154 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. 



— is first taught to come to the trainer when called. This is 

 readily done by rewarding him when he obeys and thrashing 

 him when he fails to do so. He is then taught to pick up arti- 

 cles in pretty much the same manner as in teaching dogs, and 

 which we have already fully described. During the lessons the 

 pig is rewarded with corn for obeying, and he is also fed imme- 

 diately after his lesson, being kept a trifle hungry at other times. 

 At first an ear of corn may be used in teaching him to pick up 

 articles. He will naturally pick this up when placed on the 

 ground. Instead of letting him keep it, however, call him to 

 you, and on taking it away recompense him with some kernels of 

 com. He will soon learn that it pays better to bring you the 

 ear over and over again, and be rewarded each time, than keep 

 it himself. Then a cob without corn may be substituted. 'By- 

 and-by cobs may be arranged in a row some foot or two apart, 

 and the pig required to bring some one of them you have in mind. 

 This is the difficult part ; the pig will be inclined to pick up 

 whichever comes handiest. This must be prevented by gently 

 hitting his snout, and ordering him to " go on.'^ Always start 

 him at the left of the line ; you will be able thus to gnide him bet- 

 ter than when he goes hap-hazard. Keep on his left side, mov- 

 ing your foot toward him to keep him moving in the direction of 

 the desired article. Avoid coming between him and the article. 

 When he comes to it make no movement. If he picks it up, 

 call him to you, take it from his mouth, reward him with corn, 

 apple, or some other dainty, and replace the article in the row. 

 If, however, he passes by it, change your position to his right 

 side, and niove your foot to urge him back. 



These movements of the foot, during tuition, are, of course, 

 more vigorous than those used at public exhibitions. At first 

 they merely threaten him and drive him in the required direc- 

 tion, but by-and-by he learns to observe them and to understand 

 and profit hj them. It is possible sometimes during the lessons 

 to help the pig's selection by pointing out the card or article, 

 but this is not desirable, as it is of course unavailable in public, 

 and the trainer must compel the animal to do his duty so soon 

 as he is out of the *^ rudiments," with no more help than can 

 be used in public. 



Pigs are very fond of having their backs scratched, and this 

 will ! ften attach them to their instructor, make them more 

 docile, and consequently more easily instructed. They are not 

 very apt pupils, and though they mmj be taught several tricks 

 performed by dogs, it is very seldom their education extends 

 beyond what we have described. We have known an exhibitor 

 advertise a hog who would "go through the multiplication 



