DOGS ALMOST HUMAN

Patea Mail, Volume LII, 2 March 1931, Page 2

DOGS ALMOST HUMAN

ONU ACT* A 8 MASTER'* VALET. Has Iludyard Kipling exaggerated the intelligence of dogs in his book, “Thy Servant, a Dog"? is the question on all his readers’ tongues. No. Hoots admittedly tells his own story, but beyond that he is only a very attractive, ordinarily intelligent dog. A. liumlrml examples might be collected of dogs with clever tricks, tint here are two instances which prove a.s surely as is possible that dogs do and can understand human speech. “Tara" is an Alsatian wolfhound, owned by a man who breeds dogs in Gloucestershire. And she acts as her master’s valet. She is spoken to very quietly, and how over many people are about, she always understands perfectly. She will shut the door, mount the piano stool and strike the notes, ami, what is more remarkable, she tvill pick any newspaper she is told from a heap of others on the table aud bring it to her master. She learnt to know' tlu 1 different papers by their thickness. She will guard any of her master's belongings from his motor car to hisi' walking stick for any length of time, day or night, indoors or out. She is the perfect servant.