334 Modern Dogs. 



That he is thoroughly amenable to discipline I 

 found some few years ago, in 1884, during a visit to 

 the Oxford Music Hall, in London. Here Mr. Fred. 

 Felix, a well-known trainer, had a group of performing 

 dogs, which included three Great Danes, and all good 

 specimens, especially the best trick dog in the lot, who 

 no doubt gloried in his name of Grandmaster. These 

 dogs went through a variety of performances in an 

 extraordinarily kindly and willing manner, jumping 

 through hoops, walking on their hind legs, sitting on 

 chairs, jumping over each other's backs, with all the 

 docility and more of the freedom than the poodle would 

 have displayed. 



Grandmaster made some astonishing leaps, and 

 two of the hounds had a "make-believe" fight, growl- 

 ing, seizing each other, and rolling on the stage as 

 they might have done in a less friendly strife. The 

 latter was a performance I have not since seen 

 attempted, and must be a most difficult thing for 

 a trainer to teach. I do not know when I was 

 better pleased with a group of performing dogs 

 than I was with these Great Danes. I have seen 

 other showmen performing with them in a cage 

 of lions, and similar dogs formed a portion of 

 "a happy family" of wild beasts that a few years 

 since proved a great attraction at the Crystal 

 Palace. 



