FOREWORD
“My dog is perfection in character and disposition, and in intelligence he cannot be beaten.”
These words give the attitude of mind of the large body of dog lovers, whether in England or America, or in whatever remote corner of the earth they may be found. For is not every human convinced in the inner recesses of his mind of the immense superiority of his own canine favourite to all others of his race? Yet some there are who only cherish this delusion in the sanctity of their unspoken thoughts, while with the unfettered license of a fine freedom they look out on the world of dogs with what appears, at least to themselves, to be an unbiassed and independent judgment. Thus while in confidential parley with ourselves we play with our unshaken faith in the gifts and performances of our own special dog friend, we present a bold front of open-minded justice when we are asked to listen to the deeds of other dogs.
Such an attitude is all that I can hope for from those who read these simple studies of dog life. The interest of the unvarnished anecdotes, that have been collected at first hand, will be intensified by the thought of the very superior cleverness of “The One” dog in similar circumstances, as against “The Others,” whose gifts must always seem quite painfully mediocre in comparison.
But to all our dog friends we have duties in proportion to the response they make to the influences of mind and affection we bring to bear on them. While we cherish “The One,” may we never forget that every instinct of humanity demands from us a careful discrimination of the rights of “The Others” in the battle of life.