EDUCATED DOGS. lu 



come to speak of conscience, cunning, revenge, &c., as exhibited by him. Any book of Dog-anecdotes 

 will furnish the reader with many more, so that, on the whole, one is forced to the conclusion that, to 



prove the absence of reason in the Dog, one must argue something after this fashion: Do^s 



ofieii perform actions which, in man, would undoubtedly be attributed to reason. But man is the 

 only member of the animal creation which possesses tlie reasoning faculty. Therefore, all actions in 

 the Dog which simulate reason are, in reality, due to blind instinct. Therefore, Dogs do not possess 

 the reasoning faculty. Which was to be demonstrated. 



One of the most interesting points iu the Dog's character, and one in which many of his human 

 masters would do well to imitate him, is his teachableness. A good Dog may be taught almost 

 anything, no matter how difficult or distasteful, or how foreign to his nature. And not only will he 

 learn to do anything, but to understand anything, for there can be no doubt whatever that Dogs 

 actually do understand what is said to them, in many cases, quite irrespectively of tone or gesture. 

 Of course, with an ordinary Dog who has received no special and systematic training, it is the tone of 

 his master's voice or his gestures which convey meanings to him, far more than the actual words ; but 

 with many Dogs, whose intelligence is great, and whose education has been thorough, this acme of 

 culture is attained, and the animal does, undoubtedly, understand the actual words said to him. As 

 an instance, we may mention the well-known case of " Sirrah," the Ettrick Shepherd's Dog, who 

 wanted only the words " Sirrah, my man, they're a' awa' ! " to proceed immediately in search of the 

 missing flock. It is a matter of the commonest observation how soon even ordinary Dogs learn to 

 understand certain words or phrases, such as " Rats ! " " Cats !" " Set them off ! " " Beg ! " " Trust ! " and so 

 forth ; and, although certainly in many of these cases tone and gesture have a great deal to do with the 

 animal's comprehension, yet there can be no sort of doubt that a Dog of fair intelligence learns, after 

 a time, to recognise the words, if spoken in the most ordinary tone of voice. The following account 

 a truly marvellous one illustrates not only the most perfect understanding of words, but capacit} r 

 for a high degree of education, great intelligence, extensive memory, and reasoning faculties of no 

 mean order : 



" Two fine Dogs, of the Spanish breed, were introduced by M. Leonard, with the customary 

 French politesse, the largest by the name of M. Philax, the other as M. Brae (or Spot). The former 

 had been in training three, the latter two, years. They were in vigorous health, and having bowed 

 very gracefully, seated themselves on the hearth-rug side by side. M. Leonard then gave a lively 

 description of the means he had employed to develop the cerebral system in these animals how, from 

 having been fond of the chase, and ambitious of possessing the best trained Dogs, he had employed 

 the usual course of training how the conviction had been impressed on his mind that by gentle usage, 

 and steady perseverance in inducing the animal to repeat again and again what was required, not only 

 would the Dog be capable of performing that specific act, but that part of the brain which was brought 

 into activity by the mental effort would become more largely developed, and hence a permanent increase 

 of mental power be obtained. 



"After this introduction, M. Leonard spoke to his Dogs in French, in his usual tone, and 

 ordered one of them to walk, the other to lie down, to run, to gallop, halt, crouch, &c., which they 

 performed as promptly and correctly as the most docile children. Then he directed them to go 

 through the usual exercises of the manege, which they performed as well as the best trained ponies 

 at Astley's. 



" He next placed six cards of different colours on the floor, and, sitting with his back to the Dogs, 

 directed one to pick up the blue card, and the other the white, &c., varying his orders rapidly, and 

 speaking in such a manner that it was impossible the Dogs could have executed his commands if they 

 had not had a perfect knowledge of the words. For instance, M. Leonard said, ' Philax, take the red 

 card and give it to Brae, and, Brae, take the white card and give it to Philax.' The Dogs instantly did 

 this, and exchanged cards with each other. He then said, ' Philax, put your card on the green, and 

 Brae, put yours on the blue ; ' and this was instantly performed. Pieces of bread and meat were placed 

 on the floor, with figured cards, and a variety of directions were given to the Dogs, so as to put their 

 intelligence and obedience to a severe test. They brought the meat, bread, or cards, as commanded, 

 but did not attempt to eat or to touch unless ordered. Philax was then ordered to bring a piece of 

 meat and give it to Brae, and then Brae was told to give it back to Philax, who was to return it to its 



