8a THE AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS, 



them out to walk, being careful to provide yourself with a 

 few crackers or a piece of bread. Allow the dogs to ramble 

 about at their pleasure, and whenever you choose call some 

 particular one by his name ; when he comes to you reward him 

 with a piece of cracker. By-and-by call some other one, and 

 continue the plan at your discretion. At the end of ten or a 

 dozen lessons they will have pretty well learned their names, 

 and come at your call. IT you have only one dog, the plan 

 v7ould be about the same. 



TO LEAP. 



This is very a simple trick and easily taught. A line or pole 

 may be extended from any convenient supports, just so high 

 that' the dog cannot step over. Take your station on one side 

 of this barrier with a supply of bread or cracker. By the offer 

 of a small piece induce him to approach as near as possible to 

 the line or pole, keeping the tid-bit close to his nose, but raised 

 a trifle above it. Now, with a sudden movement, extend your 

 hand beyond the barrier, crying at the same moment, " hip," or 

 any other quick, inspiring exclamation. Eager to get the tempting 

 morsel he will leap over, and the same proceeding may be 

 repeated once or twice, when he should be rewarded with the 

 bait he has been striving for. After a few repetitions he will 

 probably leap over at a motion of the hand and the word of 

 command. He should always be rewarded for obeying, and it 

 is well to have a light switch with which to give him a gentle 

 cut should he attempt to run under, which he should never be 

 permitted to do. The bight of the barrier may be increased 

 gradually from day to day, taking care never to over-task his 

 powers. With practice many dogs acquire the ability of making- 

 very creditable leaps. We had an old dog who had been at- 

 tached to a circus m his youth, and had been rather ^^fast" in 

 his proclivities. Not being content to settle down to the quiet 

 peacefulness of a back-yard existence, which he probably con- 

 sidered rather slow, he was in the habit of leaping over a fenco 

 at least ten feet high and plentifully studded with spikes, that 

 he might indulge in a nightly canine spree with other festive 

 dogs of his acquaintance. 



When the dog leaps readily over a bar, a hoop may be held in 

 the hand and the same system pursued. The hoop may be 

 gradually lessened in size until the dog finally leaps through 

 one hardly bigger around than his own body, but to do this the 

 trainer must display some skill in conforming the motions of the 

 hoop to those of the dog as he passes through. 



