so. One plan is to have a string run from the bedroom down 

 through one of the openings of the banisters and attached to the 

 other end a piece of wood, which should be concealed in a 

 closet or behind a door. When all have retired and stillness 

 reigns supreme give the cord a few pulls, just enough to make 

 a slight noise in the hall below. If your dog jumps up and 

 barks, go out and let him loose, and he will run down stairs to 

 the seat of the disturbance. Go down with him, encouraging 

 him and showing him that he is doing right by saying, "Go for 

 him, find him, boy," etc. After a few minutes you can both re- 

 turn; reward him with praise and petting, and then, after fasten- 

 ing him up, retire to your room. This can be repeated very late 

 the same night, should you chance to wake up, and the pro- 

 gramme continued each night for a week, various changes being 

 made from time to time. 



If you will promptly jump out of bed when he sounds an 

 alarm and listen with him for a few minutes he will quickly 

 catch on to the idea that if he wants you he has simply to bark. 

 There is a marked distinction between a bark and a whine, and 

 while the former demands an immediate response the latter 

 should be as quickly suppressed by a good scolding and by 

 calling out, "Lie down," or "Be quiet, sir." 



We will now suppose that you have tested your dog quite 

 thoroughly with the cord and wood, and that he is quick to 

 respond. If you desire to continue this method vary it by 

 having the cord on the outside of the house so that the wood 

 will serve as a "tick tack" on one of the windows of the lower 

 floor, and when this method has been exhausted ask the night 

 watchman once or twice a week to shake the front or back door 

 just to make sure that you dog is wide awake to his responsi- 

 bilities. A good watch dog is of much more practical value 

 than any burglar alarm that was ever invented, but as has been 

 stated before, in order that he shall prove thoroughly reliable 

 you must be ready and willing to at all times get out of your 

 warm bed in response to his summons. If, however, you will 

 not do your share he will tire of doing his duty and in the time 

 of real danger will be as useless as a wooden idol. Many instances 

 might be cited where houses marked for looting have been thus 

 successfully protected, and the neighbors have paid the penalty for 

 not also possessing so reliable a burglar alarm. 



Now, remember that you are not to get up to interview a 

 housebreaker, for none will be there, but solely to encourage 



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