SIMPLE DOG TRICKS. 83 



be done as- a menace, but to indicate your wishes. While you 

 do this, press firmly with your other hand upon his back, just 

 over the hips, — this pressure will assist in making him take the 

 desired position- When he has done so he should be patted and 

 made to understand that he has done right. Repeat until he 

 obeys the command readily, and then teach him to lie down, 

 which consists in forcing him into a recumbent posture^ as you 

 command him to ^^ lie down ! " 



TO BEG. 



After the dog has learned to stand erect he may easily be 

 taught to beg. All that is requisite is to press him down in 

 the desired position ; if he attempts to leave it a gentle tap on 

 the head with the switch will be sufficient to conti'ol him. He 

 may, if preferred, be taught to beg without learning to stand 

 erect ; in this case he may be made to sit down and then, pres- 

 sing his haunches down to prevent his rising to his feet, tap him 

 nnder the chin till he takes the right position. Repetition is 

 of course necessary until he learns what is desired, and each 

 time ydu place him in position it is well to say "beg^ two or 

 three times so he may associate the word with the act Dogs, 

 like many of the human race, after they have " got the hang of 

 it," will beg persistently for the sake of an occasional trifling 

 reward. 



TO GIVE HIS PAW. 



There Is scaicely a boy's pet dog who has not acquired this 

 Tery simple trick, though his master probably would not recol- 

 lect how it was taught. Perhaps it was the dog's sociable 

 feelings that led him to perform the kindly ceremony of "shaking 

 hands," or perhaps it was due to the instinctive good breeding 

 which is sometimes accredited to some people - and why not 

 also to some dogs? Whether politeness is a grace which 

 adorns the canine character, however, is a question we hardly 

 feel prepared to discuss, and It is much more probable that 

 Master Harry, (or James, or whatever his name may be), with 

 no special thought in regard to the matter, hit upon xhQ secret 

 which underlies all animal training— compelling obedience to a 

 command until the command is obeyed without compulsion. 

 What was more natural for our friend Harry, when he first 

 gave \hQ momentous command of *' paw,'' and €arlo utterly in 

 the dark as to its signification, taking no notice of it — than to 

 grip Carlo's fore "limb" and give it a shake ? Nothing in the 

 world more natural. This is probably repeated at odd times 

 until Carlo learns to give his paw when Harry says "paw," or 

 Jholds out Jus paw. 



