WONDERFUL FEATS OF DOGS. 103 



board several times the size of ordinary playing cards shoiiid bo 

 provided, one side of each being printed to represent one card. 

 As with the letters, these cards are to be placed on the floor, at 

 first only two, then three, increasing the number as the dog 

 learns those already shown him. Suppose the ace of clubs and 

 the ace of hearts be used to commence with : direct the dog to 

 bring the ace of clubs j if he does so, reward him, but if he 

 brings the heart, scold him, and order him to return it -, agam 

 directing him to bring the ace of clubs. So on with each les- 

 son until he can distinguish between all the cards, and bring any 

 one desired. After this, cards a little smaller may be substi- 

 tuted for those at first used, and then smaller and smaller ones 

 until the customary playing cards are used. We give this feat 

 on the authority of M. de Tarade, never having personally seen 

 it performed, but it is really not so diflBcult as might at iirst be 

 imagined ; the dog, even to know the whole pack, needing only 

 to learn the thirteen values of the cards, and to then distinguish 

 between the four suits.* 



The " playing " part consists in the trainer directing the dog 

 to bring the particular card required ; wherever it is pretended 

 that the dog of his own accord selects the proper card for tak- 

 ing a trick, there is really deception ; the dog in such a case 

 must be secretly directed by signals which he has been taught 

 to obey. 



To teach a dog to play dominoes, provide some p/eces of 

 board or thick card, some eight or ten inches long, on which 

 paint eonspicuously in black the required dots. Having pro- 

 vided two sets in this manner, spread one set upon the floor, 

 and taking in your hand the blank domino of the other set, you 

 say : " Bring the white." Being familiar, from his previous 

 training, with the color, he will doubtless select the correct 

 domino. Then you show him the one spot, directing him to 

 "bring the one." Should he hesitate, repeat the command, 

 showing him the spot on the domino in your hand. As soon as 

 he has learned this difference, cease your instruction for the 

 day, as it is unwise to attempt to go too fast. On the next 

 day the two, three, and four may be included in the lesson ; 

 and so on each day, adding two or three, until the whole are 

 learned. Havmg learned so much, the dog is prepared to play 



♦Even this would be a greater feat of mtellig-ence than we have ever seen exhibited by 

 a dog, and we are inclined to think there was some aid afforded in this, case ot the French 

 dogs, by arranging the cards systematically, or by some other means. It is harder to 

 count (or to distinguish between) the number of dots, than to distinguish between a blue 

 handkerchief and a red stocking. The dog who is described as playing dominoes, it 

 should be remembered, used only four pieces at one time. Possibly the dog recognized 

 tiie cards by the general appearance ol each, not the number of spots thereon. 



