82 THE ART OF TEAINING ANIMALS, 



switch^ after the clog has learned to stand erect, and to this 

 fAvitch attach a piece of meat. With this you can trace out in 

 the air, in tempting proximity to his nose^ the figures you wish 

 him to take, and you may depend upon his hastinct leading him 

 to follow the motions of the switch. This may seem rather an 

 absurd plan for initiating your pupil into the mysteries of the 

 ball-room, but it is nevertheless one of the most eifective that 

 can J3e devised. The dog should be rewarded with the meat 

 after he has danced enough to faii'ly earn it^ and after a few 

 lessons the switch may be used without any bait attached. He 

 will at first follow its motions in the hope that there is some- 

 thing attached, and if he be rewarded for doing so, he will soon 

 comprehend that following the switch means meat by-and-by. 

 If he is dressed up in feminine apparel, as is generally done at 

 public exhibitions, the absurd figure he cuts, and the ridiculous 

 caricature of a lady 'Gripping the light fantastic toe '^ which he 

 presents, is extremely laughable. 



TO JUMP ROPE, 



After the dog has learned to leap at your command a light 

 rope may be substituted for the pole, one end of the rope being 

 attached to some stationary object while the other end is held in 

 your hand. Exercise the dog a few times at leaping the rope 

 while it is without motion, and near the ground,, using the 

 command "hip," or whatever one he has been trained to leap 

 with, each time. Then give the rope a slight motion and at the 

 proper moment give the dog the usual command and he will 

 obey it. By increasing the motion very gradually he will,, 

 after many lessons, be able to jump rope very creditably. He 

 may be taught either to jump while standing on his full 

 complement of legs, or in the perpendicular fashion. 



TO SIT AND LIE DOWN. 



It is one thing to have your dog do a thing at his own 

 convenience and of his own free will, and quite another thing to 

 have him perform the same action at your desire, especially if 

 he had a little rather not do it. This applies particularly to 

 sitting or lying down, for it usually happens that when you 

 desire him to do so he feels least inclined ; but it is the trainer's 

 business to bend the animals will to his own, and in this case it 

 may be done thus : Taking your position with the dog in front 

 of you, raise one hand over his head and make a motion with it 

 as though about to strike him on the top of his head with your 

 palm ; as you do so repeat the word " down " distinctly and 

 commandingly, with each motion of the hand. This should not 



