pressing hand was shifted to his shout
ders; the old man never ceasing to re-
peat: "Lie down."
AS at last, under this light pressure,
the puppy's forefeet slid forward and
he lay at full length. Old Man Negley
praised him extravagantly and noisily
petting him and feeding him more Tits
of sweet cracker.
The collie realized he himself had
done some highly praiseworthy thing
even if he did not yet know what that
thing was. And, being full Of vanity,
he was tremendously pleased with
himself.
A second and a third and fourth
time the old man repeated the per-
Torrance Of making the dog lie down,
by pressing alternately his loins and
shoulders and by saying the same
words over and over again; ever re-
warding the completion Of this by
much praise and by fragments Of food.
Inside Of ten minutes it began to
dawn on the clever baby's mind that
the act Of lying down had something
to do with all this praise and petting.
Wherefore, in an experimental fash
ion, he proceeded to lie down at Old
Man Negley's command. The old man
was dramatically loud in his delight
at so wonderful performance.
On his next order to lie down, the
puppy eagerly dropped to the ground.
And the praise and the feeding were
repeated.
"That's all for today" announced
Old Man Negley. "We won't make
him do it again; but wen stop while
he's still proud of himself and while
it's stunt and not yet chore. I'll
be around tomorrow"
On the next day the young collie
lay down the second time he was bid
den to, and after a single hand pres
sure. He did the same thing five
times. in intervals of romp, during
the next quarter hour
He knows it. now, colonel" re-
ported Old Man Negley. "Tell him to
do it about three times day for the
next week. BY that time it'll be rooted
in his mind for life.
The following afternoons lesson
was given up to teaching the puppy to
shake hands,
This was far easier Of achievement; !
since the offering of friendly paw
is one of puppy's natural gestures.
Sitting in front Of the collie, Old
Man Negley would pick up one fore
paw, repeating "Shake hands. Shake
hands. Shake hands," throughout the
operation; and then giving the former
need of praise and food
After the third attempt. the puppy's
attention began to wander. At once
the old man fumbled In his pocket for
food and gave the collie a stick to
race after.
In another few minutes, he recon-
menced the lesson. And, in short time,
the collie was shaking hands to order
with the effusiveness of a politician.
BY the end of the fourth lesson the
dog had not only mastered these. first
two tricks, but was going through
them with the conceited delight of a