DOGS ! THEIR MANAGEMENT. 301 



his wrath ; but allow him to vent his rage until he is 

 ashamed of it, and from a feeling of remorse is silent. 

 When this takes place, and a sufficient time has passed 

 to confirm him in the new mood into which he has 

 recently entered, I approach him with my hand ex- 

 tended and open ; this I bring near to him by degrees, 

 avoiding all sudden movements or anything that might 

 provoke his natural disposition. Generally he crouches, 

 then I speak to him in tones of encouragement. If he 

 display a return of his warlike propensity, I still bring 

 the hand nearer and nearer to him, telling him to bite it 

 if he pleases, if he is not ashamed to injure that which 

 means to do him good. Then, perhaps, he will make a 

 snap at my extended hand, which is not upon this with- 

 drawn, or the jaws would close with nervous violence, 

 but allowed to remain, and the teeth are felt to touch 

 the skin without wounding it. I allow him to hold the 

 hand for any length of time he pleases, telling hin. " lie 

 would lose his character if he were to harm it. That he 

 is a courageous dog, and means no hurt ; he would be 

 ashamed to bite." And with this kind of speech, which 

 the animal may not literally understand, but the sense 

 and purpose of which it nevertheless appears to com- 

 prehend, I seldom fail of getting my hand safe and 

 sound from the creature's jaws.. After that I may pat 

 him, for an intimacy has begun. He allows me to drag 

 him forth, take him on my knees, and permits me any 

 liberty I please to take. I do not attribute my escape 

 to any charm that I possess ; but account for it simply 



