MANNERS IN DOGS

Evening Star, Issue 22810, 19 November 1937, Page 12

MANNERS IN DOGS

BREEDING FOR BRAINS Dogs have entered on a new phase sinco the war. Perhaps it was inevitable that as they became more common as household companions men and women should desire an improvement in their manners, using this word in its broadest sense (says a writer in ‘ The Times ’). _ Their owners want them to behave in _a seemly way, iii the home and outside, and to follow obediently when exposed to the dangers of traffic. These simple qualities are well within the capacity of most dogs, provided that their owners have the patience and skill to train them. Before many years have passed an unruly dog will bo a reproach to its master or mistress. ' Meanwhile those of us who aro interested in the subject cannot do more than advocate the elementary education of dogs. We cannot conpol them to go to school, as we do children, but we can urge the propriety of having them taught, and some day it may be that classes designed to show owners how to do it will be common. Possibly that admirable organisation, the Tail-waggers’ Club, with tho co-operation of its 700.ti00 members, might see its way to undertake the task.

If this were done a demand would spring up for puppies that come from clever parents that had been bred for brains as well as for looks. That it is possible to raise a race of dogs on a higher mental plane is apparent from the experience of those who train gundogs for field trials. Spme arc born with greater natural ability than others, and if breeders, working on the laws of heredity as they do with show dogs, were to select the cleverest for

breeding and to eliminate the dullards, in a few generations the general level would ho raised appreciably. It is by similar processes that the appearance of show dogs has been improved. Some dogs display greater powers of educability than others, and if such are used as breeding stock the effects should be marked in succeeding generations. That the schooling can be begun in the kindergarten stage is proved by some photographs that have been sent me by Mr J. Fraser Campbell, who has trained golden retriever puppies, six weeks old, to remain steaoy before their feeding dishes until they hear the word “Yes,” when they set to with gusto. He can put one or two down to feed while the rest abstain until tfeey receive permission.