OUR FOUR-FOOTED COMPANION'S. 279 



other kind of dog that so generally shows his fastidious- 

 ness. We have tried the experiment with collies, and al- 

 ways with one result : they would have nothing to do with 

 a very large piece of bread. 



9. No wonder that the sheep-dog is a favorite of his 

 master, and is treated as a kind of humble friend. He is 

 not turned into a kennel nor into an outhouse when he 

 comes home from his work ; his place is at the fireside, 

 where he often wags his tail and puts on a very intelligent 

 look, as if he understood some part of the conversation 

 that takes place. Certainly "Collie" knows well enough 

 when he is spoken of, and dogs of some other kinds evi- 

 dently do so too. They know when they are alluded to in 

 terms of praise and when with blame ; in the former case, 

 giving unmistakable signs of delight ; in the latter, hang- 

 ing their heads and looking ashamed. 



10. It is worthy to be observed concerning the shep- 

 herd's dog that no severity is ever used in his training. 

 The shepherd has no dog- whip. A single punishment, such 

 as a gamekeeper often finds or thinks it necessary to in- 

 flict on a pointer, would spoil a collie altogether and make 

 him worthless for life. He would not resent it by turn- 

 ing savagely on his master, but he would at once become 

 broken-spirited and inert. Words of commendation or of 

 censure are all that he needs, all that suits his nature. 

 The same thing may be observed in animals of some other 

 kinds — as in the elephant and in the finest breeds of horses. 



11. The fine feelings of the Scottish shepherd's dog, 

 and his capability of having his feelings deeply wounded, 

 are sometimes very strikingly illustrated. The grand- 

 father of the present writer had an excellent collie, by 

 name Wattie, which was a great favorite, and greatly at- 

 tached to him and to all the family. When the dog grew 

 old and feeble, it was thought necessary to get another 

 one ; but, on the new dog's arrival, poor old Wattie left his 



