Page 6 - Too Smart Dog

The lord returned to the group and said, “I have selected what I want the dog to retrieve. There are several rakes in the garden but I want him to get the one with the broken handle.”
“Well then,” said the Peddler, “Tell my dog what you want him to retrieve.” The lord cocked up an eyebrow at the request but good naturedly complied. He squatted down, looked the dog in the face and told it to go into the garden and retrieve the rake with the broken handle.
The handsome dog trotted to the garden, out of view of all the people standing on the estate’s driveway and then quickly returned with the broken handled rake in its mouth. The lord was rather impressed but still reluctant to concede that intelligence and not trickery was in play.
“That is impressive but this may still be a con’s trick.”
The Peddler laughed and said, “If you still doubt the intelligence of my dog, you tell him something, anything, to do.”
“Fine,” said the lord and he paused and thought for a moment and then said to the dog, “Go to my front door, ring the bell and get the butler to come here to me.” The dog turned, trotted to the front door, stood on its hind legs and placed his paw on the door bell button.
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