GENERAL 'PRINCirLES OF TRAINING. 15 



a reasonable trainer. Judicious management on the part of the 

 exhibitor will often make a variety of tricks out of a single one 

 wliich the animal has been taught j an example of this is 

 afforded by the ^' educated hog." 



The first essential for success in training animals is patience. 

 At first many lessons may be given without the slightest appa- 

 rent impression being made upon the mind of the pupil and an 

 uncommon degree of patience and good temper is required to 

 bear up against such discouraging results. By-and-by, how- 

 ever, the pupil will suddenly appear to realize what is required 

 of him, and will perform his task with surprising accuracy at 

 the very moment his teacher is about to give up in despair. 

 Then each successive lesson is learned with greater ease and 

 rapidity than the preceding one ; the weariness and disappouit- 

 ment of the trainer is changed to pleasure at his success, and 

 even the animal appears to sympathize with his master's joy, 

 and to take pride in his performance. 



As it is impossible to explain to an animal what is required 

 of him he can be taught an action only by its constant repetition 

 until he becomes famiiiar with it. When he knows what you 

 want him to do he will in almost all -cases comply with your 

 wishes promptly and cheerfully. For this reason punishments 

 seldom do any good, unless the animal is willful, which is rare. 

 On the contrary they, as a general rule, interfere with the 

 success of the lessons. If the pupil is in constant fear of blows 

 his attention will be diverted from the lesson, he will dread 

 makin,^- any attempt to obey for fear of failure, and he will have 

 a sneaking look which will detract materially from the appear- 

 ance of his performance. This is the case with the animals 

 instructed by a trainer of this city who " trains his horses with 

 a club," the animals never appearing as well as those taught by 

 more gentle means. But for a rare natural talent this man's 

 success would have been utterly defeated by his brutality. He 

 is the only one we know of in the profession who does not base 

 his tuition on kindness to the pupil. A sharp word or a slight 

 tap with a small switch will as effectually show your displeasure 

 as the most severe blows. It is both cruel and unwise to inflict 

 needless pain. 



All trainers make use of various little tit-bits as rewards for 

 successful performance of tricks. These serve as a powerful 

 incentive to the animal as well as to show him when he has done 

 right. Withholding the accustomed reward when he fails or but 

 imperfectly performs his duty is much more effective than any 

 corporeal pimishracnt. The repetition of the lesson until the 

 animal will himself perform the required action, and the bestowal 



