[TO TDB EDITOR OF THE "SPIICTATOR. "I SIR, —Some years ago I
was walking along Upper Leeson Street, Dublin, and saw a King Charles spaniel standing on a doorstep looking up at the bell-handle and whining. As soon as he saw me approaching ho trotted down the steps, got -in front of me, and sat up " begging." Of course I went and rang the bell, and as soon as the door was opened the little creature turned round and hold up his paw to "shake hands." I did not at the time know his owner, but I made the lady'S acquaintance some time afterwards. I asked her if the dog had been taught to " beg" to have the door opened, and to "shake hands" by way of thanks. She said he had not; ho had been taught to "beg," as pet dogs usually are taught, by feeding him with dainties after sitting up, and to "shake hands" after being fed. I could only conclude, therefore, that the dog associated the sitting-up attitude with a request to be given something he wished for, which in this case happened to be the riuging of the bell. He would naturally enough associate the ringing of the bell with the opening of the hall-door. But the " shake hands" gesture caps the climax. Ho evidently had been taught to associate this gesture with a feeling of gratitude for food which had given him pleasure ; he felt pleasure at his wish to be let into the house being complied with, and so showed his gratitude in the way lie had been taught to shoe it for food.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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