Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/171

 i5t HTricks without number can be taught to a clever fox-terrier or any other dog if, from the day he comes into her possession, his mistress takes entire charge of his education, making him her constant companion, always feeding him herself, and teaching him prompt obedience to the word of command however gently spoken. At six months old his training in tricks should begin. Already he will have shown all sorts of pretty ways and characteristics of his own, as every cheerful and well- a speech " at the word of command, flying to the httle chair, and barking over the back of it, directly it was produced and placed in the middle of the floor. A trick box, containing a small frying-pan and spoon, a box of big wooden matches — wax ones would have stuck to his paws and burnt them — a tin of biscuits, and the little chair, were always kept behind the piano ready for a performance. " I want to make an omelette — what can you do to help me ? " his mistress would ask, flourishing the frying-pan and spoon. Off Bobs would scamper down the kitchen stairs to cook, returning proudly, his head held high in the air, gently carrying an egg, which he would lay down in the frying-pan placed at his mistress's feet. Next, his mistress would light a match > and drop it on the stone verandah, exclaim- ?* ing excitedly : " The house is on fire ! What would you do, Bobs ? " The dog would then promptly " put it out." SmelHng and tasting a biscuit, and, finally, hiding it with his paw at the word of command, before receiving the order to "Dying for his country" cared-for puppy does, and, by studying these ways, the basis can be found for all manner of tricks. Perhaps he will run always to a lighted cigarette or burning match which has been dropped accidentally on the ground, and will swiftly stamp out the fire with his hard little paws ; perhaps, after waiting patiently in the farmyard until a triumphant cackling from a nest-box announces the fact that an egg has been laid, he will pick up that [treasure gingerly between his teeth, and take lit as a present to his mistress ; perhaps, if ihe is not hungry when given a biscuit, rhe will hide it with his paw, and play about with it before eating it ; perhaps when excited he always springs on to a certain chair, and, putting his paws on the back of it, gives vent to his feelings by a series of short, sharp barks. Bobs, the dcg appearing in the illustrations, for example, learnt in half an hour to " make " Gently carrying an eat it, would wind up his entertaining little performance. It is best to begin teaching a dog tricks when he is from six months to a year old. and two or three short lessons a day are more valuable than one long one. Lessons should be given just before meals, and each