Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-21
HUMAN TRAITS COMMON
in DOGS, AUTHOR CLAIMS
Terhune Finds Crime, Love. Making,
Loyalty and Many Other Tendencies
Among Four-Legged Humanity"

are snobbish toward theiT brethren?'
l asked.
when a dog is a snob," said Mr..
Terhune, "he is much worse in his
snobbery than human being. Dogs
reduce snobbery to a fine art"
"Of course. in the human world we
have human beings who are with
drawn from the world because OF their
snobbish inclinations. others because
they are too intellectual and thinking
too much about deeper things to as
sociate with their less intellectual
kind, others who seem deficient So
cially and who are literally run away
from by those about them. Do we
have such types In the dog world?" /
queried.
Yes. there are dogs that are par.
ticularly bright and who keep to
themselves because of this differenti-
ating mark in their nature. They
seem to get no fun in doing what the
dog Of average intellect enjoys. They
keep aloof and act very proudly.
And, too. we have among dogs the
same kind of a social misfit as we find
among humans.
II have one dog right here in my
kennels. He is fine-looking animal,
in every way physically and mentally
attractive, and yet the other dogs just
won't have anything to do with him.
His appearance among them is a sig
nal for gradual exodus. And yet
dogs have. even when they dislike
intensely. sense of class loyalty that
is very human. l remember having
at one time two kittens and a collie
who were the best of friends. I
puppy. The other collie disliked the
puppy intensely. He growled at him
on every occasion and made life very
unpleasant for him.
One day. however, the puppy took
to playing with the kittens, who re.
ciprocated by both jumping on him
and menacing his sight with their
claws. Before could save the puppy
the collie who disliked him had made
one big leap and chased the kittens
of and under the porch. Like two
human beings who hate one another
intensely until in the presence of can
nibals. when one who has the chance
to escape risks his life merely to save
another human being. this dog had
Jumped In to save another of his kind.
From that day on the kittens refused
to have anything to do with the dog
who had betrayed them.
Other Characteristics.
"And here are a few more human
of dogs" said Mr.. Ter
hume. We have platonic friendships
among dogs. Sigurdson, one of nv
dogs, has just such a relation with
little Jean. Jean was about 5 years
old when he was born. But from his
puppyhood Sigurdson would leave his
mother and follow Jean. To this dav
Sigurdson worships little old Jean.
who is old enough to be his grand.
mother. He follows here around,
gives her bones, shows all the atten-
tlveness toward her Of the most duti-
ful and polite relative.
nave seen feminist dogs. I re-
member one in particular who would
nave nothing to do with male dogs.
She was very masculine in her actions.
And she had a cold stare by which
she seemed to rebuke other females
from caring bit for beaus or sweet.
hearts,"
You say they have criminal dogs,
How do they punish them?" 1 asked.
They have dogs who will steal bones
and who are not to be trusted. They
are usually punished by being ignored
by their fellow dogs. Social ostra.
clsm Is a heavy penalty in dogdom.
sometimes, however. an offender will
get too bad. Then dogs will nd
themselves together and kill the
bothersome one
What are the family relations
among dogs? Are dogs unfaithfulP
Do they care for their young and
grieve when they turn out wayward?"
I asked.
Paternal Bonds Differ.
Paternal bonds are different among
dogs from humans" said Mr.. Terhune.
Male dogs have little paternal spirit.
They don't feel any sentiment toward
their young and will even fight with
them. The female dog occasionally
has material feeling that lasts
through the life of her offspring. But
it is rare. We may think that dogs
are less domestic than human beings;
but we must. remember that our do
mestic ties. while written into custom.
are not so tight after ALL
DO you find dogs any better I'm
some traits of human nature than
mankind? Is there any justification
tC the statement of the cynic who said
The more l see of human beings the
better / like dogs'?"
That philosopher" said Mr.. Ter.
hume, must have been rejecting upon
the general treachery of those i'm life
WnOm you think to be your friends
Dogs have greater loyalty toward
those they love. You can kick your
own dog in the stomach. He will stink
away if he loves you. never even show
ing a tooth of resentment. He will
come back the next day without any
crouch and ready to be friends again.
though he will never forgive such
treatment from any one but his loved
master. You can't do that with human
friends. Most of them would be ready
for fight and general knitting. A
dog has higher sense of fairness and
The best type of dog
will not do anything low-attack a
weaker foe, steal behind your back.
hit you when you are down. Some of
the finest human nature we know of
runs on four legs" concluded Mr.. Ter.
hume.
Back in the doorway. as 1 rode away.
I could see the frame of a giant. pine
III hand. while before him GRAY Dawn
looked up eagerly with the firmest
friendship for him as one who under.
stands dogs.