Learning About Dogs Through Stories 2

DOGS can be taught to perform many tricks, especially if taught while they are young. There is an old saying that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. While this is doubtless quite largely true, the very saying implies that a young dog can be taught new tricks. Therefore, if you wish your dog to " perform," teach him while he is young.

Without difficulty, the author taught his dog, "Ted" both to shake hands and to roll over when told. And he was taught always to shake hands with his right paw. In teaching him this, I invariably, at first, indicated which paw I wished to shake hands with, and refused to take hold of the left paw when that was raised. And I always said, "Shake hands," when I wished him to perform this simple little trick-act of friendship.

In teaching him to roll over when told, I would also always say, "Roll over." In addition, while teaching him to do this, I would indicate, by a circular motion with my right hand and arm, which way I wished him to roll over. At first, I also took hold of him bodily by the fore legs and rolled him over. He soon "got on" to the trick, and would do it quickly and as nice as could be.

To encourage him in performing this trick, I quite often gave him a bite of something he liked to eat immediately after he had rolled over. A trick dog is always glad to perform for something to eat. But "Ted" soon became accustomed to roll over at the word of command; without any reward.

Following similar methods of procedure, dogs may be taught to speak for something to eat, sit upright, stand on their hind legs, jump over various objects, jump through hoops, ride horseback, catch ball, throw bits of food placed on top of their noses up in the air and catch them in their mouths, climb ladders, and " say their prayers."

In the last named, the dog is taught to place his nose between his paws, close his eyes, and remain quiet in this position until he hears you say, "Amen."

If the dog is a small dog, this trick may be performed while the dog is sitting in your lap, with his paws placed on one of your shoulders. It should be preceded by the command, "Say your prayers."

To teach a dog to jump through a hoop, first stretch a rope just high enough so that he cannot step over it. Place him on one side of the rope, while you remain on the other. Then hold out a piece of meat toward him over the rope, and as he reaches for it gradually pull it away, and then suddenly move it over the rope, saying, "Over." Anxious for the meat, he will jump. After a few lessons you can gradually raise the barrier, and later use a hoop, holding the hoop in one hand and the piece of meat in the other, but finally dispensing with the meat altogether.

In teaching a dog tricks, the method of procedure, the command, and the thing required should always be the same each time. Gentleness, kindness, and patience are also required. Some dogs learn quickly, while others require a longer time.

The American Boy, for June, 1926, has the following to say on this subject: Did you ever see a dog trotting steadily down the street with the evening paper or his mistress's grocery package in his mouth? And did you envy the dog's owner, and wish your dog would carry too?

Don't envy the other fellow. Teach your own dog the trick.

The best way to start is by having your dog retrieve--most dogs dash after some object thrown through the air. A glove is a good object to use, particularly if it has been worn recently by the dog's master. It has the "master�s scent," and it will teach the dog to carry carefully. Never use a stone or such hard objects; they break the dog's teeth and make him careless.

Sometimes, if the dog doesn't retrieve naturally, you can teach him by a pretended race for the article you've thrown. When he picks it up and brings it to you, praise him and pet him. If he is one of the rare dogs in the case of which the run-after-it method fails, you must open his mouth and place the object inside. It is easy to open a dog's mouth by pressing his lips against his teeth; put the object inside as soon as his jaws open, then hold his mouth gently shut. Stroke his head with your free hand, and speak kindly to him. Repeat the lesson once or twice; then wait until next day before doing it again.

When he has grown accustomed to have the object in his mouth, try leading him a few steps still holding his jaws closed. Gradually, from day to day, work your hand back until it is on his neck instead of his jaw, then on his shoulder, and finally off him completely as you walk beside him. Talk to him meantime; talking has a steadying effect, and seems to prevent him from biting too hard.

Once he learns to carry, you can teach him to go to the grocery, or any place else, only by going through the performance with him time after time. Always use the same words in directing his work; always go by the same route, and go through the same procedure. Finally you will find that the dog will know exactly what he is supposed to do, and will resent interferences.

You should teach the carrier dog not to give up his package or message to any stranger. A good way is to have some person whom the dog doesn't know start to take the object from the dog's mouth, then change his mind. Let this be repeated several times; then come up yourself, take the object, and praise the dog. This method invariably works.

The secret of teaching a dog to carry is patience. It doesn't take so long to give the animal the idea; but it does take a number of repetitions of instructions, and a good deal of care that each performance is exactly like its predecessor.

IN answer to the question how a puppy can be cured of his fear of a bath, the following excellent answer has been given

To break a young dog into the habit, first stand him in an empty tub, and wash him with water from a separate receptacle.

The third or fourth time he is given a bath, '' fill the tub gradually with water. Be gentle '' with him, because it is only natural that he should be afraid at being placed in something strange and out of which he cannot see.

Make the first bath as short as possible. Rinse off with cool water, and dry carefully.

After the dog seems quite dry, let him run about the house for a time. Do not take him out soon after a bath except in summertime, as he might take cold.

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MARY'S little lamb was not the only animal that ever went to school. For two years " Pat," a handsome collie, was a faithful attendant at the Brightwood graded school in Washington, D. C.

But soon after the opening of school in the fall of 1926, he quit his classes, for what he considered the best of reasons, and, it is said, he doesn't care "three yelps and a ki-yi" who knows it.

"Pat" started to school about two years before this, when he was just a year old. He got into the habit of following his youthful master, Bill Brinkman, from his home at 6354 Georgia Avenue, to school and into the classroom-much to the despair, at first, of the faculty and to the delight of the school children.

His good collie breeding, however, stood him in good stead, and before long "Pat" was just naturally taken for granted around the school. He would follow Bill to school in the morning, romp with him and the other boys at recess, go home with him for lunch, return with him for the afternoon session, and then go home again at 3 o'clock like the rest of the bunch.

"Pat" knew how to play hide-and-seek better than most of the boys, thanks to his canine sense of detection, and he could catch a ball without a fumble. When the bell rang, he got in line and marched into the school alongside Bill, and if he felt thirsty he went straight to the drinking fountain, stood on his hind legs, and lapped 'er down in approved dog fashion.

His manner of drinking, however, did not exactly coincide with the school health regulations, and finally he was given a special pan at the foot of the fountain.

When the 1926 fall school term opened, Bill and "Pat " parted company. Bill had graduated to the ranks of high-school students, and taken up studies at the Tech High School in another part of the city. But "Pat " resumed his old place in line at the Brightwood School. Each day he hoped that Bill would repent and come back to Brightwood instead of wasting his time at Tech, where they have so many rules and regulations and so many big boys that a dog would not feel comfortable there.

But Bill did not come back, and so, after a month's fruitless waiting, hoping and watching, "Pat " quit school. Without his young master there it had lost its chief interest and charm. Dogs know when their friends desert them.

A LITTLE boy nine years old, born in Australia while his parents were living in that country, was sitting at a table one evening in his home in Washington, D. C., where his mother was writing.

Every now and then, with an evident desire to imitate his mother and to do what she was doing, he would say to her, " Mamma, what can I write about?"

Finally the mother said, "Write about Ted."

"Ted" was a young Scottish terrier dog belonging to the family, but particularly to this boy, Glenn, and his older brother, Clarence.

How they came to get "Ted" was as follows; They had a Flying Dutchman, a two-seated, double-handled, hand-and-foot propelled, four-wheeled red and green go-cart, given to them as a present from their mother. With this they took extensive excursions around the north end of town where they lived.

On one of these excursions they chanced to come across a lady who had a female Scottish terrier with a nice litter of pups. One pup in particular took their fancy, and they inquired if it was for sale. "Yes," the lady replied. And how much did she want for it? "Five dollars," was the answer.

Poste haste the boys came home on their Flying Dutchman, to tell their parents about the nice puppies they had found, and of the one they particularly admired, and how much they wanted him. They insisted that their papa and mamma must at least go over and see the pups.

This they did, with the result that the much desired pup was purchased and brought home. This was at the time "Teddy" Roosevelt was President of the United States, and "Teddy Bears" were both popular and common; so this young, chubby, and handsome pup, to be in style, was named "Ted."

Just before this these boys had become interested in dogs through their father bringing home from the public library and reading to them a book on dogs and how to care for them. This accounts for their keeping an eye open for dogs on their subsequent excursions, and for their becoming so much interested in a litter of pups when they found one.

Following the reading of this book nothing would do but that they must have a dog. The mother mildly chided the father for having brought home and read such a book to the boys. She said, "You might have known they would want a dog after reading such a book to them." But, as the sequel shows, before long she herself had something to do with this dog, and he, unconsciously, in turn, became the means of getting both her name and his own into print.

Upon being told to "write about Ted," with pencil and paper in hand, Glenn proceeded to write his story in rhyme. Without any help, suggestion, or assistance from any one, he wrote down the following four lines which he showed to his mother

"A cute little dog, only five weeks old,

His love for his mother in whines he told.

He slept in a box, with a lid that locks,

And ate bread and milk from his own little crocks."

This the mother thought too good to be lost, especially coming from a boy only nine years old. So she said to herself, "With this to begin with, I will complete the poem, and finish the history of the dog in rhyme."

The result was the beautiful and charmingly told poem, "Little Dog Ted," with its eleven stanzas, its original aphorism, "Time the great healer of ills," and the practical lesson drawn from the experiences Ted had from running away from home and being gone for three weeks.

The complete poem, every line of which is true, follows. This poem has been highly spoken of by literary critics for its faultless rhyme and rhythm, and its perfect diction.

A cute little dog only five weeks old,

His love for his mother in whines he told;

A pleasure for boys as they romped and rolled,

Was our little dog Ted.

He slept in a box with a lid that locks,

And ate bread and milk from his own little crocks;

A delight to the boys, one and all, who flocked

To see little dog Ted.

He grew very fast; was most happy, when,

After looking and longing, time and again,

His turn came to play with his young master Glenn;

So felt little dog Ted.

He learned to roll over as nice as could be,

And give his right paw to shake hands, you see!

A smart little fellow, I'm sure you'll agree,

Was our little dog Ted.

At last he began for to bark one day;

"Ah! more of a dog," I can hear you say;

But sadder the fact that he ran away,

Did our little dog Ted.

We whistled and called, but there came no sound;

We hunted and tramped all the country 'round;

Not even forgetting to visit the pound;

But no little dog Ted.

Three weeks was he gone, when one day at dawn,

We spied on the street with another dog, brown,

Our mourned-for, lost dog, who had not left town,

But was off in bad company.

We brought him back home, but his looks weren't the same;

His innocent face wore a visage of shame,

The same as with boys who play the same game;

Let all heed the warning of Ted.

As time, the great healer of ills, passed away,

Our Ted tried his best his mistake to repay;

His looks were restored, he was happy and gay,

Was our little dog Ted.

And nothing but scars are now left to tell

Of bites and bad times that to Ted befell.

Transgression is hard, but right doing is well;

So learned little dog Ted.

So then heed the lesson that all should know,

There's naught to be gained if wild oats you sow;

Make sure you are right, or you'd better go slow;

Avoid the mistakes of Ted.

-Anna L. Colcord.

How men sometimes fail to understand the actions and language of animals is well illustrated by the following story.

A French merchant, having some money due him in a neighboring village, set out on horseback one day, accompanied by his dog, to get it. Having received it, he tied the bag containing it to the horn of his saddle in front of him, and started on his return journey home.

After riding for some -miles, he alighted to rest himself under an agreeable shade, taking the bag of money in his hand and laying it down by his side under a bush. On remounting, however, strange to say, he forgot it.

The dog, perceiving the forgetfulness of his master, ran back to fetch the bag; but it was too heavy for him to drag along.

He then ran back to his master, and, by whining, barking, and howling, sought to remind him of his mistake.

The merchant did not understand his language. But the faithful creature persevered in his efforts, and, after failing to stop the horse by barking, he at last began to bite his heels.

Absorbed in deep thoughts as he rode along, and wholly forgetful of his bag of money, the merchant began to think that his dog had gone mad. With this suspicion in his mind, in crossing a brook he turned and looked back to see if the dog would drink; but the faithful animal, too intent on his master's business to think of himself, did not drink, but continued to bark and bite the horse more than ever.

" Mercy ! " cried the troubled merchant to himself. "It must be so; my poor dog has surely gone mad. What shall I do? I must kill him, much as I dislike to, lest a greater misfortune befall me, and I myself become a victim of his madness."

With these words, he took a pistol from his pocket, and, with trembling hand, took aim at his faithful dog. He turned away as he fired; but his aim was too sure. The poor animal fell wounded, and though weak and losing blood, still endeavored to crawl toward his master, as if to tax him with ingratitude.

The merchant could not bear the sight, but spurred on his horse, lamenting that he had taken the journey which had caused him so much loss and trouble. Still, however, the money never entered his mind. He thought only of his poor dog, and tried to console himself with the thought that what he had done had no doubt prevented a greater evil.

But such thoughts gave him little satisfaction. "I am most unfortunate," said he to himself. "I would almost rather have lost my money than my dog." Saying this, he stretched out his hand to take hold of the treasure. But it was missing. No bag was to be found. In an instant he realized his rashness and folly. "Wretched man that I am," he said; "I alone am to blame. I could not understand my dog's actions, and I have killed him for his faithfulness and his zeal. He only wished and meant to remind me of my forgetfulness and mistake, and he has paid for his fidelity with his life."

Instantly he turned his horse, and went at full speed to the place where he had last stopped. He saw, with half-averted eyes, the scene where the tragedy occurred. He noticed the traces of blood as he proceeded. He was oppressed and well-nigh distracted. In vain he looked for his dog. He was not to be seen on the road.

At last he arrived at the spot where he had rested and left his money. But what were his sensations! His heart was ready to bleed at the sight which met his view. The poor dog, unable to follow his loved but cruel master, had determined to give his last moments to his service. He had crawled, all weak and faint from loss of blood as he was, to the forgotten bag, and now, in the agonies of death, he lay watching beside it.

When he saw his master, he still testified his joy by faintly wagging his tail. He could do no more. He tried to rise, but his strength was gone. Even the caresses of his master could not prolong his life for a few moments. He stretched out his tongue to lick the hand that was now petting and fondling him in the agonies of regret, as if to seal forgiveness of the deed that had deprived him of his life. He then cast a look of kindness on his master, and closed his eyes in death.

We grieve when we think of the life of an innocent creature having been sacrificed through our forgetfulness or misunderstanding.

Gyp, a good collie dog, was owned by a farmer who lived near Montclair, New Jersey. He had made himself useful on the farm, and had always been well treated.

One day the farmer called on Gyp to chase the cattle out of a patch of woods, and the dog hastened to do his master's bidding. Gyp got them all out into the open except one young heifer, which gave him a great deal of trouble. The dog finally got it clear of the woods, and continued following it, biting at its heels. The farmer called to Gyp several times, but Gyp was so intent on what he was doing and so determined to keep after the heifer until it joined the rest of the cattle, that he either did not hear his master's call, or did not understand what he meant by it.

When the farmer reached Gyp, he gave him a heavy kick in the ribs. Gyp did not run away, but looked pleadingly up into his master's face. This look was answered by another kick from the farmer's heavy shoe, which knocked the dog off its feet. Then the farmer walked homeward.

As he neared his home he looked around to see if Gyp was following him, but he saw the dog trotting away toward a pond some distance away on the farm. Two hours later the children found the dog dead in shallow water near the edge of the pond. His grief and feeling of disgrace at the treatment he had received had driven him to end his life.

The farmer was almost inconsolable, feeling sure that his harsh and cruel treatment of the dog was the cause of his death.

Sudden and uncontrolled anger has been the cause of great cruelty, much sorrow, and many deaths in this world. He that can control his own spirit, says the wise man, is mightier than he that taketh a city.

The Washington Humane Society makes the following plea for the dog:

"There can be no greater punishment to an active dog than confinement by a chain, or by confinement in small quarters without chain. Lack of sufficient exercise brings on disease, and usually ends by making a dog sick, sullen, or vicious.

"The best way to keep a dog that needs restraint is to put him in a yard with a high fence. If this is not practicable, fasten a wire across any yard; on this put an iron ring which, when attached by a cord to the dog s collar, will allow him to run backward and forward the full length of the wire. The yard should have shade as well as sunshine, and a comfortable box, kennel, or other shelter for the dog to go into at night, or during bad weather. He should be supplied with water, also, as well as with food."

REMEMBER THE THIRSTY ANIMALS

Under the above heading, Ruth W. Forney makes the following thoughtful appeal:

"Much of the cruelty to animals is not intentional, but is the result of thoughtlessness. One of the greatest cruelties of this kind in summertime is neglect to give animals plenty of clear, cold water to drink.

"Imagine yourself on a hot day, with your throat parched and your tongue dry, and not being able to ask for a drink of water. Horses, cats, and dogs, in cities especially, suffer during the hot weather. In the country there are springs and little brooks, as well as other places where water is available, but in the city the hot streets stretch for many weary miles without a single place where a thirsty animal can secure a much-needed drink unless aided by some one who understands and cares.

"Sometimes in homes where cats and dogs are cared for and given plenty of food, water is not given as often as it is needed. The best way is to have a pan or dish of water, frequently replenished, where the animal can drink whenever and as often as he wants it.

"Many a stray dog is called 'mad' when all that he needs is a cool drink of water and a quiet place to rest after being driven from pillar to post in search of a much-needed friend.

"Each one of us can do something worth while each day, if it is only giving a cool drink of water where it is so badly needed."