DOGS : THEIR MANAGEMENT. 307 



Youatt mentions as a symptom, that the dog in all he 

 does is instigated by the spirit of mischief or of malice, 

 — that he desires to do injury, and is prompted by malice 

 in all his acts. This, to an outward observer, will appear 

 a correct judgment ; but it is essentially wrong. It is 

 the conclusion reached by one who judges mainly of ex- 

 teriors ; it can be true only to those who are willing to 

 look no deeper than the surface. There can be no malice 

 in a raging fever, which vents itself on every object with- 

 in its reach, animate or inanimate. Mischief is too play- 

 fiil a term to apply to a consuming wrath that ultimately 

 destroys the life. All pain is lost ; as a consequence all 

 fear is gone. The poor beast is urged by some power 

 too mighty for its control, which lashes it on beyond all 

 earthly restraint to pull to pieces, to gnaw, and to at- 

 temTDt to cat every object it can get at ; but how far it is 

 urged by malice or mischief, the following anecdote will 

 serve to show : — 



A butcher had a large bull mastiff of which he was 

 very fond ; but, observing something very strange in his 

 pet's behavior, he came to consult the author about the 

 dog. The man was told to bring the animal for inspec- 

 tion early the same evening. This order was given from 

 no suspicion of the truth, for the owner's description was 

 too confused to be rightly interpreted. The animal was 

 accordingly brought punctual to time, led through the 

 streets by a silk handkerchief carelessly tied round the 

 neck of the beast. The author being at the exact moment 

 of the dog's arrival, fortunately, engaged, the butcher had 



