MANAGEMENT OF THE DOG. 259 



can then make him stand up on the box, and next on the barrel, and 

 he will soon get the idea of standing up well on the barrel. 



uiea- 



After your dog has been advanced to this high degree of edi 

 tion, you can proceed to teach him to pick up and lay things down at 

 your word of command. 



There are two ways to teach him to do these things. One would 

 be to take a ball, or something he is used to playing with, getting him 

 to run after it and bring it to you, making him drop it at your feet, 

 by putting your fingers in his mouth, and pressing on the inside, at 

 the same time saying " let go." 



Another way would be to place the object inside of his mouth, and 

 compel him to hold it there until told to let go. The best way is 

 to get a piece of meat or anything he is fond of, and of a size to pre- 

 vent his swallowing it. When you have succeeded in teaching him 

 this, you cau substitute some, other object in placs of the ball or 

 meat — for instance, a slipper or handkerchief. 



Teach him to pick up and bring to you any desired object, always 

 being particular to call it by name, so that he will become familiar 

 with the sound as well as the sight of the object. Begin first with a 

 single object, such as a boot or hat. Step up close to it, making the 

 dog take hold and pick it up, then step away, and calling it by name 

 command him to bring it to you and place it at your feet. 



If he does it all right pet him. By teaching your animal this one 

 trick thoroughly, with a single object, he will soon be enabled to dis- 

 tinguish the names of several things placed in a row. When he can 

 bring you any article asked for among a number of others, then sub- 

 stitute the color of the articles in place of their names, so when you 

 order him to bring a slipper, say to him "bring me the green 

 slipper," placing great stress on the word which represents the color. 



