Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1894 — The Dog Has No Mechanics. [ARTICLE]

The Dog Has No Mechanics.

Although the mental dualities of our highly domesticated dogs are singuSariy like those of their masters, the ikeness going to the point that the household pet ia apt to have acquired something of tbs general character of the people with whom lie dwells, there are many suggestive differences arising fiom failures which are in the highest jneaSure interesting to those who stqd'V the species. We note, in the first place, that although for ages in contact wjtb the constructive work which occupies his masters the dog shows no tendency whatever to essay any undertakings' of this nature. He is quiips alive to considerations of personal comfort and is particularly fond of a warm bed, yet except for a few unverified stories we may say that there Is no evidenoe whatever to show that they ever try to improve their conditions by deliberately providing themselves with warm bedding. In no wollattestod case hat a dog shown any Bonse as to the nature of any mechanical contrivance. They will learn which way a door opens, and rarely ii ever do they undlscerningly cioso it when it is slightly ajar when they wish to pass through the opening, but I have never been üblo toobserve or obtain evidenoe to show that they would pull down a latch in the way in which a cat readily learns to do. Much us dogs have had to do with puns, they display no kind of into!eatTn the arms except to far as they are tokens of sport to come. They connect the explosion with tho capture of game and with march for it in the dirot tion toward which the barrel was pointed. I havo not, however, been able to find that they know, as they might readily do, and as a orow would surolydo, when the weapon was load id and when empty. They show' no interest in it, such as monkeys readily display toward any mechanical c< ntrivance to which their attention has been directed. All these negatlv e features indicate that the mechanical side of tho canine mind is entirely undeveloped.—Chicago News.