17 DECEMBER 1927, Page 17

A DOG'S VOCABULARY [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

SIR,—Sir W. Beach Thomas's question will probably bring you more affirmative replies than you can spare room for. I have a dog who understands even a casual reference to " going out " ; so clearly, indeed, that if for any reason I do not want to take him with me, I spell the word " o-u-t." But even this is now of no use.

He knows as well as I do that o-u-t spells out. The same - with the word " post." Obviously he loves this word, because in general it means a five minutes' scamper to the nearest suburban pillar-box, and " p-o-s-t ". is becoming futile. My dog is a mongrel, a cross between Collie and Pomeranian.