PRICE FTBTtrr CENTS. JESSE HAHEY4C3, PUBLISHERS, Ho. H9 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK. si^i.Ecr LIST OP TRADE MANUALS, USEFUL HANDBOOK? AND VALUABLE MISCELLANEOUS WORKS. PUBUSHED AND FOR SALE BY JESSE HANEY & CO., 119 NASSAU ST., NEW YORE:. ! O^ Any of these popular and valuable works mailed post paid to any address on receipt of adverti>*ed price. It is better, however, to order of local booksellers, who will generally be glad to obtain any work desired even if they haven't it in stock. Carpenter's Manual.— Instructs in the use of tools and tho various operations of the trade. A yery complete and explicit work. 6 0 ets. Painter's Manual. — A complete practical guide to house and sign painting, graining, varnishing, polishing, kalsomining, papering, lettering, staining, gilding, glazing, silvering, analj^sis of colors, harmony, contrast, &o. 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Also Includes edit- ing, proofreading, copyrights, value and disposal of Mss , &c. 50 ets. •■ Art of Training Animals. — A complete guide for amateur pro- fessional trainers, giving all the necrets and mysteries of the craft, and showing how all circus tricks, and all feats of all performing animals — fro»E elephants to fleas — are ac- complished. It also has an improved system of horse and colt breaking, breaking and training sportin j;- dogs, care and tuition of song, talking and performing birds, snake charming, bee taming, and many other things, making a large, handsome volume of over 200 pages, and over 60 illustrations. 5 0 ets. Secrets "Worth Knowing^. — A guide to the manufacture of hundreds of useful and salable articles, including patent medicines, perfumery, toilet and dental articles, and many others easily made at trifling cost and selling readily at large profit. 25 ets. Phonographic Handbook. —For self-instruction in the modern improved system, used by practical reporters in the courts of law and on the newspa* pen. It ouites simplicity with thoroughness. 2 5 eta. Continued on Third Page of Cover, [UFTS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 3 9090 013 400 656 Webster FamHy Ubrary of Veterinary Medicir Cummings School of Veterinaiy s\le(licine at Tufts University 200 Westboro Road Nort!i^-''afton,MA01536 THE SIKGE— PERFORMED BY DOG AND MONKEY ACTORS HANET'e ART OF TRAmiiNG AKIMALS A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR AMATEUK OR PROFESSIOML TRAINERS. GIVING FULL INSTRUCTIONS FOR ^rmkiitg, f rntng miir Cratfjing nil Imh d%\\mh INCLUDING AN IMPROVED METHOD OF HORSE BREAKING, MANAGEMENT OF FARM ANIMALS, TRAINING OF SPORTING DOGS; SERPENT CHARMING, CARE AND TUITION OF TALKING, SINGING AND PERFORMING BIRDS ; AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEACHING ALL CmCTJS TRICKS, AND MANY OTHER WONDEEFUL FEATS. JlLUSTI\ATED yj'lTH pVEI^ ^IXTY pNGRAYINGS. JESSE HANEY & CO., PUBLISHERS, No. 119 Nassau Street. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1869, by Jessk Haney & Co., in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of New York. Saney's Art of Traininsf Animals, Electrotyped by Smith & Jtfc^ougaty 82 and 84 Beekman Street, N. Y. The intention of the present volume is to initiate the reader into all the mysteries and secrets of the ^^ Art of Train- ing Animals," and to give full and clear explanations of, and instructions in, every branch of that art. It is believed that the reader will find it acceptable whether he desires using its in- structions practically either for profit or as an agreeable recreation, or as merely a curiosity to know how the feats herein described are taught. This is believed to be the first and only attempt made to treat this subject fully and systematically. Fragmentary articles have occasionally appeared, and some works, treating of one or another of the various animals, have given a few brief though interesting paragraphs touching their educatability or sagacity. Even combined these form but a comparatively meager collec- tion, and the volume herewith presented has the essential part of all this as well as a very large amount of matter which is en- tirely new. The dim has been to make the book as complete as possible, and to do this the author has profited by the experience and writings of others wherever they could be made available. He has, however, striven in all such cases to give full credit. As far as it was possible to communicate with the parties in f[uestion, their consent was explicitly obtained, and in no case to the best of his knowledge (certainly not intentionally) has any material been used contrary to the wishes of its owner, or with- out due acknowledgment, and he would respectfully ask any who may desire to make use of any part of his own labors to a reasonable extent, the same courtesy of full credit to Haney's Art of Training Animals. To many gentlemen in the profession wc are indebted for PREFACE. details of their experience, and material of various kinds. Much of information relating to birds is derived from the works of the celebrated German fancier Bechstem -, while to Mons. Emil de Tarade is due a portion of that about the French dogs. To Mr. Robert Jennings, whose works on the horse, as well as on cattle, are deservedly popular, we are also indebted j also to Mr. Smith of the New York* Courier. While attempting to give plam practical instruction in the art we profess to teach, we have also designed to make a read- able book, and it is hoped that its perusal may. prove pleasant as well as profitable. That money can be made by training animals, is unquestionably true — even a boy can make his pets more valuable by- teaching them a few simple tricks. In conclusion we may add that to amateurs interested in the subject, a visit to either of the really fine collections of trained and wild animals of Van Amburgh or '^ Yankee'^ Robinson, will prove most thoroughly enjoyable. To the proprietors of both of these establishments we are indebted for valuable assistance. ART OF TRAmma ANIMALS, CHAPTEH L INTEODTTCTOIIY— CLNLHAL rniNCIPLES OF TRAINING. DR. KEMP thus conc;sj]j and dearly wtatefi the difference between instinct aud reason : ^^ In the furmer tkere is an irresistible impalse to go tiirough a certain ^eii..s of motions after a certain fashion, without Imowing why they are performed, or what their result will be. In the latter the actions depend upon previous mental judgmentSj are performed or not at will, and the end of them is early anticipated and defined." We believe the evidence is too strong to be doubted that many animals do perceive the relation between cause and effort, and that many of their actions, especially when the animals are surrounded by the unnatural circumstaiaces of a state of domes- tication, must be ascribed to the reasoning power. 'There was a dog who Tived in a strict monastery where the monks dined alone, and who, instead of asking for their meals, obtained them by knocking at the buttery door, the cook answering by opening the door and pushing the allowance through. The dog observed this proceeding and accordingly knocked at the door and laid in wait until the meal was placed outside, and the door shut, when he ran off with it. This he repeated a number of times. The contrast between instinct and reason is displayed in the coursing of hares. If an old and a young grayhound be em- ployed we ha 76 examples of both instinct and reason. The young one instincfvely pursues his game, following every turn and winding, Avhile the old dog, reasoning from past experience, knows that the. hare will double, and accordingly does not exactly follow her, but goes across A similar example is afforded by the dogs employed in hunting the deer in. South America. The newly impoi*ted dog, in approaching the deer, flies at it in front and is often injured by the concussion. The 14 ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. native dogs have learned to avoid this danger and they invariably l:eep from the front, and attack from the side or rear. Instances might be multiplied indefinitely, but our object is ( nly to show the distinction made between reason and instinct ; those who desire to investigate the subject more thoroughly can do so through works speciall}^ devoted to natural history. No doubt any observing person caii recall instances in his own ex[)eriencewith animals, where their actions showed evidence of a greater or less degree of reasoning power. An action may be partly instinctive and partly the result of reasoning, but a purely instinctive action never changes except under the influence of reason. A hen sits on her eggs from an instinctive impulse to do so. If chalk ones be substituted for the real eggs she tends them with equal care and will not desert them any sooner than she would the others. And yet in other matters perhaps hens have reasoning powers. Without the possession of these powers we believe no educa- tion of animals would be possible ; and we farther believe that the capacity for learning is in exact proportion to the ability to reason. A horse or dog can be readily taught things which a hog can never learn, and in the lower scales of animal life all attempts at education become failures. Under the tuition of man the reasoning powers are undoubtedly developed to an extent to which they would never attain in a state of nature, and by judicious and persistent teaching numerous animals have been educated to an almost startling degree. How this has been done we shall show as we proceed. Not only does the amount of reason vary with different species but with different individuals of the same species, and much of the trainer's success will depend on the judicious selection of his pupil. Professional trainers take the utmost pains in this selection, and they usually consider that the descendants of an educated animal have, by inheritance, a greater aptitude for learning than others. The young trainer must not fall into the mistaken notion that mere quickness in picking up a trick is the best quality in an ani- mal. There may be such a thing as learning a lesson too rapidly, .nnd what is learned with but slight effort is sometimes forgotten v;ith equal readiness. Another thing, too much should not be expected of one pupil. Public exhibitors are able to show a large array of tricks because of the number of animals they have, each, as a rule, knowing a comparatively few of these tricks, or, in the case of some of the "sensation" tricks, perhaps only one. Still any animal of ordinary capacity ought, with proper tuition, to be able to learn a sufficient variety to satifsy GENERAL 'PRINCirLES OF TRAINING. 15 a reasonable trainer. Judicious management on the part of the exhibitor will often make a variety of tricks out of a single one wliich the animal has been taught j an example of this is afforded by the ^' educated hog." The first essential for success in training animals is patience. At first many lessons may be given without the slightest appa- rent impression being made upon the mind of the pupil and an uncommon degree of patience and good temper is required to bear up against such discouraging results. By-and-by, how- ever, the pupil will suddenly appear to realize what is required of him, and will perform his task with surprising accuracy at the very moment his teacher is about to give up in despair. Then each successive lesson is learned with greater ease and rapidity than the preceding one ; the weariness and disappouit- ment of the trainer is changed to pleasure at his success, and even the animal appears to sympathize with his master's joy, and to take pride in his performance. As it is impossible to explain to an animal what is required of him he can be taught an action only by its constant repetition until he becomes famiiiar with it. When he knows what you want him to do he will in almost all -cases comply with your wishes promptly and cheerfully. For this reason punishments seldom do any good, unless the animal is willful, which is rare. On the contrary they, as a general rule, interfere with the success of the lessons. If the pupil is in constant fear of blows his attention will be diverted from the lesson, he will dread makin,^- any attempt to obey for fear of failure, and he will have a sneaking look which will detract materially from the appear- ance of his performance. This is the case with the animals instructed by a trainer of this city who " trains his horses with a club," the animals never appearing as well as those taught by more gentle means. But for a rare natural talent this man's success would have been utterly defeated by his brutality. He is the only one we know of in the profession who does not base his tuition on kindness to the pupil. A sharp word or a slight tap with a small switch will as effectually show your displeasure as the most severe blows. It is both cruel and unwise to inflict needless pain. All trainers make use of various little tit-bits as rewards for successful performance of tricks. These serve as a powerful incentive to the animal as well as to show him when he has done right. Withholding the accustomed reward when he fails or but imperfectly performs his duty is much more effective than any corporeal pimishracnt. The repetition of the lesson until the animal will himself perform the required action, and the bestowal 16 AKT OF TRAINING ANIMALS, of these rewards whenever lie obeys your order, is really the main secret of training. Of course there are many important details in the practical application, and many clever devices resorted to by trainers to increase the effectiveness of tricks, as well as skillful combinations of simple tricks to produce elabor- ate and astonishing feats. These we shall fully explain in their proper places. To certain scents has sometimes been ascribed a mysterious influence upon animals, rendering them docile and subservient to the human will. To the use of these many persons imagine trainers owe their success. Though some scents are relished by certain animals, we doubt whether, as a rule, they have so great a fondness for them as has been asserted. Certainly there is no general use of them in the profession, though they may have been sold to' the credulous by ignorant or unprincipled per- sons, for this purpose, Oats are fond of catnip, and we know of instances where kittens, displaying a violent resistance to being carried in a basket, have been quieted by being given some leaves of this herb. Animals no doubt receive pleasure from the grati- fication of their sense of smell, but there is about as much reason in conquering an um*uly school-boy by giving him a sniff of cologne water, as in taming a colt by causing him to smell that or any other perfume. To the oil of rhodium is most frequently ascribed the greatest and most general mfluence over the animal kingdom^ almost all animals, according to this theory being powerfully affected by it. This is the ^^ horse taming secret " sometimes sold for con- siderable sums. There is no good reason to believe it has any i aportant influence over either the disposition or actions of .my animal. The horse taming powders, composed of " a horse's com grated, some hairs from a black cat's tail," and like absurd in- gredients, are too nonsensical to deserve serious notice, though once a staple part of the veterinary art, and still, possibly, be- lieved in by a few persons. To a certain extent many animals are able to understand the meaning of words. That is, if any particular word of command be used in instructing an animal to do a particular act he will learn to associate that word with the action, and be able to dis- tinguish between a variety of words and apply each to the act associated with it, without confusing them. In training animals It is important that each word of command should be used only in its proper place. The common habit ignorant drivers have ijf using the words "back," " whoa," and others indiscriminately 'o absurd, and it is not wonderful that their horses sometimes SECRETS OF UORSE TAMING. 17 fail to understand them. A story is told of a farmer who had recently purchased a new yoke of oxen, and was driving them in a cart. Slipping from his seat he fell before one of the wheels and very naturally got run over. ■^'Bapk! back!" he cried to the oxen, meaning for them to stop^ but, like many another man, using words which meant something else. The oxen happened to be better linguists, or else had been accustomed to obey literally, and in this case did so by backing as ordered, running ever the man for the second time. CHAPTER II. HORSE TAMING AND HORSE TRAINING HORSE MAJN^AGEMENT — WHIP TRAINING — CURING BAD HABITS, ETC. SOME few persons imagine that to possess a proper mastery over their horses, they must maintain their authority by brute force. This is a great mistake. More work, within the limit of safety, can be got out of a horse by kmdness than by cruelty, and as far as inanaging a horse is concerned the chief point is to teach him confidence in you. If he believes you to be his friend he will not only strive to please you, but will have less fear of strange objects which otherwise might startle him and render him refractory. The Rareys — there are two or threeof them — taught the world ^ most important lesson when they taught it the " power of kindness" and '' self-^control" in the management of horses, donkeys, zebras, and other animals. How often do we see inconsiderate parents fly into a passion and, without reason or religion, thrash the object of their displeasure. So of brutal, heartless drivers, when the '' blinded '^ horses chance to misstep, get ofi" the track, stumble, or in the wrong place. By their actions it would appear that they expected a horse or an ass to reason quite as well as themselves. Employers may not look for the same talent in their apprentices as in their foreman. Teachers may expect every little urchin to be self-regulating and to mind his books; but this it is his duty to teach him to do, and he should be all patience, all kindness, affection^ persever- ance, if he would produce the best results. The same spirit is required to subdue and manage a horse. If you say you are not equal to the task ; if you say your child, your horse, or is ART OF TRAINING AXIiiAJLg. your ox knows more than you, is j^our master^ then you are not the one to manage him, and you should resign in favor of one who is superior to child, horse, or ox^ A \Yeak man Wi intellect may indeed be outwitted by a sagacious child or horsr. There is no disguising the fact that viciousness is innate wit?) some horses. But far more so with some, nay, most, men, from whom they get it. It is no doubt sometimes hereditary, and follows some of the best strains of blood we have. That viciousness should accompany a highly nervous organization i?* not to be wondered at. Hence it causes no surprise when we find such dispositions amiong the finely organized thoroughbreds — animals of a most sensitive and nervous organization — from which the common expression "thin skinned," as applied to a too sensitive man, is obviously derived. The treatment horses receive, and the moral atmosphere in which they are thrown, have a much greater influence than most horsemen are generally inclined to admit. The pinching, tickling, rough, boisterous stable boy who annoys a spirited horse for the sake of enjoying his futile, though almost frantic kicks and leers, is affecting the disposition of the horse and his descendants for generations to come, besides putting in jeopardy the lives and limbs of those who arc brought in contact with the horse so tampered with. A horse is surely influenced by the character of the m.en with whom he associates. Sometimes, however, it is necessary to conquer a bad tempered horse, and if possible to secure a radical conversion or change of character which shall be lasting. Ko timorous man need undertake this taskj he will only make matters -^orse. A I.orse tamer should be calm, cool, brave, and fearless — the horse will know it j he should be quiet, for then the horse will be put off his guard j he should be firm and give the brute no advan- tage, but crowd him up to doing something, and that, invariably, what the tamer wants him to do. Thus any ordinary hcrse will soon give up and own man his master. The kindest treat- ment and even pcttmg must always follow yielding; and if possible to help it, the horse should never be frightened by any treatment, and above all things he should never be angered by petty torture. His cwu contrariness should appear to him to be the cause of all his trouble, and man his best friend. This principle is at the foundation of Rarey's successful practice. POWELL'S MANAGEMENT OF WILD HORSES. Place your hcrso in a small yard, or in a stable or room. If in a stable or room, it ought to be large, in order to give him .some exercise with the halter before you lead him out. If tlie oECRETS OF HORSE TAMING. 19 horse belongs to that class which appears only to fear man, you must Introduce yourself gently into the stable, room, or yard, where the horse is. He will naturally run from you, and fre- quently turn his head from you; for you must walk about extremely slow and softly, so that he can see you whenever he turns his head toward you, which he never fails to do in a short time, say in a quarter or half an hour. I never knew one to be much longer without turning toward me. At the very moment he turns his head, hold out your hand toward him, and stand perfectly still, keeping your eyes upon the horse, watching his motions, if he makes any. If the horse does not stir for ten or fifteen minutes, advance as slowly as possible, and without making the least noise, always holding out your left hand, without any other ingredient in ft than what nature put in it. I have made use of certain ingredients before people, such as the sweat under my arm, etc., to disguise the real secret and many believed that the docility to which the horse arrived in so short a time was owing to these ingredients ; but you see from this explanation that they were of no use whatever. The implicit faith placed in these ingredients, though innocent of themselves, becomes ^' faith without works." And thus men always remained in doubt concerning the secret. If the horse makes the least motion when you advance toward him, stop, and remain perfectly still until he is quiet. Remain a few mouiL^nts in this condition, and then advance again in the ■same slow and almost imperceptible manner. Take notice, if the horse stirs, stop, without changing your position. It is very uncommon for the horse to stir more than once after you begin to advance, yet there are exceptions. He generally keeps his eyes steadfast on you, until you get near enough to touch him on the forehead. When you are thus near to him, raise your hand slowly and by degrees, and let it come in contact with that part just above the nostrils as lightly as possible. If the horse flinches (as many will,) repeat with great rapidity these light strokes upon the forehead, going a little farther up toward his ears by degrees, and descending with the same rapidity until he will let you handle his forehead all over. Now let the strokes bo repeated with more force all over his forehead, descending by lighter strokes to each side of his Jiead, until you can handle that part with equal facility. Then touch in the same light manner, making your hands and fingers play around the lower part of the horse's ears, coming down now and then to his forehead, which may be looked upon as the helm that goveiTiS all the rest. Having succeeded in handling his ears, advance toward the 20 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. neck with the same precaution, and in the same manner ) ob- serving always to augment the force of the strokes whenever the horse will permit it. Perform the same on both sides of the neck, until he lets you take it in your arms without flinching. Proceed in the same progressive manner to the sides, and then to the back of iha horse. Every time the horse shows any nervousness, return immediately to the forehead, as the true standard, patting him with your hands, and thence rapidly to where you had already arrived, always gaining ground a consid- erable distance farther on every time this happens. The htad, ears, neck, and body being thus gentled, proceed from the back to the root of the tail. This must be managed with dexterity, as a horse is never to be depended on that is skittish about the tail. Let your hand fall lightly and rapidly on that part next to the body a minute or two, and then you will begin to give it a slight pull upward every quarter of a minute. At the same time you continue this handling of him, augment the force of the strokes as well as the raising of the tail, until you can raise it and handle it with the greatest ease, which commonly happens in a quarter of an hour in most horses, in others almost immediately, and in some much longer. It now remains to handle all his legs ; from the tail come back again to the head, handle it well, as likewise the ears, breast, neck, etc., speaking now and then to' the horse. Begin by degrees to descend to the legs, always ascending and descending, gaining ground every time you descend, until you get to his feet. Talk to the horse while thus taming him 5 let him hear the sound of your voice, which at the beginning of the operation is not quite so necessary, but which I have always done in making him lift up his feet. ^^ Hold up your foot," you will say ; at the same time lifting his foot with your hand. He soon becomes familiar with the sounds, and will hold up hi« foot at command. Then proceed to the hind feet and go on in the same manner ; and in a short time the horse will let you lift them, and even take them up in your arms. All this operation is no magnetism, or galvanism j it is merely taking away the fear a horse generally has of a man, and famil- iarizing the animal with his master. As the horse doubtless experiences a certain pleasure from this handling, he will soon become gentle under it, and show a very marked attaohrapnt to his keeper. MANAGING HORSES BY KINDNESS. A lady visiting Egypt some years ago, gave in one of her POWER OF GENTLENESS. 21 letters to her friends at home, an instance of the power of gen- tleness in controlling even the most spirited of horses. She gives the following description of her experience with the Arabian horses : " I fear yau may deem me rather boastful of my horsemanship when I tell you that the two Arab horses which tlu-ew their cavaliers did not throw me. The cause of the exception was not in me or my skill -, it was the very remark- able prediliction these intelligent animals feel toward individ- uals of the weaker sex. Let the wildest and fiercest Arabian be mounted by a woman, and you will see him suddenly grow mild and gentle as a lamb. I have had plenty of opportunities to make the experiment, and in my own stables there is a beau- tiful gray Arabian which nobody but myself dares to ride. He knows me, anticipates my wishes, and judiciously calculates the degree of fatigue I can bear without inconvenience. It is curious to see how he can manage to quicken his pace without shaking me, and the different sorts of steps he has invented to realize those contradictory purposes. Horses being as liable to forgetfulness as other organized beings, my incomparable gray would allow his natural ambition to overcom.e his gallantry, and if another horse threatened to pass him, would start off with the speed of the whirlwind. Woe to me if, under these circumstances, I were to trust to the strength of my arm or the power of the bridle ! I knew my gallant charger better. Leaving my hand quite loose, and abandoning all thoughts of compulsion, I would take to persuasion J pat him on the neck 5 call him by his name; beg him to be quiet and deserve the piece of sugar waiting for him at home. Never did these gentle means fail. Instantly he would slacken his pace, prick up his ears as if fully compre- hending his error, and come back to a soft amble, gently neigh- ing as if to crave pardon for his momentary offense." This power of women over the Arabian horses is partly due, no doubt, to the fact that when still a colt he is reared in fhe back part of the tent, the movable harem of the Arab. He is constantly petted, and it is the women who see that he is sup- plied with food, and tenderly cared for. It is the attachment which is by these means awakened in the horse that leads him to so cheerfully yield obedience to the female voice. Deservedly high as may stand the Arabian horse for docility and sagacity, it should not be forgotten that, in the absence of all other amusements, the education of the foal becomes a pleasure as well as a business ; it thus becomes attached to its biped com- panions, and takes a pride in enacting all that is required of him. If his rider fallsj the horse will stand by and neigh for assist- ance 3 if he lies down to sleep, the horse will watch over him ^2 THE ART OF TILVIXIKG AlS'iMALS. and give notice of the approach of man or beast. Similar anec- dotes are related of all horses kindly treated, no matter where may be their home. We heard of one who had a drunken master, and this horse surpassed the Arab example even in intelligence, for he would modify his gait so as to keep his reel- ing rider from falling off; and if this catastrophe did happen, the horse would stand for hours, regardless of food or drink, and with anger and determination attack man or beast that would approach too near. TO CURE A STUBBORN DISPOSITION. If your horse, instead of being wild, seems to be of a stubborn or mulish disposition ; if he lays back Ms ears as you approach him, or turns his heels to kick you, he has not the regard or fear of man that he should have to CDable you to handle him quickly and easily ; and it might be well to give him a few sharp cuts with the whip, about the legs, pretty close to the body. It will crack keenly as it plies around his legs, and the crack of the whip will affect him as much as the stroke 5 besides one sharp cut about his legs will affect him more than two or three over his back, the skin on the inner part of his legs or about his fiank being thhnier, more tender, than on his back. But do not whip him much — just enough to frighten him ; it is not because we want to hurt the horse that u-e whip Jtiin-^'we only do it to frighten vice and stubbornness out of him. But whatever you do, do quickly, sharply, and with a good deal of fire, but always without anger. If you are going to frighten him at all, you must do it at once. Never go into a pitched battle with your horse, and whip him until he is mad and will fight you ; it would be better not to touch him at all, for you will establish, instead of fear and respect, feelings of resentment, hatred, and ill-will. It. will do him no good, but harm, to strike him, unless you can frighten him ; but if you can succeed in frightening him, you can whip him without making him msid-, for fear and anger never exist together in the horse, and as soon as one is visible, you will find that the other has disappeared. As soon as you have frightened him, so that he will stand up straight and pay some attention to you, approach him again, and caress him a good deal more than you whipped him ; thus you will excite the two controlling passions of his nature, love and fear ; he will love and fear you too ; and, as soon as he learns what you require, will obey quickly. The stubborness once broken down, there is seldom any farther trouble of that score, if the horse be afterward managed with judgment and kindness. He will appreciate your kindness and become desirous of pleasing you. MATERIALS USED IN TAMING HOESES. 23 THE CORD AND LINE WEBBING. One of the main appliances used by horse tamers is a three or four ply cord or rope, one of cotton being the best, such as is used by the Indians for subduing their horses. This cord is a powerful instrument for either good or evil, as it is properly cr improperly used. It may be prepared by any one in the man- ner shown in the engraving : LOOPING THE CORD. A knot is to be tied in each end, then make a loop by doub- ling the cord and passing the knot through as represented above. Be careful to make the loops at such a distance from the knot as will allow the cord to pass around the neck at one end, and the lower jaw at the other, passing the knot through the loop from the opposite side of the loop to where it passed through in making the lap. The necessity for this will be seen on apply- ing the cord. The object is to obtain steady pressure upon the lower jaw, as well as friction in the mouth. In addition to the cord a piece of worsted webbing, such as is used for driving lines should be prepared in the following man- ner : Divide it into two parts, one piece being of sufficient length to girt the body. Make a loop in one end large enough for the other end to pass through, so as, when adjusted it is sufficiently long to tie. These pieces of webbing will be useful in carrying out future directions. TO TEACH A HORSE TO STOP. The word " whoa " should be used only to stop a horse when he is in motion. ^N'ever use it when you approach a horse stand- ing quietly. Horses soon learn to distinguish any word often addressed to them, and they should learn to associate it with some definite and exact duty which you wish them to perform. If any word of command is used indiscriminately, or out of its proper place, the animal becomes confused and loses the associ- ation between the word and the object desired. To teach a hors'^ the meaning of the word "whoa," the arrangement shown in the accompanying illustration may be used. Put the large web, previously described^ around his 24 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. uear fore foot, pass it under the girth ; and as the animal walks along, pull up the foot, saying at the same instant, ^' Whoa." WIIOA He will be brought to a stop, and by repeating the lesson he will soon raise the foot and stop even though the web is not pulled upon. TO TEACH A HORSE TO BACK. Put the cord upon the horse, using the smiall loop ; draw it with a steady pull ; this brings the horse's nose toward his body. Keep a firm hold upon the cord urtil he steps back a little, using at the same time the word ^^ back." Then caress him 'j by doing so you show him that he has done exactly as TEACHING THE HORSE TO BACK. you wished him to. and the caresses should be repeated every INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEACHING HORSES. 25 time he obeys. The utmost gentleness must be observed in order not to excite him, and the lesson should not be long enough to tire him. Five to ten minutes being the best length, repeated at intervals of a few hours. As soon as he understands what you desire he will probably back promptly at command. TO mae:e a horse follow you. The directions make simple what have hitherto been among the mysteries of the circus. Turn the horse into a large stable or shed, where there is no chance to get out, with a halter or bridle on. Go to him and gentle him a little, take hold of his halter, and turn him toward you, at the- same time touching him lightly over the hips with a long whip. Lead him the length of the stable, rubbing him on the neck, saying in a steady tone of voice, '^ Come along, boy ! " or use his name instead of " boy," if you choose. Every time you turn, touch him slightly with the whip, to make him step up close to you, and then caress him with your hand. He will soon learn to hurry up to escape the whip and be caressed, and you can make him follow you around without taking hold of the halter. If he should stop and turn from you, give him a few sharp cuts about the hind legs, and he will soon turn his head toward you, when you must always caress him. A few lessons of this kind will make him run after you, when he sees the motion of the whip — in twenty or thirty minutes he will follow you about the stable. After you have given him two or three lessons in the stable, take him out into a small field and train him ; and thence you can take him into the road and make him follow you anywhere, and run after you. TO stand without holding. To make a horse stand without holding, after you have him well broken to follow you, place him in the center of the stable —begin at his head to caress him, gradually working backward. If he move give him a cut with the whip, and put him back to the same spot from which he started. If he stands, caress him as before, and continue gentling him in this way until you can get round him without making him move. Keep walking around him, increasing your pace, and only touch him occasionally. Enlarge your circle as you walk around, and if he then moves, give him another cut with the whip, and put him back to his place. If he stands, go to him frequently and caress him, and then walk around him again. Do not keep him in one position too long at a time, but make him come to you occasionally, and follow you around the stable. Then make him stand in another 26 ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. place, and proceed as before. You should not train your horse Jiiore than half an hour at a time. WHIP TRAIXING. So accustomed are we to the use of bit and reins for driving that we have got to consider them absolutely requisite for guid- ing a horse. Horses however may, if properly taught, be driven without either bit or reins, merely by signals with the whip. Probably the simplest and most concise du-ections for whip training are given by Mr. Jennings in his valuable work on training horses. Mr. Jennings says : ^^ To train a horse* thoroughly to drive without bit or line, under the whip, requires from four to six weeks' time ; it requires also a man of strong nerve and self-control to be a successful trainer in this particular branch. Whip training illustrates the beauty and power of our system of horse training. Such a feat as driving a horse without bit or line cannot be accomplished by any other system known to man. Having selected ahorse with a moderate share of intelligence, the next thing is to secure a suitable place for training. An enclosure twenty-five or thirty feet square is required. If you have it smaller, and your horse should be disposed to kick, you would be m danger ; if larger it gives the animal too much room to get away from the whip. It is better that you go in with the horse alone, as then the animal will have no other object to take his attention. Turn him loose without bridle or halter in the enclosure ; take your position in the centre, holding in your right hand a straight whip nine or ten feet long ; you crack the whip as you take your position ; this alarms the horse and causes him to run into one corner of the enclosure ,• crack it several times that he may learn that you do not intend to hurt him ; now commence tapping him lightly upon the near shoulder, but not to hurt him 5 if a nervy fellow he is all excitement for a few minutes 5 continue the tapping until he turns his head toward you, which he will do in a short time. The moment he turns it, however slight it may be, cease the whipping ; as soon as he turns it away again repeat the tapping with the whip ; in a few minutes he again turns his head toward you ; stop the motion of the whip ; as he turns away repeat the whip tapping as before ; in a very short time he turns around so that you can approach him ; now gently caress him ; move away and again approach him ; should he turn away repeat the whipping, by this means you teach him to come to you on the near side. After he has learned this thoroughly, which requires about one week's training, half an hour each day, then proceed in the same manner upon the off side j as soon as CURING BALKY HORSES. 27 he obeys the motion of the whip upon this side, take your posi- tion behind him, and turn him by the motion of the whip to the right or to the left j as soon as he performs nicely, put the har- ness upon him, take the lines behind him, and, as you give him the word to go forward, throw the whip down by his right side without touching him, at the same time have the long web around the near fore foot, and give it to an assistant ; you want him to stop, give him the word " Whoa," at the same time your assis- tant pulls up the foot, turn the whip in a horizontal position above your head — in this way you teach him that the whip in that position means ^ Whoa.' By repeating these motions, he learns in about four weeks to turn to the right whenever the whip is thrown toward the right shoulder; to the left when thrown toward the left shoulder ; to go ahead when thrown down by the right side ; and to stop when held in a horizontal position. You now want to teach him to back ; having previously instructed him according to our rule, put the cord, using the small loop, in his mouth ; take the cord in your hand with the reins, pull upon the reins and say ' Back,' at the same time keep the whip directly over the animal's back, giving it an upward and down- ward motion, or you may tap him gently upon the back with the whip — this is best done in a sulky. If he starts forward, set him back by pulling quickly upon the cord ; repeat the oper- ation until he will go back by the motion of the whip alone. Should he make repeated efforts to go forward, bring the whip quickly once or twice down over his nose, he will not then repeat the operation very often ; with this training, it is necessary to use an open bridle, so that the animal will see the motion of the whip ; you are now prepared to hook him up for the" first drive. Take an assistant with you ; have the foot strap or long web secured upon the near fore foot ; give it in charge of your assistant ; let the lines lie over the dash, as a matter of precau- tion. Now commence operations with the whip j if the animal acts promptly, remove the foot web and begin again, having the Imes over the dash as before ; drive the animal in this way at least two or three weeks before removing the bit from the mouth. Your horse is now safe to drive under the whip." The large and noble looking horses which draw the trucks of the safe manufacturers in this city, are hitched m^ single file^ only the rear one having reins attached. Sometimes six or eight horses will be required to draw the ponderous load, and the coolness and dexterity with which they wend their way through the confused mass of vehicles in the crowded streets is a truly remarkable sight. Without any guidance the leader will press onward through the mass', deftly avoiding collisions 28 THE ART OF TRAIKIXG ANlilALS. and entanglement. Changes of route, stoppages, etc., are effected by such orders as " Whoa/' '' Gee," '' Haw/' which the leader promptly and intelligently obeys. TO CURE BALKY HORSES. From.the number of " infallible recipes " given in the papers for curing balky horses we should judge a little light on the subject is called for by horsemen. The various remedies which different correspondents describe as havmg proved effective in their own experience would form a curious collection, though some of them betray a remarkable lack of real knowledge about the matter. One genius has discovered that stuffing a horse's mouth and no^rils with road dust is highly successful. Another humane individual deeply deplores the barbarous practice of whacking balky horses over the head and legs, and suggests that there should be substituted a system of steady, but not very severe, pounding in one spot ^ith a '' smooth club," until " the pain grows intolerable and he starts nervously forward." One hero, whose valor deserves to be chronicled for the admir ation of future ages, thus modestly relates his experience with " one of the perverse animals," as he calls his horse : <' The first work I did with him after he came into my pos session was to draw a load of hay from the meadow. He started a few rods and then stood still, and no amount of urging that I could command would induce him to budge afl inch. I took the pitchfork and sat down on the fore end of the load and began to prick him about the root of his tail, inserting the tines just through the skin. He kicked, but the load of iiay was a com- plete protection. I kept on, moderately and persistently pricking for about five minutes, when he started for the bara. He never attempted to balk but once after, when the mere sight of the pitchfork was sufficient to make him draw." In Cecil county, Maryland, a farmer resorted to a rather novel expedient for getting some " go" out of. a balky horse. Having loaded his wagon rather heavily with wheat, the horses were either unable or refused to draw it. After trying for some time to put them in motion, he set fire to a sheaf of wheat, and applied the flame to one of the horses. The horse, not relishing the application, by a well directed kick deposited the blazing sheaf in the load of wheat. This becoming ignited, was entirely con- sumed, together with the wagon. One of the horses, also, nar- rowly escaped perishing in the conflagration. Many of the cases of "balkiness" are nothing but want of power to perform the task assigned ; a necessary pause from temporary exhaustion. A driver who understands his business BALKINESS AND HOW TO CURB IT. 29 will giVe his team a breathing spell occasionally while pulling a heavy load. Another thing, if you find your team becoming exhausted and about to give out, it is well to stop them of your own accord j and it is well, too, to give them a few moments rest before encountering a peculiarly difficult part of the route. If you have balky horses, it is your own fault, and not the horse's, for if they do not pull true there is some cause for it, and if you will remove the cause the effect will cease. When your horse balks he is excited and does not know what you want him to do. For instance, a young horse that has never been " set '^ in a gully with a load before, is whipped by his owner or di-iver because he does not draw the load out The animal is willing to do what he can, but he does not know how to draw out the load. He tries and finds that it does not move, not knownig that a steadier and stronger pull would do it, and when the lash comes down upon him and he hears the yells of his driver he is frightened, and jumps and rears through fear rather than uglhiess or • balkiness. No better way could pos- sibly be devised to make a horse balky than to beat him under such circumstances. When he gets a little excited, stop him five or ten minutes, let him become calm; go to the balky liorse, pat hun and speak gently to him, and as soon as he is over his excitement, he will, in nine cases out of ten, pull at the word. Aftei you have gentled him a while, and his excitement has cooled down, take him by the bits; turn him each way a few minutes as far as you can ; gentle him a little ; unrein him ; then step before the balky horse, and let the other start first , then you can take them anywhere you wish. A balky horse is always high spirited and starts quick ; half the pull is out before the other starts ; by standing before him the other starts first By close application to this rule, you can make any balky horse pull. If a horse has been badly spoiled you^should hitch him to the empty wagon, and pull it around a while on level ground ; then put on a little load and increase it gradually, caressing as before, and in a short, time you can have a good work horse. You might as well attempt to make d horse move a three story building and draw it off, as to get out of a slough with a heavy load, vdien the animal has never been taught by degrees to draw a load out of such places. It is true t^at it is bad policy to unhitch a horse from a load under such circumstances, but it is fi\r worse to beat him an hour and then have to do it. Our way of teaching colts is as follows : We put on light loads^ after they are well broken to a harness, and go into bad places where it requires hard pulling by degrees ; and the animal learas how to draw the load out. He reasons as a man does, thus : 30 THE ART or TRAINING ANIMALS. " I have been here before and got out, and I can do it again," and out he goes. We add to the load one or two hundred pounds, and go through the same process, then wait a day or two and try him again, taking care that we require nothing to be done extra except with a lighter load. This is teaching a horse to have confidence in himself, which is the basis of all good draught horses. A Scotch paper describes a curious case of horse manage- ment, and though the same treatment has been equally successful in other instances we are inclined to believe the true secret lies partly in gentling the animal while the preparations are being made. The fact related is curious and may be useful, so we reproduce it : ^' On Saturday last a groom, mounted on a high mettled hunter^ entered the High street of Coldstream, and, -when oppo- site Sir John Majoribank's monument, the horse began to plunge and rear to a fearful extent, swerving to the right and then to the left, bnt go forward he would not, nor could all the exer- tions cf the groom overcome his obstinacy. The street was filled with people expecting to see the 'animal destroy himself on the spikes of the iron railmg around the monument, when Mr. McDougal, saddler, walked up to the groom, and said : ^ I think, my man, you are not taking the proper method to make the horse go; allow me to show you a trick worth knowing.' ' Well,' says the groom, ' if you can make him go, it's more than I can ;' when Mr. McDougal took a piece of whipcord, which he tied with a firm knot on the end of the animal's ear, which he bent gently down, fastening the end of the string to the check buckle of the hridle, which done, he patted the horse's neck once or twice, and said, '■ Now, let me see you go quietly home like a good horse,' and, astonishmg to relate, it moved off as gently as if nothing had happened. Mr. McDougal says he has seen, in London, horses which no manner of force could make go, while this mild treatment was always successful." HOW TO PREVENT HARNESSED HORSES FROM RUNNING AlVAY. For the following useful suggestion we are indebted to Mr. Robert McClure : " It has often occured to our mind, on account of the many and destructive runaways of horses harnessed to sleighs, that have taken place in this city and its neighborhood the present winter, that some mode of training might be adopted for family or carriage horses, which would entirely prevent or at least mitigate the violence and excitement of horses that may take fright. A good plan, based upon our knowledge and observa- RUNAWAY HOESES. 31 tion of the excitability and nervous temperament of horses disposed to take fright, would be to harness them with strong harness to an old but stout caj-riage a few times before the sleighing season, and have them taken slowly out of the city to a country road, not too hard for the horses' feet, and drive them at a full run or gallop for a few rods at a time. Repeating this several times during the drive will so accustom the horses to the excitement of a run in harness and the rattle of a carriage behind them, that it will become familiar, and when occasions arise,- as they sometime will in all large cities, to start them to run, they can be at once brought up and kept under complete control. The training to an occasional run has familiarized such horses with the excitement ; but conversely, once let a team not used to it in harness, get a start and run, the excite- ment every moment becomes greater, takes the place of animal instinct, and all control of them is lost — till brought up against some obstacle, with a general smash of all surroundings, and perhaps the loss of valuable and useful life. Whether the horse be hurt or not, they are forever of no value for family purposes, and the groom or coachman not unfrequently loses both situa- tion and character as a driver. To familiarize your horse to an occasional run in harness will do them no harm ; and our word for it, much good will be done, and safety insured." HOW TO INSTANTLY STOP RUNAWAY HOESES. When a Canadian family party, traveling in winter over ice covered rivers and swamps, is so unlucky as to cross a place where the horse sinks, they save him from drowning, and them- selves from the danger of sharing the same fate, by pulling a rope so arranged that it chokes him. The water being thus prevented from enteruig his gullet or windpipe, he floats on the surface, and it only requires a long and firm pull to bring him to solid ground, when the rope being relaxed he quickly recovers his wind and is ready once more to start on his journey. Perhaps profiting by this example, a similar means has been adopted with success for stopping runaway and subduing infuri- ated horses whether in riding or driving. It consists of a rein composed partly of thread-covered cat-gut, and partly of com- mon leather, one end of which is attached to the bridle at the top of the horse's head, while the other rests at the pummel of the saddle, or on the coach box, as the case may be. Running upon the cat-gut part by means of loops, is a short cross piece of cat-gut which rests against the windpipe of the animal, ready to be pulled up against it by takmg hold of the nearer end of the rein. A quick and firm pull, to stop the breathing of the 32 THE ART OF TEAINING AOTMALS. animal, is all that is necessary to bring him to an instantaneous pause. He may be in a state of panic, running off with the bit between his teeth in spite of every ordinary means of checking him : but no sooner does he feel the stricture on his breathing than he is conscious of being outwitted and nonplussed and becomes instantly as quiet as a lamb ; at the same time he keeps quite firm upon his legs — the check not being by any means calculated to bring him down. On the contrary, from the position in which it places the horse, his shoulders being brought up, and being pressed back upon his haunches, the check is. indeed, calculated to keep him up. CHAPTER III. ENGLISH SYSTEM OF TRAINING HUNTERS. OWING to difference in customs of the two nations, such horses as the English hunters are not the most desirable for use in this country, and the system of training adopted to suit the animals to the requirements of English gentlemen, are seldom called into requisition here. Still, as we desire our work to be as complete as possible, and as the method of training is interesting, though it may prove useful to but few of our readers, we introduce it. We take this spirited description from " A Holiday on Horseback," from the pen of an English writer whose name is not given : " A light built, gaylooking thoroughbred was passing into a paddock for a lesson in jumping over a swivel bush hurdle. Without spur or whip, the rider — the horsebreaker's son — rode the mare steadily at- the fence, and she went over without touch- ing a top twig, clearing nine yards in the leap. ' The great thing, sir, is to bring them into workmanlike ways ; not to be fussy and flurried at their fence, so as to take off at the right spot.' Then he went on to inform us that hunters should be carefully handled at a very early age, if they are intended to become temperate and handy. They may be ridden gently by a light weight with good hands, at three years old, over small fences. At four they ought to be shown hounds, but they should only be allowed to follow them at a distance, after the fences are broken down, for if you put them to large leaps at that age they are apt to get alarmed and never make steady fencers TRAINING ENGLISH HUNTERS. 33 afterward. Above all things, avoid getting them into boggy ditches, or riding them at brooks ; but they sholild be practiced at leaping small ditches, if possible, with water in them, the rider facing them at a brisk gallop, for this gives a horse con- fidence and courage. The old custom of teaching colts to lear*, standing, over a bar is now obsolete, and they are taught to become timber jumpers simply by taking timber as it comes across the country — the present rate of hounds gives no time for standing leaps. The circular bar, however, is not a bad thing if in a good place and well managed. Every description of fence that your hunter is likely to meet with should be placed within a prescribed cu*c1q on soft ground, the man who holds him standing on a stage in the center. Another man, following the colt with a whip, obliges him to clear his fences at a certain pace, and in a very short time a good tempered colt will go at his jumps with pleasure. " Here let me observe— for the conversation had ended — ^that no matter how carefully a hunter may have been trained, until you taste and try him in the field, it is hard to say whether the right stuif be in him. The best judges are often deceived by outsides and school performances. A few general rules may, however, be given, which will be found of certain application. In a hilly country, for instance, nothing has a chance against a pure thoroughbred. Lengthy horses always make the best jumpers, if they have good hind quarters, good loins and good courage. Extraordinary things have been done by such horses. In 1829 Dick Christian jumped thirty-three feet on King of the Valley j and Captain Littler^s horse. Chandler, cleared thirty- nine feet over .a brook at Leamington. The most dangerous of all horses in the field is a star gazer. A hunter should carry his head low, as by so doing he is less liable to fall, and gives his rider a firmer seat. All wild horses lower their crests in leaping. It is, however, the peculiar excellence of going well through dirt which decides the real value of a horse for our best hunting counties. To find out this quality he must be ridden fair and straight. If he flinch on soft ground he is of no use. No matter how wide a horse may be, if he is not deep in the girth he cannot carry weight, and is very seldom a good winded horse, even under a light man. One of the best things that can be said of a hunter is, that at first sight he appears two inches lower than he really is. Short legged horses leap better and safer than long legged cattle, and go faster and farther under hard riders. Horses with straight hind legs never can have good mouths. He should have well placed hind legs with wide hips, well spread gaskms, as much as possible of the vis a 34 THE AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS, Jergo^ well knit joints, short cannon bone, oblique pasterns and largish feet. The bone of a hunter^s hock cannot be too long. These are the points for strength and bottom. " ' Handsome is as handsome does/ and an old whip once said to a nobleman who remarked that his staunch old horse who had carried him through so many troubles had an awkward head : ' Never mind his 'ed, my lord j I am't a going to ride on his 'ed.' Indeed, what is called the perfect model horse is by no means the best. A horse's constitution may be too good. Horses of a very hard nature, and very closely ribbed up, are large feeders, with great barrels, and do not make brilliant hunters. They require so much work to keep them m place and wind that their legs suffer, and often give way when their constitution is in its prime. Horses with moderate carcasses last much longer, and, provided they are good feeders, are usually bright and lasting enough, if otherwise well shaped. Finally, a hunter should be well seasoned. Few five year old horses are fit to carry a gentleman across country ; for they cannot be suffi- ciently experienced to take a straight line. About fifteen hands two inches is the best hight for a hunter. His action should be smooth, or it cannot last. The movement of the fore legs should -be round, not high; the horse should be quick on his legs as well as fast." CHAPTER IV. TRICKS OF PERFORMING HORSES, AND HOW THEY ARE TAUGHT. HORSES may be taught many amusing tricks, some of which are really wonderful. For teaching horses tricks the implements known as the Rarey straps are requisite, to teach the animal to lie dowetn, c. The piebald or spotted horses are generally supposed by trainers to be more tractable as well as to possess more talent than others. THE SHORT AND LONG STRAPS. A common breaching strap is used to strap up the foot. For using, open the loop, keeping the buckle on the outside, put the loop over foot, then raise foot and pass the strap around the fore-arm from the inside, and buckle it tight j this holds the foot APPLICATION OF THE STRAPS, 35 THE SHORT AND THE LONG STRAPS. THE SHORT STRAP IN USE- TEACHING THE HORSE TO LIE DOWN. ^Q THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. up firmly. The Jor^g strap is the one which buckles around the foot. To a ring in this is buckled another strap seven or eight feet long. This is attached to the right foot and passes under the girth, or over the back. Its use is to raise the foot when you wish to bring the horse upon his knees. Bend his left fore leg and slip a loop over it, so that he can- not get it down. Then put a surcingle around his body, and fasten one end of the long strap around the other fore leg, just THE APPLICATION OF BOTH STRAPS. above the hoof. Place the other end under the surcingle, so as to keep the strap in the right direction ; take a short hold of it with your right hand ; stand on the left side of the horse, grasp the bit in your left hand, pull steadily on the strap with your right; bear against his shoulder till you cause him to move. As soon as he lifts his weight, your pulling will raise the other foot, and he will come on his knees. Keep the strap tight in your hand, so that he cannot straighten his leg if he rises up. Hold him in this position, and turn his head toward you ; bear against his side with your shoulder, not hard, but with a steady, equal pressure, and in about ten minutes he will lie down. As soon as he lies down he will be completely conquered, and you LESSOlfS WITH THE STRAPS. 37 can handle liim as you please. Take off the straps, and straighten out his legs ; rub him lightly about the face and neck with your hand the way the hair lies ; handle all his legs, and after he has lain ten or twenty minutes, let him get up again. After resting him a short time, make him lie down as before. Repeat the operation thre-e or four times, which will be sufficient for one lesson. Give him two lessons a day, and when you have given him four lessons, he will lie down on your taking hold of one foot. As soon as he is well broken to lie down in this way, tap him on the opposite leg with a whip when you take hold of his foot, and in a few days he will lie down from the mere motion of the whip. Use great gentleness during the operation. Compel the horse to comply with your wishes, but do not frighten or excite him. BRINGING THK HORSE TO HIS KNEES. PREPARING TO LIE DOWN. 38 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. THE HORSE LYING DOWN. TO TEACH A HORSE TO SIT UP. A common winding-up of the "grand entree" which usually commences the performances at most circuses, is for the horses of all the riders to lie down at the word of command, and at another command, to sit up on their haunches. The lying down part we have already explained j the getting up is taught by Jennings as follows : " Lay the animal down as previously directed, having a collar upon him ; place a hobble or strap, with a ring in it, around each hmd foot ; take a pair of ordinary driving lines, pass the buckle end through the collar back to the ring in the hobble, and buckle them ; pull the feet up toward the shoulders, and carry the lines back to the hind quarters, hold them firmly in one hand, or give them to an assistant. Have a bridle with a long rein upon the animal ; take the rein in your hand, stand upon the tail, and pull upon the bridle rein, keeping the lines firm at the same time ; this brings him up in front, and prevents his gettmg his hind feet back far enough to rise upon them^ they being drawn forward and securely held by the lines." KICKING AT WORD OF COMMAND. Jennings gives the following instructions for teaching horses a very common trick performed at circus exhibitions : " Care must be taken in teaching this trick, that you have a horse not predisposed to vicious propensities, or you may make a confirmed kicker ; and then you will have the habit to break- up. A horse of a mild disposition may be taught to perform thus without the risk of his becoming a kicker. I have taught one of my ponies to kick when I desire him to do so, and he cannot be made to kick unless the whip is used lightly upon his TRICK HORSES AND THEIR TRAINING. 39 hind parts. Having selected your animal, take a pin in your right hand, prick the near hind leg with it and say, ^ Kick with the left foot J- the animal soon learns to obey. Then proceed with the opposite leg in the same manner. After the horse will kick, with either foot, by a motion of the hand without pricking him you will stand oflf a short distance, with a long whip in your hand j touch the near hind foot and say, ^ Kick with the left foot j' then proceed in the same manner with the right foot. By pro- ceeding thus once a day the animal will soon learn to do his part very nicely." TALKING HORSES. If neatly managed one of the most "taking'^ performances of the '' arena " is the answering of questions by the horse, Yankee Robinson has a very fine animal, who replies to his master^s interrogations with much seeming judiciousness. Horses may be taught to shake and nod their heads as negative or affirmative replies, in either of two ways. The first method of training is this : Take your position at the horse's head with a pin in your hand. Gently prick the animal's breast. The horse bobs his head, just as he would had a fly alighted on the spot. Repeat the operation several times, each time cares- sing him, and perhaps rewarding him with a iDit of apple occa- sionally. He will soon learn to nod his head on merely having the hand pointed toward his breast, or he may be trained to do the same by a motion of the foot. To teach the horse to shake his head it is only necessary to prick him slightly anywhere along the mane or over the withers. After a little teaching he will do so on your raising your hand to your head, a motion whose connection with the horse's action will scarcely be sus- pected by the audience. The second method is by pricking his breast at the same moment that you say " yes," or any other particular word ; and by pricking his withers at the same time you say the word " no." He will soon learn to make the desired motion on hear- ing the word, even though no motion whatever is made. When exhibiting, the questions should be asked first, and immediately after the signal given to the horse. He, of coui-se, knows nothing of the question, but obeys a definite command, just as he would if ordered to " back " or " whoa." Madame Toumaire, who performed her horse by the first me- thod, had a way of coquettishly toying with her whip, and would give the horse the requisite signals by what the public imagined to be a mere display of feminine grace. Where the horse obeys a wordj that word must be incorpor- 40 THE ART OF TllAINIXG AXIMALS. ated into the question asked, in such a way as to attract his attention. If used too near the commencement of the sentence he will reply before ihe question is out of your mouth. It is not necessary to use the exact word that he ^^ works" by, pro- vided it sounds to him like it ; thus, Yankee Robinson says to his horse during the performance, '^ I guess you're as handsome a fellow as these ladies and gentlemen ever saw — don't you guess so f The horse nods his head at the emphasized word " guess," supposing it to be his command " yes." The next question, perhaps, is, " But others know the most f In this case the horse, not being posted on Webster, and being guided by the sound, gives his head a negative shake, considering ^'no" and ^' know " synonymous. PERFORMING PONIES. TEACHING HORSES TO JUMP. Colts should not be trained in jumping until at least four years old. Until this age the muscles and sinews are too pliable, and there is danger of the animal being strained. It is better never to urge a horse to attempt a leap which he cannot readily accomplish, for severe injury might result from his striking his feet, besides any failm-e to perfonn the leap will discourage him. The bar should at first be placed very low and only raised very gradually. About knee high or less will do to commence with. Commence the instructions by letting one man lead tiie colt, while another man follows with a whip. The former walks over the bar encouraging the colt with his voice to follow. The man with the whip is only to prevent the horse backing, the whip should never be applied unless the animal is positively lestive. With a little coaxing he will soon go over, and having once done so, he will readily repeat it. A few pieces of apple niay be advantageously used to induce him to leap the bar, and 10 reward him for doing so. By using the word " hip " or any TEACHING HORSES TRICKS. 41 other as he jumps, he may be taught to make the leap on hear- ing it. This is the common method for horses in the ring. The first lesson should be confined to the standing or walking leap, and if the horse is led half a dozen times over in the man- ner described this will suffice for the first day. The next day he may be trotted up to it, or more lessons may be devoted to teaching him to leap at command. With each succeeding les- son the bar may be raised until it is as high as the horse's breast, but beyond this there is no necessity with common ani- mals intended merely for private riding. Neither should the horse be wearied and disgusted with too long lessons. When per- fect in his lessons a boy may be placed upon his back to ride him over. The boy must be a good rider, for should the horse stop suddenly at the bar and throw his rider the maneuver will be repeated. A sack containing a couple of bushels of com is sometimes used instead of the boy, but the boy is better. TO MAKE A HORSE STAND ERECT. To make a horse stand upon his hind feet it is only necessary to compel him to rear up, and then to keep him in that position by gently striking him with the whip either under the fore-arm or under the chin. At first it will be necessary to allow him to resume his natural position after standing erect for a moment or two, but in a little while he will learn to keep his balance for a considerable time. Care should be taken not to excite or keep STANDING ERECT. him in the erect position too long at first. There is also some danger of his falling over backward if too urgently pressed. Ponies may be placed upon their hind feet by liftmg them up by the reins, taking hold under the chm close to the bit. By 42 THE ART OF TEAIXIXG ANIMALS. giving the command, " Erect up/*^ when teaching the animal to take the required position, he may be taught to do so at this command, or he will soon learn to stand up by merely being tapped lightly under the chin. Now give him a few pieces of apple, and by holding out pieces of apple or other " horse " dainties, you may teach him to follow you walkmg erect. TO "PIROUETTE." " Pirouetting '^ consists merely in the horse turning around while standing erect upon his hind feet. He may be taught to do this very easily, either by coaxing him to turn by the use of pieces of apple, or by gentle taps upon the cheek. He soon learns to turn at a circular sweep of the whip or at the command to " Pirouette." This action is the same as is made use of when a horse is supposed to *^ waltz." THE PEDESTAL. One of the most common tricks displayed in circuses, and one which is usually hailed with applause, is what is termed the " pedestal " trick. A stout platform is used, to which is attached a wooden " drum " some two feet in hight, out of which pro- PEDESTAL TRICK. jects a wooden rod or post at a slight angle. The horse first steps upon the platform, then places one fore foot upon the^ drum, and lastly places his other fore foot upon the point of the^ projecting post. In this position a handsome animal forms a really beautiful picture, and the effect is sometimes enhanced by having a number of men raise the platform upon their TEACHING HORSES TRICKS. 43 shoulders, and bear the horse, high up above the heads of the spectators, like some equestrian statue, around the ring. To teach this trick some patience is necessary but the method is quite simple. The horse is first led upon the platform several times, being allowed to remain a moment or more each time. He will soon understand when brought into the vicinity of the platform that he is to take his position upon it. Now com- pel him to raise his foot, and as he attempts to put it down again, guide it with your hand to the required position upon the drum. After a few times he will place it upon the drum of his own accord on being made to raise it. Then in the same man- ner make him raise the other foot and place it upon the post. This is the most difficult part of the performance on account of the post presenting only a slight foothold, and the horse having only limited power to guide his foot to this position ; it is also quite difficult to make the hoof retain its hold even after the right position is gained. After the horse thoroughly understands what is wanted of him he will go through the performance with- out prompting, for the sight of the platform suggests to him the desired actions. The " carrying around " part is, of course, strictly a ring performance which few persons would care to undertake for private amusement, but if the horse is gentle and has been taught to have entire confidence in his master, and to obey him implicitly, there is little difficulty in this part of the exhibition if done with care. TO TEACH A HORSE TO KISS. Give the horse a few pieces of apple from your hand, then place a piece between your teeth, letting it project so that the horse can readily seize it. When he has become used to tak- ing the apple in this way, say, " Kiss,'^ or " Kiss me," to him each time before putting the apple m your mouth, and he will by and by put his mouth to your lips at this command. In every case he should be rewarded by a piece of apple, for, to him, " kiss me " means apple, and if he is deceived in getting it he will not so readily obey. TO MAKE A HORSE FETCH AND CARRY. For this purpose a small basket or some light article which he can easily seize with his mouth, should be used. Place the handle in his mouth and shut his mouth upon it. Should he drop it when you remove your hand, speak sharply to him, and replace it in his mouth. When he retains it you are to let it remain a few moments, then remove it, pat him, speak encour- agingly to him, and reward him. In a short time offer it to 44 THE ART OF THAINIXG ANIMALS. him again saying, " Take it/' and lie will probably do so ; if not place it his mouth and repeat the course already described. When he has learned to take the basket on its being offered, let him follow you around with it in his mouth ; then let some one else give it to him while you stand at a distance j now call him toward you and reward him for bringing it to you. He will thus learn in a short time to bring you any article given him. After this, place the basket upon the ground, call his at- tention to it, order him to ^' take it," and he probably will obey, if not, place it in his mouth and repeat the instruction until he will pick it up from the ground. Then a handkerchief or other article may be substituted for the basket, which articles he will soon understand are to be picked up also. He will soon learn to pick up anything you may drop in his presence, or to seize hold of any article that may be offered him, and this latter act may be applied to many tricks, as hereafter described. FINDING A HIDDEN HANDKEECHIEF. Having taught the horse to pick up any article dropped in his presence, take a handkerchief and cover it partially with loose earth, leaving it sufficiently exposed for him to readily seize it. Repeat the operation, each time covering the hand- kerchief more and more completely until it is entirely concealed. He will by this means be led to look for it even when it is en- tirely covered up. An assistant may now hold his hands over the horse's eyes while the handkerchief is being concealed. Before an audience this adds to the credit of the performance, but as the handkerchief is hidden in nearly the same place, the horse knows where to look for it and will soon unearth it. Even when hidden at the option of the spectator it is easy to indicate to the horse where to look, by a signal, or his sense of smell will lead him to the spot. Oil of rhodium is said by some to be employed in this trick, to guide the animal to the hidden article. This may be true in some cases but the horse can so easily be taught to accomplish the thing desked without its use that we doubt its being used to any considerable extent. Another plan adopted for teaching this trick is the following : Spread on the sawdust a white cloth containing a liberal supply of oats, lead the animal around the ring and let him take some of the oats. This is lesson first ; its object being to fix in the horse's mind a connection between the cloth and the oats. The march around the circle being once or twice repeated, he stops at the handkerchief as a matter of course. By dint of practice, say in a couple of weeks, he will learn to stop as readily in a trot or a gallop as in a walk. After a time the handkerchief TEACHING HORSES TRICKS. 45 must be doubled over and tied in a knot ; the animal shakes it to get at the grain, but not succeeding, lifts it from the ground, which is just the thing wanted. When the horse has done this a few times, and finds that though he can shake nothing out he will receive a handful of oats as a reward, he may be trusted to perform in public. TO SELECT A CHOSEN CARD. In performing this trick in public one of the audience is allowed to choose a card from the pack, and this card, with several others is thrown on the ground. The horse is then asked by his master to select the chosen card from among them, and to give it to the person who chose it. This sounds like quite a difficult feat, especially, as is usually the case, if he has had his eyes blindfolded while the selection of the card was being made. Having taught the horse to find and pick up the handker- chief it is very easy to substitute any other article in its place. If a card should be substituted it would be picked up just as any- thing else would be. The main difficulty is to teach the horse to pick the one desired from among the others, and that one only. To do this, spread half a dozen cards upon the ground at inter- vals of about ten feet. Let the horse go to one end of this line of cards. He will naturally stop at the first one he comes to, and, if left to himself, will pick it up. Instead of allowing him to do this, start him ahead with the voice using the term '' Get up,'' or any other which he has been taught means " go ahead." Do this until he reaches the card which you desire him to pick up, at this you must remain silent unless he is about to pass it by like the former ones, in which case you say ^' Whoa," and keep him standing before it until he picks it up. When he does this, reward him and speak encouragingly to him, that he may know he has done what you wished. If you make a prac- tice of speaking to him when he stops at the wrong cards^ and of keeping silent when he reaches the right one he will soon come to understand that " silence gives consent," and that that is the proper card to select. The order in which the chosen card is placed in the row should be varied so that the horse may not learn to select the card by its position instead of obeying your signal. This enables you to let your auditors place the cards in any position or order their fancy may dictate without inter- fering at all with the successful ^' working " of the horse. After he has learned to select the desired card without hesita- tion, he must be so taught that he will hand it to the person vho may have selected it, when he comes to perform in public 46 THE ART OF TEAIXIXG AXIMALS. To teach him this, have an assistant stationed at some distance from you, and when the horse comes to you with the card, instead of taking it from him as you have been accustomed to do, turn his head in the direction of your assistant and start him up. He will go to the assistant if the latter holds out his hand, and, perhaps, whistles to him. Pretty soon the whistling may be dispensed with, and he will carry the card in any direc- tion indicated in search of some one to receive it. "When he comes to perform in the ring he will go around the edge looking for somebody to whom he may relinquish the card. The pro- per person will probably hold out his hand to take it, but a hundred others will quite as certainly do the same thing. Now if the horse selects the right person in spite of the other claim- ants to lead him astray, a round of applause is pretty sure to crown his success. To insure this he should be taught to re- linquish the card at some particular signal given by the trainer. A cough will answer, or any word which can be incorporated into a sentence addressed to him, without being detected by the audience. We have given sufficient instruction on this point in preceding pages, we believe, to enable the trainer to use his own discretion as to the manner of associating the signal with the giving-up of the card, in the horse's mind. TO FIRE OFF A PISTOL. In performing this trick the pistol (unloaded) should be firmly secured to a post or some other convenient support, as high as . FIRING OPF THE PISTOL. TEACHING HORSES TRICKS. 47 the horse can conveniently reach. To the trigger attach a small wisp of hay by a string, so arranged that by pulling at the hay the pistol will go off. Lead the horse up to this, that the savory morsel may attract his attention. He will probably . pull at the hay, and in his efforts to get it, will pull the trigger. Let him eat the hay, and repeat the operation several times, patting and speaking kindly to him each time. Now attach a piece of rag to the trigger instead of the hay ; show it to him and induce him. to take hold of it. Every time he pulls at it, and makes the hammer click, reward him with a piece of apple. When he has become used to pulling the rag when it is shown him, the pistol may be capped. The explosion of the cap may startle him somewhat at first ; but gentle treatment and a little encouragement will soon banish his fears, especially if the noise of the explosion be only slight, which would be desirable. When he will snap caps without hesitation a small charge of powder may be tried. A heavy charge only makes a nuisance of the trick, and should only be used when displaying before an audience ', even then the desu*ableness of such a proceed- ing is very questionable. TO TEACH A HORSE TO DANCE. A horse may be taught to dance thus : Fasten the ani- mal with two side-reins between the posts supporting the leap- ing bar. Take a whip, and, as the music plays, gently touch him with it, using the " jik, jik," of the groom as you go on. The horse being tied to the posts can move neither backward nor forward, but he will be induced to lift his legs and thereby gain the rudimentary movement of his lesson. After a while the teacher must mount on his back ; the horse being fastened by the side reins. Just when he is to raise his leg, a gentle pull must be given to the rein at the proper side to help the move- ment. In course of time the reins must be loosened, and the horse, if tolerably ready, will soon learn to mark time, quick or slow, in answer merely to a slight jerk of the bridle. The rider must then dismount, and commg before the horse, teach him to dance, or keep time, with a wave of the hand, or by a pat on the foot which he is wanted to lift. It may be remarked here that, though the dancing horses at the circuses appear to keep time with the music of the band, it is really, in most cases, the band that accommodates its music to the movements of the horse. TO EAT AT TABLE. An amusing scene often enacted in the ring is to have a horse 48 THE AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS. seated on his haunches before a table, while the clown obsequi- ously serves him. A bell is attached to the table, so arranged that the horse can ring it by pulling at a bit of rag, and as the horse is almost continually ringing the bell, and the clown makes AN EQUESTRIAN EPICURE. apparently frantic efforts to answer this summons each time, while bringing in plates, etc., a vast amount of laughter is usually created. The same instructions which we have given in previous pages relative to sitting down, firing off the pistol, etc., will apply to this trick. It is usual, when the table is finally set, for the clown to seat himself opposite the horse and pretend to share his meal. As the food commonly consists of hay pies, with brown paper crusts, the actual eating, we pre- sume, is generally confined to the horse, but the fun is much increased by the clown taking a huge mouthful of hay, as though intensely hungry, and the horse then snatching it from his mouth, and devcsiring it himself. This latter feat is a mere modification of the kissmg trick, where he takes the piece of apple from the trainer's mouth. TO TURN A HAND ORGAN. This feat may be easily accomplished by the application of the plan already described, which we may term the ^' pistol princi- ple." After the horse has learned to take hold readily of any- thing offered to him, which knowledge he will have acquired if he has already learned to perform the tricks heretofore men- tioned, the only additional instruction necessary will be to TRICK HORSES AND THEIR TRAINING. 49 initiate him into the mysteries of turning the handle. When he has taken hold of the handle, gently move his head so as to produce the desired motion. If, when you let go of his head, he ceases the motion, speak sharply to him and put his bead agam in motion. With almost any horse a few lessons, aiyJ. judicious rewards when he does what is required, will accoii;- plish the object, and he will soon both be able and willing tu THE HAND ORGAN PERFORMANCE. grind out Old Dog Tray, or Norma, if not in exact time at least with as much correctness as many performers on this instru- ment. Some time since there was a horse connected with Fran- coni's circus in Paris, whose education had progressed finely until the organ was reached, as it was in due course of time ; this appeared to be the stumbling block in his progress. It seems that the horse in question had already, under the lessons of his master, developed an unusual degree of intelli- gence, his eyes in particular becoming so full of expression that one could hardly doubt that he understood very much of what was said to him. ' His master had great hopes of him ; he had been in training only a year, and he had already learned to lie down and get up as ordered, to enact the dead horse, to fire a pistol, and to give whichever of his fore hoofs was asked for. At length the professor began the task of teaching this promis- ing pupil to turn a barrel organ; but either this particular species of exercise was repugnant to his tastes, or the sound of the organ was disagreeable to his ears. Certain it was that the 50 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. animal, usually so docile, was resolute in his refusal to touch the handle of the barrel organ. His preceptor labored at this point for a month without being able to vanquish the repug- nance of the horse for the object so constantly presented to his attention. Coaxing, caresses, and the whip were employed in turn, and equally without success. On these occasions the horse's eyes expressed as clearly as though he had spoken it in so many words the absolute determination not to touch the handle of the organ. The trainer, though naturally of a violent temper, was always patient and gentle with his equine pupil. Whenever he felt that the obstinacy of the horse was on the point of getting the better of his apparent calmness, he would leave the stable to give vent to his irritation out of the sight or hearing of the animal. To those who prophesied that the horse would never turn the handle of the organ, he replied, " He shall tm'u or die." At length, perceiving that he made no pro- gress in the work of vanquishing the animal's obstinacy, he caused the windows of the stable to be stuffed with hay and then boarded over, so that not a ray of light was visible, and a couple of men, hired for the purpose, beat a drum incessantly beside the animal's stall, relieving one another at stated inter- vals. The struggle was continued for four days and nights, during which the professor returned to the charge once every hour, presenting the handle of the organ to his refractory pupil, renewing his command to the latter to take hold of it. The neighborhood' was beginning to threaten the trainer with a summons before the police court, to answer to the charge of disturbing its slumbers with the pei-petual beating of the hor- rible di'um, which the unfortunate horse, comprehending at last that there was no other chance of deliverance left to him, sud- denly seized the handle of the organ with his teeth and turned with all the little strength that was left to him. ]5aylight was at once restored to the stable, the drummers were dismissed, all possible caresses and the finest oats were lavished on the now docile scholar, who never forgot the terrible lesson of his four days struggle, but, whatever may have been the sentiments with which he regarded the operation, never failed vigorously to turn the handle of the barrel organ whenever the word of command was given. TO FEIGN LAMENESS. To teach a horse this trick requires a greater decree of labor and perseverance than is necessary to instruct him in almost any other. So wearisome is the task, and so long is the time requu*ed in its accomplishment, that in ordinary cases it is not A CLEYER TRICK OF A CLEYER PONEY. 51 worth attempting. We propose, howeYer, in this little work to tell all that there is to be told about our subject, eYen though most of our readers should find many things impracticable in their own cases f and it is well worth while to explain all these matters though it be only to gratify the curiosity which is Yery naturally felt. An uninitiated person would probably be entirely at a loss how to set about accomplishing this feat, and it is doubtful whether he would succeed in discoYcring the secret of it without assistance. The mystery is not such a Yery great matter after all, and may be disclosed in a few words. If you observe a really lame horse — if you haven't any in your neighborhood just visit New York and you will find some beau- tiful specimens "of the article — you will perceive that there is a constant jerking or bobbing of his head, caused by his lowering it as he treads upon the laiqge foot and raising it as he raises the foot again. Now the appearance of lameness is caused just as much by the motion of the head as anything else, and a really sound horse, if he bobbed his head as he lowered and raised a particular foot, would appear lame ,• in fact he would actually go lame with this foot because the motion of his head would compel him to tread more lightly on that than he did on the others, exactly as in the case of the bona fide lameness. This is the secret, and the trainer's efl"orts are directed to producing this motion of the head. To make a horse bob his head is a trifling matter, but to make him do so every time he treads on one particular foot, and to do so at the right moment, without hesitation or mistake, requires many weary lessons, and a stock of patience equal to that popularly supposed to have been pos- sessed by the ancient Job. Commence by taking the horse by the bridle, close to his mouth, and walking him very slowly. Watch the foot with which you desire him to go lame, and each time that it comes that foot's turn to step, press the horse's head gently upward as he raises his foot, and downward as he again places it on the ground. Let your motions be simultaneous with the movement of the foot, proceeding so slowly that there is no danger of becoming confused. By-and-by you may release your hold of the bridle and make the motion with your hand, which he will Boon obey. You may then accompany the motion by any sound or word of command, and he will learn finally to make the mo- tion on hearine: this sound. A correspondent of an English journal lately described a pony in his possession who in some way had picked up a knowledge of this trick and applied it very acutely to his own advantage. The gentleman thus describes the proceedmgs of 52 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS, the animal : " Whenever the pony had been turned out to graze and was afterward brought up to be hitched into the car- riage, it invariably turned lame after gomg a few yards — so lame in fact that I frequently turned back, being ashamed to drive an animal in such apparent pain; I say apparent, because no sooner had the pony been relieved of its harness than it used to canter around. The same pony when brought from the stable would go perfectly well as long as it wished, but when I drove it in any direction contrary to its inclination it became lame immediately ; as soon as its head was turned homeward the lameness entirely disappeared." TO TEACH A HORSE TO WALK OYER YOU. This trick is sometimes exhibited by persons desirous of dis- playing either their own courage or the docility of then* horses. There is a natural aversion felt by horses, and indeed by most animals, to treading on a living object. Few horses will, of their own accord, unless they are under excitement, trample upon a child who may chance to be in the way. Many instances are related of horses lifting infants from their pathway and gently putting them down on one side, where thej^ were out oi danger. It is therefore pretty safe to allow your horse to step over you, while you lie upon the ground. To insure against accidents, however, a little preliminary training is advisable. First, let an assistant lead the horse over your legs while you are seated upon the ground with those members extended. Then, after a few repetitions, lie down at full length and let the assistant lead the horse over you in varioug directions. Very soon the horse may be entrusted to walk over you, merely guided by the snapping of your fingers in the direction you desire him to go. ORDINARY CIRCTTS HORSES. The common horses ridden by circus performers require some training before they are available in the " circle," though it is slight compared with the instructions of the " trick " horses. The main thing is to break them to trot evenly and steadily around the ring. They may be taught this in an open field by attaching a line to the nose piece of the halter, which line tlie trainer holds in his left hand while in his right he has a long whip. Starting the horse, the trainer turns slowly as the horse goes around; the line keeps the horse from going away from the trainer in any direction and so forces him to go in a circle ; the whip is used to keep him at the proper distance from the man, and so preserve always the same sized circle. The whip HORSES ON THE STAGE. . 53 should be held on a level with the horse^s shoulder and should be moved so as to accompany him around. Subsequently the BREAKING HORSE FOR THE " CIRCLE. line may be removed and the horse will still follow the circle pointed out by the whip, and increase or abate his speed to correspond with its movements. The horse is then ready for the rehearsals of the rider, and soon learns to preserve his pace unbroken, regard less of the movements of the man upon his back. CHAPTER V. THEATRICAL HORSES AND THE HORSE DRAMA. THE exact date at which horses were introduced upon the stage we are unable to state. It is the custom with many writers to trace everything back to the ancient Greeks or Ro- mans and build up their subject from this classic foundation j perhaps we might be able to do likewise were we to try, but we prefer to be excused. Certain it is that for many years such dramas as Mazeppa, Heme tke Hunter, Putnam, and others of a certain kind have maintained a steady popularity. At first the characters of the heroes in these pieces were performed by males, and their popularity depended upon the beauty and spirit of the horse, the daring of the rider, and the general excellence of the drama — combats, processions, and startling effects being 54 THE ART OF TEAINING ANIMALS. always taking ingredients. By-and-by, however, an adventurous rider of the other sex entered the lists in competition with the gentlemen. Her success inspired others to follow her example, until a dozen or more actresses were found performing the various roles of the " horse drama." In all these pieces the principal attraction, next to the lady rider, is the performance of the horse, which, with very little variation, is generally the same in all. At the back of the stage, crossing and re crossing it, and rising higher and higher at quite a steep inclination, is a plank gangway, some two or three feet wide. This is technically termed the " run," and is supported by stout scaffoldmg, which is hidden by the scen- ery. At each turn, which is concealed by the "wings," is a sort of platform to enable the horse to turn and to get a fair position for makmg the next rush across. The scenery is usually painted to represent mountains, and the canvas which conceals the run is painted to resemble rocks. Kavines and other results of the skillful scene painter's talents often add to the seeming danger of the pass. Usually a series of different plays are produced during the engagement of the horse and rider, and the same run serves to represent the mountains of Tartary in Mazeppa, the Yankee hills in Putnam, or the natural elevations of any other portion of the world in which the scenes of any particular play may chance to be located. At the pro- per moment the horse dashes over precipices, rushing torrents, or fearful mountain gorges, (all canvas of course), with his rider astride his back, or strapped upon the " untamed steed," as the stage business may require. To enable the horse to climb or descend the run without slipping, small pieces of sharpened steel are screwed into his shoes previous to his com- ing upon the stage. When it is a man who is strapped upon the horse he is usually merely secured by the waist, he holding the girth firmly with his hands. When a woman performs the part it is customary to secure her ankles as well, mainly for the purpose of keeping her on top of the horse should he by any accident fall. In playing Mazeppa the rider is utterly helpless, and without this precaution serious and even fatal injuries might be received. The gentlemen consider their muscle suffi- cient to enable them to dispense with this care. . Some years ago a popular equestrian actress while performing in a western city met with a fearful accident from having one of her feet free in order that she might tickle the horse with her spur, to make him prance and curvette before the audience. On leaving the stage the horse stumbled over some stray scenery or other obstacle, and fell. Had the rider been lashed accordmg to cus- EQUESTRIAN DRAMAS. 55 torn on top of the horse the only danger would have been the risk of striking against some projection, for the horse could not fall upon his back. As it was, her leg slipped under the horse as he fell, and his weight coming suddenly upon it, the thigh was broken. It is said that as she was ccmveyed to the boat the horse followed with every appearance of sorrow, whinnying softly, as though striving to express his sympathy. Many months after the accident, when the rider mounted him for practice previous to resuming her profession, an eye-witness related that it was really wonderful to see how gentle were all the horse's movements, and how, of his own accord, he would check himself whenever his motion extorted the slightest cry of pain, almost suppressed though it was, from his rider. In these plays very little training is required by the horse. After the ordinary breaking he is frequently exercised in going over the run. Owing to the restricted space it is very difficult for the horse to display any degree of speed, and as this is the main thing to be accomplished, he is therefore taught to start instantly at a rate which an ordinary horse could not by any means attain within the prescribed limits. We have seen Ma- zeppa played where the stage was so small that while the horse's tail was against the wall of the theater his nose was barely prevented protruding beyond the scenes, previous to his starting to rush before the audience, from an imaginary journey of some score of miles. When he did come before the public it was dif- ficult for them to see the whole of him at one time even with the scenes run back as far as possible. How the poor animal managed to travel over the diminutive run which was provided we cannot imagine, and yet the sight from the body of the theater was quite respectable. After ascending the run the horse and rider must remain high up in the lofty region of the " floats '^ until a change of scene permits them to descend unobserved, or the play requires their descent in public. A perilous, and consequently attractive, feat has been introduced into this play by one or two unusually reckless and daring riders, consisting of an extension of the run around the gallery of the theatre. Over this narrow road above the heads of the spectators, some hundred feet or more from the ground, amid the glare or the lights, the banging of the orches- tra, and the thunders of the multitude, dashes the horse, bearing in triumph " the sensation rider of the world." A single mis- step, the displacement of a single plank in that frail support, and horse and rider would lie a mangled mass below. And this is the very reason the house is jammed with eager throngs — not that they wish the rider to meet the horrible death thus 56 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. courted night after night, but it is certainly this possihilif^ which renders the performance so attractive. Playing Mazeppa is not always the hight of felicity. There is a story told of a horse" who probably never had the honor of figuring on either posters or play bills, which we think may be appropriately recorded here. A traveler on a dark night presented himself at the door of a country inn, and demanded lodgmg. The landlord, after some general remarks, suddenly turned pale and asked his guest by what road he had come. Upon being informed he almost fainted with terror. On examination in the morning it was found that the horse ridden by the traveler had walked with safety the strmg piece of a long bridge, and maintained his footing on the smgle extended tim- ber, scarcely a foot wide. The planks of the bridge had been torn up for repairs the day previous j a misstep of the sure footed animal would have precipitated himself and rider into a chasm a hundred feet below. In Mazeppa and similar plays the horse is " worked ■ ' by his trainer or master who comes on the stage attired as one of the retinue or attendants. In other pieces the rider himself manages the horse. These horses are seldom used for any other purpose, as ordinary riding or driving would make their mouths hard and render them less easily controlled upon \\\q stage. In the summer their shoes are taken ofi* and they are allowed a holiday in the country pastures. Mr. Collins, an actor of considerable celebrity who played successfully all the range of equestrian characters, and who trained several of the most popular " star " horses, had a magnificent stallion of large size which was pro- bably the handsomest horse in the profession. He was a trifle too large to display his speed to the b'est advantage in the thea- ter, but on the road, where Mr. 0. occasionally displayed his points, there were few animals who could contest the palm with him for speed. He was a fiery fellow, and if annoyed would bite his tormentor fiercely, and few cared to excite his anger. This was made a "point" of on the stage, Mr. C. plaguing him a little unnoticed by the public, and the spirit the horse displayed always " took " with the audience. Mr. C, however, found it necessary to keep out of reach of the animal's teeth, or even Ms influence over the horse might not have preserved him from an uncomfortable nip. Years ago when horse dramas reigned in the Broadway thea- ters, as well as in the less aristocratic locality of the Bowery, an enterprising manager determined to bring out Heme the Hunter, " in the highest style of the art." A number of horses, circus men and innumerable supernumeraries were engaged, and EQUESTRIAN DRAMAS. 57 the piece produced under the most horse-piece-cious circum- stances. The eventful night arrived, the house was crammed. The play progressed, people came on and off the stage, talked, raced, shouted, went through traps, climbed canvas rocks, and indulged in all the customary motions of a grand " spectacle." There has always been a natural feud between actors and circus folks. The ring people despise those who can only " cackle," (flash term for talk), while the stage fellows say that folks who travel on their shape, and have no brains to back them up, are contemptible. In those days there was even less good feeling between the two professions than at present. The supes aspir- ing to the dignity of ^^ the stage " were more intense in their antipathy to the riders than were the actors themselves, and being always ready for a lark, some of them procured a lot of a peculiar kind of tinder which is readily lighted and could be surreptitiously blown into a horse's nostrils without the culprit being detected. Suddenly in the midst of the performance the horses became restive, and in a moment became unman- ageable. Some reared and kicked, some broke through the stage, while others, trampling the foot lights under foot, plunged into the orchestra. All was confusion. An actor advances to the foot lights and assures the audience that they need feel no alarm — nothing of importance is amiss — it is " all right." At this very moment two horses are murdering their riders in the orchestra. One of the men, literally impaled upon the spikes around the railing, presents a sickening, horrifying, spectacle as he writhes in his death agony. Of course the play was not concluded ; the audience departed shocked at the awful sight they had witnessed, and the supes, who had intended no farther harm than a little amusement at the expense of the circus men, now bitterly repented their thoughtless folly. They did what they could to atone for trick by making up a purse for the benefit of the families of the principal victims of the unfortunate affair, but the horse drama had received its death blow on Broadway. 58 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS, CHAPTER VI. BREAKING AND TRAINING MULES^ — PERFORMING AND " COMIC " MULES, MULES appear fated ta labor under an unfavorable and unenviable reputation. Not only has that rather objec- tionable quality of stubbornness been supposed to exist in their disposition to such an undue degree as to give rise to the saying^ ^^ as stubborn as a mule/^ but this general reputation for intelli- gence is by no means first rate. That the mule is by nature inclined to be rather stubborn is undoubtedly true, but it is very questionable.whether the wonderful displays of this quality sometimes met with, are not actually as much due to the very measures adopted to overcome the fault as to the natural dispo- sition of the animal. With proper treatment and a little judi- cious training the objectionable features in a mule's dispositioE might be easily remedied. A LAZY CURE FOR LAZINESS. HOAY TO BREAK MULES. 59 There is a clever invention attributed to a certain lazy Hindoo, for overcoming the proverbial laziness of the mule. It appears that the man was employed to oversee a mule working one of those primitive mills ii^ use to this day in India. The man ?eems to have been slightly inclined toward laziness himself, and was anxious to contrive some plan which would enable him to keep the mule in motion and monopolize all the indolence himself. This he at last accomplished with the aid of a clever device, shown in the accompanying illustration, which explains itself. We give it as a curiosity in the " art of training ani- mals," without vouching for its sti'ict fidelity to the truth. The following instructions are given by ]^ir. Riley, an experi- enced authority, for breaking mules : " In breaking the mule, most persons are apt to get out of patience with him. I have got out of patience with him myself. But patience is the great essential in breaking ; and in the use of it you will find that you get along much better. The mule is an unnatural animal, and hence more timid of man than the horse ; and yet he is tractable and capable of being taught to understand what you want him to do. And when he under- stands what you want, and has gained your confidence, you will, if you treat him kindly, have little trouble in malting him perform his duty. ^' In commencing to break the mule, take hold of him gently, talk to him kindly. Don't spring at him, as if he were a tiger you were in dread of. * Don't yell at him -, don't jerk him ; don't strike him V\^ith a club, as is often done^ don't get excited at his jumping and kicking. Approach and handle him the same as you would an animal already broken, and through kindness you will, in less than a week, have your mule more tractable, better broken, and kinder than you would in a month, had you used the whip. Mules, with very few exceptions, are born kickers. Breed them as carefully as you will, the moment they are able to stand up, and you put your hand on them, they will kick. • It is, inde^, their natural means of defense, and they resort to it through the force of instinct. In commencing to break them, then, kicking is the first thing to guai-d against and overcome. The young mule kicks because he is afraid of a man. He has seen those entrusted with their care beat and abuse the older ones, and he very naturally fears the same treatment as soon as a man approaches him. Most persons entrusted with the care of these young and green mules have not had experi- ence enough with them to know that this defect of kicking is soonest remedied by kind treatment. Careful study of the animal's nature, and long experience with the animal have GO THE AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS. taught me that, in breaking the mule, whipping and harsh treatment almost invariably make him a worse kicker. They certainly make him more timid and afraid of you. And just as long as you fight a mule and keep \dm afraid of you, just so long will you be in danger of his kicking you. You must convince him through kindness that you are not going to hurt or punish him. And the sooner you do this, the sooner you are out of danger from his feet." PERFORMING MTJLES. Chief among circus attractions, especially in the eyes of the l)oys, are the trick or " comic " mules. A couple of these animals are attached to nearly every troupe, and quite a variety of tricks are performed by them. The performance usually the most eagerly looked forward to, is that reserved for the final part of the exhibition. The regular performances being con- cluded, one of the mules is retained in the ring and the ring- master invites some boy present among the audience to come forward and take a ride — ^if he can. There are generally plenty of eager respondents to this invitation, one of whom is per- mitted to enter the ring. The ring-master leads the mule up to the boy as though to assist him in mountmg. If the boy is " green '^ he will probably be somewhat astonished, as soon as the mule is brought near him, at having the pit of his stomach made a target for the reception of the said mule^s heels. If he COMIC MULE. has already seen a similar performance he will have antici- pated this little episode, which can always be calculated upon without fear of disappointment. After many struggles the boy perhaps succeeds in mounting the mule and then an amusing contest ensues between them— the boy's efforts being directed :performing mules. 61 to maintain his hold, and the mule's to dislodge him. Run- ning at full speed, the animal tries to throw his rider by stopping suddenly, and if successful in this attempt, the boy is either thrown head first among his companions, or, if he lands in the ring, is chased out by the mule, it is rarely that any one succeeds in maintaining his hold for more than a few minutes, unless he is a capital rider, in which case he may be able to master the animal ; should this result be at all likely, the ring-ma-ster will, on some pretext, interfere and select some less expert rider from the audience. Finally an attache of the circus, disguised as a countryman, volunteers to ride the mule, and after considerable caricature riding, and ridiculous posturing, he concludes the performance. Sometimes to enhance the interest in the affair a reward of five dollars is offered to any one who will ride the mule three times around the ring. This was usually done by Dan , a prominent circus manager. We were present on one occasion when a big burly ^^ rough ^ entered the ring at Dan's general invitation, to compete for the prize. The mule was particularly spunliy but he was finally forced to succumb, and notwith- standmg all Dan's attempts to balk the rider, the mule was ridden the requisite number of times around the ring. Least any of our readers should be led to cherish the delusion that they might thus earn a reward for displaying their mule breaking abilities, we may mention that, in this case at least, the rider did not receive the money. The showman assured him that the offer was only in fun and declined to hand over the amount. The rough thereupon " pitched in " and administered a thrash- ing to the showman before he could be prevented. A general fight was only averted by the exertions of the police. We believe Dan, while he remained in that locality, did not repeat his offer. Very little special instruction is required for ^' comic mules.'' The kicking part of the performance may be taught according to the instructions given for teaching horses the same act. The mule is allowed with strangers to give full vent to all the natu- ral viciousness of his nature, and is encouraged therein. To- ward his trainer, and those connected w^ith the establishment, such conduct is not allowed. He soon learns from experience that the worst conduct toward boys in the ring is meritorious, and being annoyed by their persistent efforts to ride him, ha resorts to every possible device, without requiring any instruc- tion, to get rid of his tormentors. Another humorous scene sometimes enacted by the mules is a prize fight, the principals being rigged up in costume and G2 THE ART OF TEAtN'lNG AOTMALS. furnished with boxing gloves, while two small donkeys are made to scat themselves and bold sponges, as though personating the AN ASININE PRIZE FIGHT. seconds. Sometimes this latter character is assumed by the clown and ring-master, though it makes little difference. The actions of the mules have a very slight resemblence to a combat and the costumes make tbem look funny and satisfy the audi- ence. The training required is merely to make them stand erect. Mules, though possessing less intelligence than horses, may be taught many of the tricks which the latter perform, and the same instructions will suffice for training them. The sure-footedness of mules has enabled trainers to teach them, in several cases, a very effective and showy trick — ^that of walking over a number of empty bottles placed upright on a floor or platform. This feat is always highly successful wherever performed, and it is really an excellent one. The bottles used are large, stout porter bottles, which will readily sustain a great weight if placed directly on top. To teach the trick the bottles are at first secured in a platform composed of a double thickness cf planks, in the upper one of which holes are cut. In these holes the bottles are placed f the bottoms resting on the lower layer of planks^ while the upper one holds them securely in place. Before teaching this trick the animal is usually taught the ordmary pedestal trick, as explained in a preceding chapter, as a preparatory lesson. He will then more readily acquire the bottle feat. He is first made to place one -fore foot on top of a bottle's neck, then the other fore foot on another. Then the first foot is tapped with the whip to make him raise it and advance it to the succeeding bottle ; as he does this his hind food is struck gently to force him to place it on the vacated PERFORMING MULES G3 bottle. Six or eight bottles are sufficient to commence witli^ additions being made as the animal becomes proficient. When the trick is learned it is unnecessary to secure the bottles in any THE PORTER BOTTLE FEAT. way ; if the miile places his foot squarely on the top, as he should be made to do, there is no danger of cither breaking or upsetting them. There is a trick related of a couple of English costermcngers, or perambulating vegetable dealers, which is amusing if not of practical value. These two worthies were in the habit of pas- sing theu' donkey thi-ough a Devonshire toll gate, on their return trip, free of charge, by making him walk through on his hind legs, arm in arm with them, and taking advantage of the twilight to represent him as a friend slightly under the influence of liquor ! At the south, where mules are almost universally used for many purposes for which horses are used at the north, the negroes are in the habit of directing their movements in many cases entirely by the voice. The animals of that section being as a rule more gently treated, are of a better disposition than their northern brethren. The course of training practiced by their sable masters is by no means systematic, but the ani- mals manage by some means to learn to understand and obey the far from lucid commands. We have often been surprised to see how readily the mules would detect the meaning of what, to our ears, was entirely unintelligible. Probably prac- tice had taught them what was required just as the mules which convey travelers through the wild mountain passes of Spain are G4 THE AET OF TRARflXG AKIMALS. reported to stop immediately upon hearing the hail of any of the banditti who infest those regions — habitual experience of the customs of those gentry having taught them to come to a stand still. There is an amusing, though, possibly, not strictly authentic, story told in connection with the performance of the pantomime cf Humpty Dumpty, some years ago, in this city. In this '.spectacle a small mule was made to appear quite comically by the dexterity of his heels. During the season the regular ani- mal fell ill, and an amateur was substituted. When one of the characters touched the new mule to make him kick, he began in admirable style. He kicked off the fellow and kicked him twice before he touched the boards. Then he ran toward several of the other dramatis personse, and kicked them. Every movable object on the stage, animate or inanimate, he kicked off. Next he began on the scenery. He kicked down a whole for- est, three good sized cottages, a picturesque cascade, a granite prison, a robberis cave, a royal palace, the Rialto and Vesuvius in eruption, and was about to attack the grand transformation scene from Midsummer Isight's Dream, when a rope was thrown around his neck, and he was di-agged off by the whole strength of the company, assisted by all the able bodied supernumeraries. The audience, many of whom supposed the obstreperous mule part of the performance, were delighted at his energy, and dsmanded with deafening plaudits, a repetition of the scene. The uproar was so great that the manager came out and said that an mtermission of fifteen minutes would be given to enable fjcme of the actors to recover the breath that the active mule had kicked out of them, and pledged his honor that the brute jhould never make another appearance on the Olympic stage, At this the audience roared louder than ever, and for nearly half an hour the performance was suspended by the universal guffaw. Every night afterward while the piece ran, the kicking iiiule was called for, and the manager of the theater it is said, In consequence, had to insert an advertisement in the daily papers, stating that the animal was mysteriously knocked in .he head the same night of his highly successful debut, TRAINING FARM ANIMALS. 65 CHAPTER VII. SOME HINTS FOR FARMERS — MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING OP ANIMALS ON THE FARM — SOME EYILS AND ROW TO REMEDY THEM — GOOD TRAINING YS- BAD. FARMERS would find it of great advantage to pay more attention to the education of their domestic animals. Many things may be taught them without any appreciable trouble, which will prove not only convenient, but profitable in tbe sav- ing of time and labor that may be effected. For instance, any animal on the farm may be taught to come on being called, instead of requiring to be hunted for and chased home whenever wanted. All that is necessary is to give him some dainty as a reward, each time, and the thing will be accomplished almost before you are aware of it By giving each animal a particular name and calling him by that, you teach each individual to come to you when wanted, and if you reward only the one you call, the others will soon learn to come only when desired. This custom is observed with the sheep in Greece ,• the shepherd has only to call any one he wants, and the animal will instantly leave its pasturage and its companions and run to the hand of the shepherd, with every token of pleasure. Those which have not learned their name are called " wild,'^ while the others are termed "tame." Animals cannot associate with man without learning some- thing. Many of those habits and tricks which farmers deplore in their stock, are due to the unintentional training that has been given the animals. If your stock run from you, appear to dread your presence and can never be made to stand quietly, perhaps this state of things may be accounted for if you reply candidly to the question whether they have not been accustomed to tormenting or annoyance, and so taught to be wild. No wonder there is complaint of cows being unquiet, when the habit is so general of pelting them with stones, or punching them with sticks, while driving home to milk. How often instead of attempting to teach the animals proper behavior do we see an apparently contrary course adopted ? The " American Stock Journal " has some sensible remarks on this subject : " We find many persons, when turning stock into or out of pasture, instead of letting down all the bars, leaving two or three of the lower rails in their place ; and then, by shouting or beatmg, perhaps, force the animals to leap over. This is cap!- (j6 the art of TRAI2s^XG antmal^. tal training, the results of which are seen in the after disposition of animals to try their powers of jumping where a top rail hap- pens to be off, and this accomplished, to set all fences at defiance^ and make a descent upon the corn or grain field, as their incli- nation, ability or hunger may prompt them. Another good lesson is to open agate but a little way, and then, as in the case of the bars, force the eat^ forward, and by threats and blows compel them to pass through it. The result of this teaching is shown in the determined spirit manifested by some cattle ta make a forcible entry into the stable, yards, fields, or in fact, to almost every place where a gate or door may, by accident, be left slightly open. A western farmer says he makes it a rule whenever cattle are made to pass a fence, whether through bars or ' slipgap,' to leave one rail for them to pass under. This gives them a downward tendency, and lessens their inclina- tion to jump or look upward, as they are sure to do when a lazy attendant throws down a part of the rails, and makes them vault the rest. Cattle may be taught to go over any fence by the careful training they often get for this end, performed as follows : First, starve them or give them poor feed, which will make them light and restless. As soon^ as they go over the lowest part of the fence after better provender, make them jump back again, and put on one more rail, saying, ^ I guess that will keep them out.' Next day, (of course they will be in mischief again) repeat the process, adding another rail ; in a short time they will take care of themselves, and harvest the crops without charge." That gentleness and good treatment will subdue even natur- ally unamiable dispositions in animals, is shown by the example of the bulls intended for the bull fights at Havre during the marine exhibition in 1868. The bulls, selected for their ferocity ,on the plains of the Guadalquiver, were so kindly treated by the railway servants during their journey across Spain and France, that, on arriving at their destination, they had become perfectly tame and could not be induced to fight. The sight-seers were obliged to solace themselves with a regatta in lieu of their anticipated combat. It may be interesting here to refer briefly to the proper management of bulls. There has been some discussion as to whether or not it is advisable to use bulls for purposes of draught. The a vocates of the plan consider that a bull should do some labor and that exercise would be beneficial. The opponents say that the main object of keeping bulls is to breed, and that exhaustive labor would impair the vigor of the descend- .ajts. Though the latter is probably the true case bulls should TRAINING FARM ANIMALS. 67 be exercised in the open air if it is desired to keep them in health and vigor. They should always have a ring inserted through the nose that they may be held in control, but they should never be tied . up by anything attached to this ring. Always use a rope tied around the horns; a sudden jerk is very apt to tear the ring from the nose. Never fool with bulls, and beware of trusting yourself in their power. They are subject to sud- den fits of fierceness, when any defenceless person is liable to be horribly destroyed. One of the most important duties on the farm is the breaking of steers. It is best to begin with them as calves, and let the boys play with them, and drive them tied or yoked together, taking care they are not abused. When a pair of old steers are to be put together and broken to the yoke, or a pair of bulls, as not unfrequently happens, it is usually best to yoke them, and tie their tails together, in an extempore stall, in a well fenced yard, and then tui'n them loose in the yard, which should not be large enough for them to run in and get under much head- way. If the tails are not tied together they will frequently turn the yoke, which is a very bad habit. After half a day's association, the lesson of " gee up I" and " whoa !" may be inculcated^and when well learned, probably the next* day, "haw" and "gee." The daily lesson should be given after they have stood yoked a while. They should not be taken from the yard until they have become used to the yoke, and are no longer wild and scary, as they are apt to be at first. Each day all previous lessons should be repeated. Put them before an ox-sled or a pair of cart wheels at first, rather than to a stone boat, as they are apt to step on the chain, and that frightens them. All treatment should be firm but mild, and no superfluous words should be employed. As regards training heifers, a Pennsylvania farmer who has trained and milked heifers for more than fifty years, and never has any trouble about their jumping, kicking, or running, gives the foliowuag as his secret : " When I intend to raise a heifer calf for a milch cow, I always raise it by hand, and when feeding, frequently handle it by rubbing it gently over the head and neck until it becomes tame and gentle. The rubbing is begun at the first feeding with milk, and continued until I quit feeding it ', I never afterward have any trouble about milking them.*^ 68 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS CHAPTER VIII. DOGS IN GENERAL — WATCH DOGS — THE SHEPHERD'S DOG. AMONG all the animals the dog seems preeminently in- tended by nature for the companion and friend of man. Even the instinctive passions all animals have for their own kind appear to be in a measure sacrificed to human influence, for the dogs often care more for the society of man than for that of their own kind. Not only is the dog a trusty and valu- able fi-iend and associate of man, but the companionship between the human and the canine races developes in the latter many of those noble qualities not possessed under other circumstances. The Turks look upon the dog with abhorrence, and almost uni- versally in the East he is an outcast from human society. The consequence is that all his good qualities are lost ; he is no longer the faithful companion, ready to defend his master with his life, but on the contrary, he is deceitful, bloodthirsty, and as unlike the more favered dog of other countries as it is possible to imagine. WATCH DOGS. Many kinds of dogs are used as watch dogs, and where all that is required of them is a notification of nightly intruders, and the awakening of the household, perhaps the species used is of comparatively little consequence. Where the dog is intended to act as a defender as well as a sentinel, strength and courage are important requisites. With many the bull dog is a favorite for this purpose. Tiiough the least intelligent of his species his unflinching and unconquerable courage renders him a terrible opponent. So utterly without intellect is his courage, however, that no consideration of his foe's powers deters him from attacking the most formidable thing that gives offense. Striking examples of this quality are displayed in England in what are termed '^ bull baits," exhibitions whose cruelty and brutality are scarcely excelled in the customs of any other country. In these bull baits the dog, while fastened to the nose of some unfortunate bull, has had one leg after another cut off with a knife to test his courage. So persistent is the dog in maintaining his hold that the most frightful mutilation will not compel him to relinquish it until his strength is exhausted from loss of blood; he has been known to die from this inhuman hacking with his death grip firmly holding the bull. Probably the best watch dog is the mastiff. Capable of VARIETIES OF SHEEP DOGS. 69 great attachment to his master, he unites strength with intelli- gence, and, while implacable toward intruders, toward members of his masters family he is docile and gentle. His hearing is remarkably acute, for he can detect the difference between a familiar and a strange footstep, however light it may be. THE shepherd's DOG. The rapid increase in the importance of sheep husbandry in this country will soon direct attention to the value of proper dogs for assisting in their management and protection. There are several different breeds used for this purpose, varying in different countries with their several local requhements. In Spain the Pyrenean, or St. Bernard's dogs, are found valuable to accompany the large merino flocks on their annual migra- tions to the mountains, as a protection agamst the wolves infesting the Pyrenees. In Spain, too, the mastiff is highly prized, an improved, large breed, with strong feet, short hair and slightly pointed nose, being much in use. A gentleman of Delaware gave, some years ago, the follow- ing account of a shepherd's dog of the Spanish breed in his possession : " The dog is three times as large as the shepherd's dog de- scribed by Buffon, bat is endowed with the same good qualities : immense strength and great mildness in his usual deportment, though ferocious toward other dogs. I can say, without exag- geration, that at least twenty dogs have been killed in my barn- yard, or on my farm, by my dog Montague. His dimensions are three feet eleven inches from his eyes to the root of his tail, and two feet eight inches high over the shoulders. He is a fine animal, entirely white. I prefer that color in recollection of the story of old Jacob. In fact, I had formerly a black dog, and many of my lambs were bom black. Since I have had Montague and his mother I have very few black lambs. The natural instinct of this animal is to guard your sheep against wolves and dogs. No other training is required, but to keep them constantly with your flock, the moment they are from the litter, until they are grown." What is commonly known as the shepherd's dog is a smaller breed, seldom more than two feet high. Those in France are usually black with white touches on breast, face, legs, etc. ; with sharp head and nose, and with a countenance full of alert- ness and intelligence. In Great Britain, particularly in Scot- land, the colors of the shepherd's dog are more mixed with shades of red and brown ; or black dogs with sharp ears, turning down at the tips. The Scotch breed, or coUey, is a light and active one. 70 THE ART OF TEAINING ANIMALS. probably the best adapted for those portions of our own country where there is no danger Irom wild animals. It is pretty exten- sively diliused in the United States and British America;^ and is very useful to the farmer^ shepherd or di'over. The Mexican shepherd's dog is doubtless a descendant of the SCOTCH COLLEY, OR SHEPHERD'S DOG. Spanish ones introduced at the time of the conquest, and is' a marvel of fidelity and intelligence. In training these dogs the method is to select from a multitude of pups a few of the healthiest and finest looking, and to put them to a sucking ewe, hrst depriving her of her own lamb. By force, as well as from a natural desire she has to be relieved of the contents of her ^1 +?' ^^^ ^^^^ ^^'^^'^^ *^ ^^^^ ^Po^ *^® li**l® interlopers with all the affection she would manifest for her own natural offspring. ± or the first few days the pups are kept m the hut, the ewe sucklmg them morning and evening only ; but gradually, as she becomes accustomed to their sight, she is allowed to run in a small enclosure with them, until she becomes so perfectly familiar with their appearance as to take entire charge of them. After this they are folded with the whole flock for a fortnight or so; they then run about during the day with the flock, which after a while becomes so accustomed to them, as to be able to dis- tinguish them from other dogs— even from those of the same litter Which have not been nursed among them.* The shepherds usually allow the slut to keep one of a litter for her own particular INTELLIGENCE OF SHEEP DOGS. 71 benefit j the balance are generally destroyed. After the pups are weaned, they never leave the particular drove among which they have been reared. Not even the voice of their master can entice them beyond sight of their flock j nor can hunger or thu'st. A remarkable example of the intelligence of these dogs is displayed when two flocks approach within a few yards of each other y their respective protectors will place themselves in the space between them, and as is very naturally the case, if any adventurous sheep should endeavor to cross over to visit her neighbors, her dog protector kmdly but firmly leads her back, and as it sometities happens, it may make a rush and succeed in joining the other flock, the dogs under whose charge they sere go over and bring them all out, but strange to say, under such circumstances they are never opposed Ijy the other dogs. They approach the strange sheep only to prevent then* own from leaving the flock, though they offer no assistance in expelling the other sheep. But they never permit sheep not under canine protection, nor dogs not in charge of sheep, to approach them. Even the same dogs which are so freely permitted to enter their flocks in search of their own are driven away with igno- miny if they presume to approach them without that laudable object in view. The English sheep dog, or drover's dog, is a tailless animal, larger, coarser, and stronger than the colley. It is very easily trained and is very well adapted for working among cattle, keeping the herd from straggling when on the road or the prairie, and acting as an aid to the farmer in the management of his flocks and herds. One of this breed was used by an Ameri- can farmer to drive home his cows. It was only necessary to tell him it was time to bring the cows, and he would scour the farm and bring them from all parts safely mto the yard. On the prairies such dogs would be of great use. A careful, well tempered shepherd never allows his dog to harass or worry the sheep. He walks his regular rounds quietly, the dog folio wmg* at his heels, appearing to take no notice of the sheep, and they almost unconscious of his presence. Should anything occur in which the aid of the dog is needed, he is at hand to perform the will of his master. If the sheep break through a fence into forbidden ground, one word from the shep- herd is enough, the dog drives them back without causing much alarm. If a sheep breaks away from the flock, the dog is not allowed to bite it ; he is taught to run befor.e it and bark, in order to drive it back to its place. A dog which has been properly trained will be continually on 78 THE ART OP TRAINING ANIMALS. i]\i\ look oui for Hl.ray Hhcep, and will, of his own accord, visit iljoK(5 partH of the ])aHiurcs where iiic fcnccH arc wcakcKt, and where (lilclK^H or ravincH exist, into which the Hh(!ep may be in danger of falling. Heavy hIiccjJ), with lar^^c fl(M;(;eH, will Konie- timcB lio on iluiir backw for a whole day or ni^ht, beirif^ unable to got u\). When in MiIh powition, inHianccH have o(;curred of Ihiiir eycH bein^ i)i(;ked out either by ravens or carrion crown. They an^ all subject to the; atta(;kH of dogs and foxes. A well trained shepherd's dog will find sheep that arc in this position, and attract attention to th(;ui. Vfell trained doga will not annoy ewes with lambs, nor show any signs of irritation when assaulted by the (^e for the pro- tect'on of her young. 'Vlwy k(;e|) at a respe(;table distance Irom qua-re>lsonie rams, not considering it to be any part of tlieir busMiess to fight with th(un. They are very watcldul at night, (^sp'M'Jally during th(i hunbing season, guanling the lambs from the attacks of foxes and dogs and all otJier intruders. Ui training a y(Ming sh('-|)hcrd's dog, the services of a well trained, exp(u-i(5nroc(iss. With tlui aid of this contrivan(;(5 the dog may be per- fectly su])dued, and nvdda to obey all the commands of the train(5r. Jle can be taught to ^'go away," '^come back," ^'conn^ in front,," "come behind," "bark," "lio down," "be quiet," "get over iho fence;," "stop them," "bring them back," and (;very other evolution in the field exercise of the shec;]) dog. 'JMie training should commence when the ])U]) is five or six months old. The older the animal is, the more diflicult will it it b(^ to train him. T\w, sheplK^rd's dog of any of the breeds we have mentioned, has a natural inclinati(m for working among sheep, but h(; may bo spoiled by improper manngement, and then he Ix^comes an enemy to tlie flock histead of a prot(M'tor.. A cross between the mastiff, bull dog or cur, and the sh('i»herd's dog, ]>roduces a mongrel which has an insatiate thirst for the blood oi' tlie sheep, and can scarcely be n^straincd from destroying tlicm. The sheijlierd's do^ sliould be full blood, anything less is worse than useless. Dogs even of the best breeds may be spoiled by neglect or mismamigement, in tlie t raining. The she])lierd must himself treat, the shec]) with gentleness if he desires the dog to lo so J the dog will act as his master docs. MANAGEMENT OF SPORTING DOGS. 73 CHAPTER IX. SPORTING DOGS AND TliKIR MANAGKMKNT AM) 'JP.AINf.VG. THE poiriU^r and the. HcMcr aro th(; two univorHally rccoi/iim'A] dogH for hiiiit.in^f ^^arnc. hird.s. Ah to which of the two is tho better variety authorilieHdiflerj and niiicfi (h'^cudn upon circum- BtanceH. For hot olimatcH the pointer han rnon- enrJuranee than the setter, hut he in alHo more tender and would Hufler in a eohj climat^i. PointerH do not require ho careful trainin^f, and with HportHrnen who an;, as in the case with many, Ioohc in their manner of training', a pointer will he a pannahly well hehaved dog where, with the nanje laxity, a setter woiild he ntUtrly worthlcHH. Ah the value of a dog in hunting depe^nds in Huch a great degree upon hin proper underntanding of the work in hand, and his jirornpt and faithful exf^eution of the dutie.H ineurnhent upon him, Ujo much pains cannot he taken with his training. PK i;LJM I \A liY TRAINING. The education of sporting dogs should begin in eaj-liest pupf^y- hood. L'nIeHH they are early taught obedience, it will f>e diffi- cult to overcome this neglect by after training. JJis first Ich- Hon may be given with the aid seize the meat. " Steady "is the next lesson, and consists in allov/ing him slowly to approach the plate as you keep repeating the word at short intervals. When near the plate cry, " toho," and never allow him to reach the meat until you give the command, "hie on!" When you wish him to break his point but not to "pitch in" to the meat, tfie com- mand, " close on " should be used. Hefore he reaches the plate, cry, " toho," and then, " hie on ;" when he has pointed, by " close on " he must understand that he is to move cautiously, and this he is taught by the oft repeated command of "steady." All these commands may be taught with patience, and p'di'M-.ncAt is abs^ilutely necessary. No harshness should he used, and no new leH8^>n sliould be attempt/^d until the old one is fiilly maH- tered. You should always feed the dog yourself. When the j^recedlng Ichsotjs are thoroughly acquired, 74 THE AET OF TRAINING AJSTMALS. *' charge " may be taught. Gently force him doYrn as you give the command; extend his fore paws and gently place his head between them. Each time he moves, tap him lightly and repeat the command. No more force should be used than is absolutely requisite. Practice him frequently by crying, '^ charge — charge/^ with your hand upraised, and forcing him into the desired position. To make him rise, you should cry, ^^lie up," and gently raise him. Repeat these instructions until they are fully understood and readily obeyed, domg a little each day, but doing that thoroughly. To retrieve is the next lesson to be taught. An old glove or other soft substance should be used, and after allowing the pup to play with it, toss it from you and he will rush to get it. Call him to you after he has got it, and take it from him, re- warding him with caresses and kind words. Eepeat this plan using the command, ''hie fetch,'' when you wish him to go, and " come in," when you wish him to return. By using the com- mand, " come in," on all occasions when he is a little distance from you— when you call him to feed him — etc., he will learn to obey it. Hooper in his excellent work* gives the following du'ections for teaching a dog to retrieve : " Begin by placing your glove within his mouth, making him retain it ; if he re- jects it, replace it, gently correcting him, crying, ' fetch ! fetch !' After he understands the meaning of the word fetch you may let him accompany you in a walk, in some quiet place. Whenever he drops the glove you must gently and encouragingly replace it, crying, 'fetch ! fetch !' If he rejects it the lash must be used, but sparingly. If you study the disposition of your dog and manage properly, he will soon perfectly understand you, and gaily and happily gambol alongside of you, seldom dropping his charge, and if he should, he will only need the words, ' hie fetch ! fetch !' to make him bound back with eagerness to regain the lost glove. You may now take the glove, cast it from you, and tell him to ' hie, fetch !' He will immmediately return with the glove. You may now let him see you drop the glove, walk off thirty or forty yards, wave your hand in the dhection of the glove, and cry, ' hie, fetch !' He will of course regain the glove. After practising him at this often, you may drop the glove unobserved by him. He will soon follow your track for a considerable distance for a lost article, by receiving the command, ' hie, fetch !' You may now give the glove to another person to hide, first permittmg the dog to see it in his possession, and he will be almost certain to find it, if it is at all *Dor, AXT) Gttn. — ^Price tMrty cents, post paid. An interesting and useful work for. every amateur sportsman, MANAGEMENT OF SPORTING DOGS. 75 accessible. In your first lessons be careful to place tbe glove where your dog will be certain to find it — not too far ofi". " He should also be taught to follow closely on at the sports- man's heel when they are out together ; this may be done by saying, '^ back, back !" and striking him gently with the whip when he attempts to press forward. Any huntmg dog may be is/ ^'5 THE SETTER. taught to retrieve notwithstanding the complaints some sports- men make to the contrary. Great patience is required to teach the dog, but the result of careful training amply compensates for the trouble. Hooper recommends that, after the dog has learned the preceding lessons, he be made to practice them often, playing with a ball. LESSONS IN THE FIELD. After the dog has been thoroughly di-illed in the preliminary exercises we have described, it will be necessary to teach him their practical application. Much of the ftiture value and use- fulness of the dog depends upon his first day's shooting and the manner in which he is initiated into the sport. We again avail ourselves of Mr. Hooper's instructions for managing him the first day he is taken out : 76 THE ART OF TRAIXIXG AXIMALS, '* When you observe Dash more excited than usual, you may reasonably expect a bevy near. They will not probably be far off, as he has not become accustomed to the familiar and welcome scent that will enable him to wind them at a distance. Now comes the trying hour for master and pupil. The former should be perfectly cool, and should consider the killing of game a secondary affair — ^let him give his attention to Dash. The dog seems too eager for the scent — you cry ^ steady ! steady !' — if he is apparently near the game, and you are afraid he will flush, you cry ^ toho !^ You approach and find the quail do not raise — you tell him to close on, which he does by moving rather rapidly — you check him by crying ^ steady ! steady!' he points, ^iohoV You now approach and flush the bevy j be sure you bring down one bird, and it will he well that you only fire one barrel, that you may have more time to look after Dash, who of course scampers after the whirring bevy. You immediately cry ' toho ! come in !' — on, on he goes ; in his wild excitement he disregards your will entirely. You now use your whistle. By this time the birds are out of sight (but you, of course, have marked them), and he is running belter skelter. You must soon get hold of his collar, drag him rather roughly back to where he pointed — ^lashing him slightly — and make him ^ charge,' and keep his position until you reload ; after which you will take him to where your bu'd has fallen — indicate the place with your hand, crying ^ hie, fetch ! fetch ! fetch !' From his previous lessons he will know that you wish him to look for something, and his nose will soon tell him what it is. Do not let him mouth or toy with it, or he will soon get in the habit of roughly mouthing your game, than which I scarcely know a worse habit. " You may now rest for a short time, that the bevy m^ay get over their fright ; after which they will be more easily found, for if they have been very much frightened, they will not give out sufficient odor to enable your pupil to point well, and he may consequently flush them, thereby doing great harm. You can- not do better than to spend your time in repeating your house training with the dead quail : casting it from you, telling him to ' close on ! steady ! charge ! hie on ! fetch !' Cast it some distance unobserved — waft your hand in the proper direction, and tell him ' hie, fetch ! fetch ! fetch !' After a short time has elapsed, you may take Dash to where you have marked the birds. When near the birds, keep Dash near you, that he may be the more easily controlled. If he seem too eager he only needs the command of ' steady \ ' to control him. Let the command be in rather an undertone — never get into the snobbish habit of SPORTING DOGS IN THE FIELD, 77 "bawling at your dog. Apart from its being an ungentlemanly habit, it frightens the quail more or less, and they will not lie so well to the dog. Ha ! but Dash has come down to a point most beautiftilly, Hoho!' You carefrilly approach, flush and shoot the bird, and immediately give your attention to the dog, crying * charge ! ' in a strong and emphatic tone ; if he breaks, get hold of his collar as soon as possible and lash him, and at the same time drag him to his ^ point' and make him ^ charge ^ and keep his position until you reload. You then cry '■ hie up,' make friends with him, and cast him off — he soon points again. You manage to get very near the dog, and when you fire, immediately cry ' charge ! ' and it would be well to accompany ^ the word with a blow,' at this juncture. You make him charge, reload, cry ^ hie up,' indicate the point where the bird has fallen, and command him to 'hie fetch!' You cast him off again, and alivays^ manage to control him offcer you fire — never ^ never suffer- ing him to break shot without feeling the lash. Remember this is the most critical time for yourself and dog. Never suffer yourself to become excited j do not for some time fire more than one barrel, tha* you may sooner give your attention to Dash, and you will accomplish much if you can be near enough to Dash to give him the lash as he first springs from the point, at the same time crying ' charge ! ' If you do not suffer your- self to become excited, and lose sight of your dog after your shot, you will soon have him drop at the report of the gun ; but rest assured, if you let him have his own way a few times, in your eagerness to secure game, you will rue it for many a day to come. You cannot have this fact too strongly impressed upon yourself. If you control him from, the first, your object wiU be attained. If Dash evinces unusual perverseness in this, it will be well to make him ' charge' while on a 'point.' Even should he see a dead bird fall, he should not retrieve without permission." It is a maxim in hunting never to allow a dog to run ahead of another in a point, but either to make him back, or come in to heel. Besides the danger of flushing your game, it would be permitting an unfair advantage to be taken of the dog doing his duty in the lead, of both which a dog of nice sensibility will show himself to be conscious. It happened, some years since, that a party was out, near Old Point Comfort in Virginia, with a fine pointer belonging to Mr. A . A small terrier had accompanied them, and whenever the pointer would take his stand, the terrier would rush by him, and put up -the birds. Kepeating this vexatious, ungentlemanly conduct several time*?, the pointer was seen to grow impatient. At last having found 78 THE ART OF TEAINIXG ANIMALS. another bevy, as the terrier attempted to pass him, tne pointer seized him, and placing his fore paws on him, held him fast, growling to keep him quiet, and maintaining his point until the sportsmen came up. WATER DOGS. The Newfoundland is unquestionably the water dog par ex- cellence, and probably the- best individuals of the variety are the celebrated dogs used for duck shooting on the margin of Chesapeake Bay and commonly called the Chesapeake Bay Water Dog. These animals being derived from ancestors of pure breed, and the constant training from generation to gener- ation having caused th.e transmission of their excellent quali- ties in increased measure to each successive generation, are probably unrivalled by any other in their particular forte. Owmg to thoughtless and injudicious mixing of breeds a true Newfoundland is rarely seen. Although the purer the breed the better water dog he will be, yet many flogs of mixed breeds possessing considerable Newfoundland blood, make excellent dogs for ordinary aquatic sporting. On breeding the water dog little need be said, for, like Dog- berry's reading and writing, his education " comes by nature." In his infancy he may be taught to bring a glove and lay it down at your feet as he should do ; and, by practice, the compre- hension and fulfillment of his various duties will soon follow. He will be found, with judicious encouragement and exercise of authority, more docile than a child. They have been known at four months old to fetch a duck, but lest the constitution be impaired, they should not be put too early at hard service. " Canton," a celebrated Newfoundland, owned by Dr. Stewart, of Sparrow's Point — a great sportsman in his day — was noted for a number of remarkable feats in securing " canvas backs " on the Chesapeake. She surpassed her species gener- ally in unrivalled devotion to the water, and to the sport of ducking, as carried on by the doctor's colored man, Varnell, with his murderous swivel gun. Her patience and endurance were almost incredible. She was the heroine of many desperate encounters with wounded swans, often pursumg them for miles, and many were her exploits among rotten and floating ice, in pursuit of wounded ducks, sometimes, in fogs and darkness. On one occasion she brought out twenty-two or twenty-three ducks, all killed or wounded by Varnell at a single shot. A good deal of tim.ewas lost in pursuing these wounded ducks^ and at the close of this pursuit, it being then dark, Varnell give up the slut as lost, so many hours had she been engaged in bring- TEACHING DOGS TRICKS. 79 ing out her game ; but after Varnell had sorrowfully turned his face homeward, she overtook him with one or two ducks in her mouth; and the old doctor stated that he remembered Varne]I saying that at one time, when she was most fatigued, she climbed on a cake of floating ice, and after resting herself on it, renewed the pursuit of the ducks. CHAPTER X. ORDINARY TRICKS PERFORMED BY DOGS. EVERY dog who has the good or ill fortune to be a mem- ber of civilized society is usually fated to undergo a more or less systematic education " in the way he should go." This education may be either in the primitive style illustrated by the administration of a vigorous kick accompanying the com- mand "get out," to teach the dog to leave you, or the more elaborate training which culminates in the production of a canine prodigy. The capacity for education in dogs varies much with different varieties, and even with individuals of the same variety. While some are taught with the greatest difficulty, others display a wonderful aptitude for learning, and acquire a proficiency which is often really surprising. Whether it is pro- posed to educate the animal as much as liis capacity will admit of, or merely to teach him the things necessary for common con- venience, the first thing is TO TEACH HIM HIS NAME. If a dog has any particular name by which he is usually ad- dressed, he will in time learn to answer to it. With a little system, however, he will learn much sooner than otherwise, and where there are several dogs it is a good plan to make each know his own distinctive title thoroughly, and to respond promptly to it. This will render your intercourse with, and your management of them, both easier and pleasanter. It may be accomplished by a very simple process. When you feed them, call each one by name to his food. If any of the others come forward, send them back. By dividing the food into small morsels and calling each dog in turn to receive his piece, always insisting that he and no other shall receive it, considerable of a lesson may be derived from each meal. When c'onvenicnt take 8a THE AET OF TRAINING ANIMALS, them out to walk, being careful to provide yourself with a few crackers or a piece of bread. Allow the dogs to ramble about at their pleasure, and whenever you choose call some particular one by his name ; when he comes to you reward him with a piece of cracker. By-and-by call some other one, and continue the plan at your discretion. At the end of ten or a dozen lessons they will have pretty well learned their names, and come at your call. IT you have only one dog, the plan v7ould be about the same. TO LEAP. This is very a simple trick and easily taught. A line or pole may be extended from any convenient supports, just so high that' the dog cannot step over. Take your station on one side of this barrier with a supply of bread or cracker. By the offer of a small piece induce him to approach as near as possible to the line or pole, keeping the tid-bit close to his nose, but raised a trifle above it. Now, with a sudden movement, extend your hand beyond the barrier, crying at the same moment, " hip," or any other quick, inspiring exclamation. Eager to get the tempting morsel he will leap over, and the same proceeding may be repeated once or twice, when he should be rewarded with the bait he has been striving for. After a few repetitions he will probably leap over at a motion of the hand and the word of command. He should always be rewarded for obeying, and it is well to have a light switch with which to give him a gentle cut should he attempt to run under, which he should never be permitted to do. The bight of the barrier may be increased gradually from day to day, taking care never to over-task his powers. With practice many dogs acquire the ability of making- very creditable leaps. We had an old dog who had been at- tached to a circus m his youth, and had been rather ^^fast" in his proclivities. Not being content to settle down to the quiet peacefulness of a back-yard existence, which he probably con- sidered rather slow, he was in the habit of leaping over a fenco at least ten feet high and plentifully studded with spikes, that he might indulge in a nightly canine spree with other festive dogs of his acquaintance. When the dog leaps readily over a bar, a hoop may be held in the hand and the same system pursued. The hoop may be gradually lessened in size until the dog finally leaps through one hardly bigger around than his own body, but to do this the trainer must display some skill in conforming the motions of the hoop to those of the dog as he passes through. TEACHING DOGS THICKS. 81 TO WALK ERECT. Hold a bone or other like temptation a little above the dog's nose, but not so high as to lead him to jump to get it. As ho reaches for it raise it so as to induce him to rise up on his hind feet, saying as you do so, '^up, up!" When he reaches tho proper stand-point, let him remain there a moment or two and then let him have the bone. Soon he will stand up on your merely holding your hand in the position described and saying, '• up, up." Then he may bo taught to walk in this position by WALKING ICRECT. slowly moving the bone or your hand slightly in advance. These exercises should not be tediously prolonged, especially at first, for the position is an unnatural and very fatiguing one to the animal. After he thoroughly understands what is required of him you may check any attempt he may make to regain his natural position before you are willing, by a gentle tap under the chin or under the fore paws. TO DANCE. A dog is generally considered sufficiently accomplished in this " graceful and agreeable art " when he has learned to hop around on his hind legs, and to keep tuniing completely around at short intervals. There are several modes of arriving at this result, the most simple of which is, probably, to take a long 82 THE ART OF TEAINING ANIMALS, switch^ after the clog has learned to stand erect, and to this fAvitch attach a piece of meat. With this you can trace out in the air, in tempting proximity to his nose^ the figures you wish him to take, and you may depend upon his hastinct leading him to follow the motions of the switch. This may seem rather an absurd plan for initiating your pupil into the mysteries of the ball-room, but it is nevertheless one of the most eifective that can J3e devised. The dog should be rewarded with the meat after he has danced enough to faii'ly earn it^ and after a few lessons the switch may be used without any bait attached. He will at first follow its motions in the hope that there is some- thing attached, and if he be rewarded for doing so, he will soon comprehend that following the switch means meat by-and-by. If he is dressed up in feminine apparel, as is generally done at public exhibitions, the absurd figure he cuts, and the ridiculous caricature of a lady 'Gripping the light fantastic toe '^ which he presents, is extremely laughable. TO JUMP ROPE, After the dog has learned to leap at your command a light rope may be substituted for the pole, one end of the rope being attached to some stationary object while the other end is held in your hand. Exercise the dog a few times at leaping the rope while it is without motion, and near the ground,, using the command "hip," or whatever one he has been trained to leap with, each time. Then give the rope a slight motion and at the proper moment give the dog the usual command and he will obey it. By increasing the motion very gradually he will,, after many lessons, be able to jump rope very creditably. He may be taught either to jump while standing on his full complement of legs, or in the perpendicular fashion. TO SIT AND LIE DOWN. It is one thing to have your dog do a thing at his own convenience and of his own free will, and quite another thing to have him perform the same action at your desire, especially if he had a little rather not do it. This applies particularly to sitting or lying down, for it usually happens that when you desire him to do so he feels least inclined ; but it is the trainer's business to bend the animals will to his own, and in this case it may be done thus : Taking your position with the dog in front of you, raise one hand over his head and make a motion with it as though about to strike him on the top of his head with your palm ; as you do so repeat the word " down " distinctly and commandingly, with each motion of the hand. This should not SIMPLE DOG TRICKS. 83 be done as- a menace, but to indicate your wishes. While you do this, press firmly with your other hand upon his back, just over the hips, — this pressure will assist in making him take the desired position- When he has done so he should be patted and made to understand that he has done right. Repeat until he obeys the command readily, and then teach him to lie down, which consists in forcing him into a recumbent posture^ as you command him to ^^ lie down ! " TO BEG. After the dog has learned to stand erect he may easily be taught to beg. All that is requisite is to press him down in the desired position ; if he attempts to leave it a gentle tap on the head with the switch will be sufficient to conti'ol him. He may, if preferred, be taught to beg without learning to stand erect ; in this case he may be made to sit down and then, pres- sing his haunches down to prevent his rising to his feet, tap him nnder the chin till he takes the right position. Repetition is of course necessary until he learns what is desired, and each time ydu place him in position it is well to say "beg^ two or three times so he may associate the word with the act Dogs, like many of the human race, after they have " got the hang of it," will beg persistently for the sake of an occasional trifling reward. TO GIVE HIS PAW. There Is scaicely a boy's pet dog who has not acquired this Tery simple trick, though his master probably would not recol- lect how it was taught. Perhaps it was the dog's sociable feelings that led him to perform the kindly ceremony of "shaking hands," or perhaps it was due to the instinctive good breeding which is sometimes accredited to some people - and why not also to some dogs? Whether politeness is a grace which adorns the canine character, however, is a question we hardly feel prepared to discuss, and It is much more probable that Master Harry, (or James, or whatever his name may be), with no special thought in regard to the matter, hit upon xhQ secret which underlies all animal training— compelling obedience to a command until the command is obeyed without compulsion. What was more natural for our friend Harry, when he first gave \hQ momentous command of *' paw,'' and €arlo utterly in the dark as to its signification, taking no notice of it — than to grip Carlo's fore "limb" and give it a shake ? Nothing in the world more natural. This is probably repeated at odd times until Carlo learns to give his paw when Harry says "paw," or Jholds out Jus paw. -64 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. If the same paw is always given, as it will be if during the training that one be always taken, the dog may be taught to offer the other one when you ask for the " other paw/' by merely taking it a few times when you make the request. By using "paw" for one and "other paw" for the other — "paw" first — the dog will seldom get them confused. It is preferable and makes the performance seem better, while it is really no more difficult, if the words "right" and "left" are used in connection with the commands. It is just as easy for a dog to learn the difference between "right paw" and "left paw," as between "paw" and "other paw." It is well to lay extra stress upon " right " and " left " while training, and these words p,hould be pronounced very distinctly. Should the dog offer the wrong paw merely repeat your former command until he changes it, then take it in your hand, call him " good dog," and j^at his head to let him know he has done right. A little boy of our acquaintance had a very handsome New- foundland dog, and having often heard the family physician desire members of the family to let him feel their pulse, he thought it would be a capital idea, and having coaxed'the cook to give him some choice bits of beef-steak, he commenced prac- tice. "Let me feel your pulse, Bruno," says he, and taking Bruno's paw in his fingers he imitated the doctor with a comical childish assumption of professional gravity. He scarcely in- tended, when he commenced, to make Bruno qfcr his pulse for examination at his desire, but Bruno was an intelligent dog and the beef-steak was very good, and before, long he would stick his paw out as nicely as could be desired. Our little fi'iend delighted with the result of his efforts, lost no opportunity of showing off Bruno's accomplishment, and the dog was contin- ually holding out his "pulse" for the examination of visitors. The doctor calling some time after was somewhat amused at our little friend's request to Bruno to " let the doctor feel your pulse," and Bruno's ready compliance therewith. We had a "half-grown puppy of one of the larger breeds' some years since, which by constant training became so used to offer- ing his paw that he would do so to visitors or others without being ordered to. One day a strange cat intruded upon the premises, and puppy made a rush at it with every .token of hostility. When near it, however, habit appeared to gain a mastery, for he held out his paw as usual. The cat being iiTitated by his previous threatening aspect merely struck at him with her claws, inflicting quite a severe scratch, whereupon puppy, perceiving politeness to be at a discount, pitched in and routed the enemy gallantly. REACHING DOGS TRICKS. 85 TO SNEEZE. On a recent visit to a friend we came across a dog who would sneeze in a most natural manner whenever his master said, •^' Sneeze, Zip." This being the only example of a dog perform- ing this trick which we had ever seen we desired our friend to give u.s some particulars of the manner of teaching the trick, which he obligingly did, to this effect : " One afternoon, havhag nothing more important to do, I was amusing myself by bothering Zip with a long feather which I poked in his face, to induce him to snap at it. While doing this I by chance tickled his nose, he immediately commenced sneezing. Once commenced, it seemed as though he would never stop, and I said, rather sar- castically, ' Sneeze, Zip.' I don't suppose my words had any effect, but he certainly did sneeze ) this gave me- the idea of teaching hi;n to repeat it at my bidding. Armed with my feather I commenced operations ; tickling his nose gently each thiie I repeated the command. He didn't like the feather very well, and by-and-by, as though his imagination foreshadowed its -effects, he would sneeze on having it pointed in close proximity to his nose. At odd times when I had a little idle time on my hands, I repeated the exercise, and the dog in a few weeks would sneeze very creditably when I commanded. I was in the habit of rewarding every first rate sneeze with a butter cracker, of which Zip was very fond. Zip has since had the reputation of suffering from severe colds in the head." This was the only speciaf accomplishment which Zip pos- sessed, and whether this was the result of peculiarly sensitive olfactory organs or his master's training we are unabte to say. Of the merits of the latter we are not prepared to speak, having never given the system an actual trial, but we should imagine that such a course might succeed. TO SPEAK FOR IT. This may be taught either In connection with the preceding trick, as a portion of it, or by itself. If the former, it is better to let the dog thoroughly master the first part, begging, before it is attempted to teach him to '^ speak for it." "Take a piece of some article of food which he is fond of, and allowing him to see it, command him to '^ speak for it !" Of course he will not understand what you mean, and will probably only gaze wistfully at the morsel. By-and-by he will grow impatient and give vent to a sharp bark. The nioment he has done this give him the article, for although he has not understood you he has done what you desired^ and by rewarding him he learns that 86 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. this is the case. Practice him a little at some of his old tricks with another reward at hand to encourage him. Should he try the experiment of barking while thus engaged no notice should be taken of it, for it is not desired that he should bark except he be told to, and his doing so in other eases should never be rewarded. When you wish it, repeat the command of '^ speak for it," and when he obeys reward him. If at first he does not show an inclination to bark he may be stimi'lated to do so by your giving a " bow-wow " yourself in as doggish a manner as you are able. This encroachment on his language will gene- rally have the desu-ed effect, for few dogs can resist replying to this act which they no doubt deem an impertinent meddling with their " mother tongue." TO FETCH AND CARRY. This accomplishment may often be put to great practical use, and it is an excellent plan to teach all dogs, which are large enough to be of any service in this manner, to carry baskets or parcels when accompanying their masters. The mode of train- DOG TAUGHT TO CARRY BASKET. mg is very simple, consisting of merely placing the article in the dog's mouth, and when he lets go of it give him a slight box on the ear and replace the article in his mouth. Whatever is given him to carry should be of such a form as to be grasped TRICKS TAUGHT To DOGS. 87 easily by him without hurting his mouth or teeth. The weight should at first be eery light and never more than he can easily carry. Most dogs will take a real pleasure in carrying articles in this manner, and they seem to feel the responsibility attached to their duty, for they will carry theh- own or th^ir master's dmner without attempting to appropriate any portion of it unti^ the proper time when their share shall be given them. In teaching dogs to carry food, however, it is necessary to take a littk special pains to overcome their instinctive inclinations to eat it. A good plan is to place the article m a covered basket which they cannot open, and when the dog has learned to carry an ordinary parcel give him this. If he attempts to get at the food, which he readily detects by his sense of smell, box his ears. By-and-by reward him with the fcod, and then try him with a basket from which he can abstract the contents ; if he tries to do so punish him slightly, never permitting him to steal the food. If a dog ever deserves a reward for well doing he cer- tainly does in this case, for it is too bad to tantalize him with the smell of some dainty and then not to let him finally have something for his good conduct. To make a dog carry articles from one person to another it is only necessary for two persons to take their position at som« distance from one another. One gives the dog some article saying, "go, sir,'' at the same time. As the first says this let the other person call or whistle to the dog. Now let this one give the dog some thing and let the other one call him, and so on back and forth until he will go from one to the other at the command, "go, sir." The distance between the parties may be increased from time to time, and the trick may be varied by one of them hiding himself, this will teach the dog to hunt for the person to whom he is to deliver the article, which will prove useful when you by-and-by desire to send him on an actual errand to a distance. The extent to which any dog may be educated in this matter depends very much upon his natural intelligence and the skill -and perseverance of his teacber. Many anecdot'Cs are told of dogs going on errands. In some cases they go to the post-office for letters, in other cases to the store for groceries, etc., and w€ recollect several instances cited where dogs ^ould, on being given a piece of money, go to the baker's and purchase cake on their own account. The baker, in one of these instances, is said to have one day palmed a stale bun upon a dog who had been in the habit of coming to him regularly with pennies, and the animal, to show he was not to be imposed upon, transferred his custom to a rival establishment In none of these accounts 88 THE ART OF TRAIXING ANIMALS. have we ever seen any mention of the dogs having been sub- jected to any special training, and it is more than likely that they never were. Animals, like men, are creatures of habit. If a man becomes accustomed to a certain routine it is difficult for him to change. Many merchants, retired from business, con- tinue to pay a daily visit to their old offices, their brokers or lawyers, just because not to do so would make them uncomfort- able and restless. So a dog who has become used to accom- panying his master on any regular round of duties will often show that he understands where it is they are going by running ahead and stopping at the accustomed place. We call to mind a dog belonging to a gentleman residing some miles from this city, who will serve as an example of what we have stated, though probably all of our readers are familiar with instances equally, if not more, remarkable. The gentleman was accus- tomed to walk from his residence some half mile to take the morning train for the city, and to return by a particular train in the evening. The dog accompanied him to the cars in the morning, and would again meet him on the arrival of the train at night. It took him some weeks to learn when to expect his master, but after that lie never made any mistakes. A writer in one of the magazines mentions a poodle who was in the habit of going to church with his master and sitting with him in the pew during the whole service. .Sometimes his owner did not come, but the poodle was always promptly in his place, remainmg during the service and departing with the rest of the congregation. One Sunday the dam at the head of a lake in the neighborhood gave way, and the whole road was Inundated. The attendance at church that morning was there- fore restricted to a few individuals who came from near by, But by the time the clergyman had commenced, he saw ouf friend the poodle coming slowly up the aisle dripping with water, having been obliged to swim a quarter of a mile to get there. It is not very difficult to teach a dog to go on errands. Sup- pose you wish him to go to market for you of a morning ; take him with you regularly for a few mornings, letting him carry the basket. In a few days he will understand when you start where it is you propose to go, and will, perhaps, run on ahead and arrive therS some minutes before you. It would be well on all occasions before starting to give the command, '^ Go to market," which will accustom him to it. We do nor vouch for the truth of the story of the dog who, on being given — when purchasing one time on his own account, with money given him for that purpose— a piece of meat inferior tQ ^hat he considered his due, went aiid brought a policeman. IRICKS TAUGHT TO DOGS. 89 TO BRING HIS TAIL IN HIS MOUTH. The dog having been taught to fetch and carry, an amusing application of this knowledge can he made by having him bring his own tail in his mouth. This trick is exceedingly funny and is always hailed with roars of laughter. The feat is rather difficult for while his tail is in his mouth, the dog can only advance in something like crab fashion, or sideways, with an almost irresistible tendency to go around in a circle without gettmg ahead any. To attain success in teaching this trick the dog must be gifted with a good deal of tail, and the trainer with a good deal of patience. Dogs will in play grasp their tails, and most persons have noticed while frolicking with a dog that if the dog's tail be taken hold of with one's hand, the dog will attempt to seize the hand with his mouth, and if his tail be now dexterously placed in his way, he will seize that. This per- haps first suggested the idea of the trick, and this is the initial step of the training. When the dog takes hold of his tail praise him, and after he has held it a little while bid him " let go," and reward him. Should he relinquish his hold before you order him to, speak sharply to him and commence again. When he has learned to retain hold of his tail until ordered to relin- quish it, the more difficult part of his lesson may be taught — the bringing it to the trainer. The trainer at first takes his place a few feet from the dog in the direction in which the dog can most easily advance, and calls the dog ; should he let go his tail to come, he is to be scolded, and the tail replaced in his mouth. When he comes without letting go, he should be rewarded. Gradually the distance he is required to come may be increased, but it would be cruel to make this distance more than half a dozen yards. When the tail is placed in his mouth it is well to say, ^^ Bring me your tail," to accustom him to the order. By- and-by when you give this order merely hold his tail for him to grasp, and at last let him seize it without any assistance from you. THE ROLLING BALL. There are several modifications of this trick, or rather there are several feats all performed with this instrument — a globe of wood or other material some two feet in diameter. One of these feats consists in the dog standing with his hind feet upon the ground, and resting his paws on the ball, pushing it forward, or up and down an inclined plane. This is easily taught, and the only difficult part of the performance is the descent of the inclined plane, where the ball is apt to roll away from the animal. To teach this trick it is only requisite to place the dog^s paws upor CO THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. the ball and set it slowly in motion 5 as you do this tap his hind legs gently from behind to urge him to step forward. It may be necessary to hold him in position by the nape of the necli at first, but he should very soon learn to retain his position without this aid. When he rolls the ball readily upon a level, substitute a wide planli very slightly inclined, up which he should be required to roll the ball. Increase the inclination of the plank slightly with each lesson, but the descent should only be attempted after he has been thoroughly drilled in the pre ceding exercises. It will be necessary to commence with a very slight inclination and to promptly stop the ball should the dog begin to lose control of it. The width of the plank may be decreased eventually to some ten or twelve inches. To stand entirely upon the ball while it is in motion, and to propel it backward and forward, and up and down the inclined plane, starting and stopping it as well as guiding its motions in the desired direction — is a more difficult feat. In this the dog must be practiced in standing upon the ball while it has no motion ; in several lessons in this just the barest possible motion is to be given to the ball while a slight hold upon the dog's neck keeps him in position. The motion may be slowly increased with each lesson, but the ball must for many lessons be held firmly with the hand to prevent it becoming unmanageable. When the dog becomes able to maintain his position he may be required to manage the ball without any assistance. In all cases where he gets down from the ball, accidentally or willfully, he should be spoken to sharply, but the trainer should be equally prompt to praise and reward success. TO WALK ON STILTS. The stilts used in this trick are about twelve or fifteen inches in length, made to fasten to the leg just below the knee joint, with tape or thin flexible leather straps. When four are used there is no particular training required to make the dog walk upon them 5 it being only necessary to put him "on his pins" again whenever he upsets. The tumble is sufficient punishment for his failures. Walking man fashion on only two stilts is a much more difficult task, though it has been accomplished in some cases. The dog should be first thoroughly taught the walking erect trick, then stilts may be put on his hind legs. A cord attached to his collar and held in the trainer's hand will aid in maintaining the dog's balance until he becomes accus- tomed to his novel position. Of course the dog cannot raise liimself upon the stilts, but must be placed erect by the trainer. The farther training is sim.ilar to that described for teachmg TEACHIXG DOGS TRICKS. 91 him to walk erect. A story is told of a dog who actually found a wooden leg of practical use ; one having been furnished him by a whimsical surgeon who had amputated an injured limb for him. TO GO UP A>^D DOWN A LADDER. In teaching this trick two ladders should be provided about six feet in length and joined together at the top ends so as to form an angle when the other ends are placed on the ground. The bars of these ladders should be flat and sufficiently near together to enable the dog easily t^o step from one round to another. Standing at the side of this ladder with a switch in your right hand you whistle to the dog, or call him by name, CLIMBING THE LADDER. and tap the first round of the ladder with your switch to indi- cate he is to step upon it. When he places his fore paws on this round, tap the next in the same manner, saying, " Go on," to him. If he does not obey strike his hind legs lightly from behind, while you encourage him with your voice and snap your fingers in front of him to urge him forward. A tid-bit of some kind held in tempting proximity to his nose may have an encour- aging effect. After ascending one ladder he should be made to go down the other. He will be inclined to jump to the ground in preference to descending step by step ; should he do this he must be punished and made to commence over again. When on the ladder if be hesitates about proceeding gently tap the toes of the foot he should next advance. When two dogs have been taught to go over the ladders a race may be arranged, the dog who first goes three times over to be rewarded. The dogs 92 THE ART OF TRAINING ANIMALS. will soon understand that when they are both ordered to go over, speed is expected ; the dainty given to the winner will be an incentive to exertion. By making one dog go up to where the ladders join, turning half around and forming an arch of his body, the other dog can go over the ladders, passing beneath the JDelly of the "arch." This is a very trifling feat but it generally pleases an audience. The ladder climbing forms really the principal part of the celebrat^ed siege scene, performed by dogs and monkeys. This scene, we believe, was first enacted in London in the year 1753, by a troupe of dogs and monkeys which acquired considerable celebrity by their performances. The}- were owned by a lady, who had also taught them, and went by the name of Mrs. Mid- night's Animal Commedians. A small stage was specially fitted up for their performances, furnished with scenery, decorations, etc., and to these adjuncts was no doubt due much of the success of the troupe. The performance was much like modern ones ; the tricks are all included in this chapter and the one on monk- eys ; the famous siege being only a clever combination of the different tricks. Each animal was taught a particular part and merely obeyed the signals of the exhibition. TO STAND ON HIS HEAD AND TO WALK ON HIS FORE LEGS. The term " standing on the head " is applied to a " wrong end up " position though the animal is actually supported by his WALKING ON FORE LEGS. TEACHING DOGS TRICKS. 93 fore paws, his head not necessarily touching the ground. To teach the trick, provide yourself with a switch twenty inches in length, and moderately stout. This switch, held in your right hand, you place under the dog's belly, and while you raise up his hind quarters with it, you place your left hand on his he-ad to keep him from moving away, and to make him retain his reversed position. As the dog rises into position the switch should be gradually carried along until it supports his hind feet. This is the process for the first few lessons, until the dog under- stands what is required ; after that it is better merely to tap his ankles from in front with your switch, giving at the same time whatever order you have accustomed him to in teaching the trick. He should eventually take the position without any hint or help from the switch. When the preceeding trick is thoroughly mastered, the walk- ing part may be easily added. Taking your position a little in front of your pupil when he is in his upside-down position, you encourage him to come to you. At the same time you must keep your switch in handy proximity to his toes, which you tap lightly on any signs of his relinquishing his position. 13y-and-by he may be made to walk quite a distance. TO " SING." When a dog howls in time, we think it fair to call his per- formance '^ singing.'' Dogs may be taught to do this ; at least they have been, and it is reasonable to presume it may be done again. In only one case of this kind do we know positively the mode of tuition, but it was probably pretty much the same in all cases. This consisted in keeping the dog without food until his appetite was quite sharp. When food was shown him, he naturally whined for it. Now, a dog may be made to whine, bowl, or bark, if you make any of those noises yourself; almost any dog will imitate you, and not only that, but the pitch and style of noise he makes will be somewhat regulated by that made by you. The hungry dog is in prime mental condition for this exercise, and if rewarded when he hits pretty near upon the right degree of noise, he will learn to follow your tones quite accurately. If exercised in a regular scale, or in a sim- ple tune, he will by-and-by go through it without requiring your prompting, with sufficient accuracy to be recognized — if the hearers know beforehand what melody to expect. It is not pretended, of course, that dogs trained as above de- scribed, do anything but repeat a series of noises mechanically in a prescribed rotation. We find recorded, however, one in- htance of a dog learning to discriminate between the different 94 THE AET OF TRALNiXG AXIMALS. notes, and to detect false ones in a musical performance. The story seems improbable, but may be true ; however, it is worth telling : " Frederick Schwartz, a merchant retired from business in Darmstadt, occupied his leisure hours, which were many, al- most exclusively with music. His passion for the art acquired such an intensity that he required every one about him to fall in with his musical predilections by either vocal or instrumental cooperation. Poodle, the dog, was the only one unable to ren- der any musical assistance. As worthy Herr Schwartz felt the utter impossibility of making Poodle aflPord any practical aid, he determined to train him to till the office of critic in his own harmonious community. He succeeded, too, by an ingenious method. Whenever a note out of tune proceeded from a voice or an instrument j every time that a musical fault was com- mitted by any member of the family — and such fliults were committed purposely — the rod was applied to Poodle's back, and he naturally began to bark