870 DOGS: THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



pulse, however, was never fully gratified ; the nose has 

 touched my hand, but the jaws have closed before they 

 grasped it. I have then distinctly felt the snapping mo- 

 tion, and plainly heard the teeth rattle as they quickly 

 hit against each other, but they have never injured me. 

 The dog could not repress the natural instinct ; but 

 though the hand was against its mouth, the noble beast 

 has bitten the air. 



If men knew more of dogs, the animal would be more 

 esteemed. The persons who pretend to dislike them are 

 always ignorant of the creatures. It is impossible for 

 human beings to see much of, and be acquainted with, 

 these despised brutes, without becoming their admirers. 

 To like dogs denotes no peculiarity of taste or strange- 

 ness of disposition ; for he must be incapable of appre- 

 ciating natural goodness, who can observe these animals 

 and not grow fond of them. There is no mental sympa- 

 thy between a shrub and ourselves ; yet a passion for 

 flowers is pretended to by many who cultivate a horror 

 of the canine race. Both feelings are affections, and a 

 person of good sense would be ashamed to acknowledge 

 either. Flowers are sweet and pretty, but man cannot 

 love such things ; whereas, between us and dogs there 

 can be a positive bond of affection. In this world no one 

 should be proud of disliking anything it is possible for 

 him to love, or indulge a hatred towards any life that can 

 adore him. 



I have too many reasons to be grateful for the genero- 

 sity of the brute, not to feel warmly toward it. There is 



