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  3. The Dog The dog is one of the most popular pets in the world. It ordinarily remains loyal to a considerate master, and becau

The Dog The dog is one of the most popular pets in the world. It ordinarily remains loyal to a considerate master, and becau

admin2010-03-26  48
问题                              The Dog
    The dog is one of the most popular pets in the world. It ordinarily remains loyal to a considerate master, and because of this the dog has been called man’s best friend. Class distinctions between people have no part in a dog’s life. It can be a faithful companion to either the rich or the poor.
    Man’s Best Friend
    Dogs have been domesticated for most of human history and have thus endeared themselves to many over the years. Stories have been told about brave dogs that served admirably in war or that risked their lives to save persons in danger. When Pompei--the Roman community destroyed by Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79--was finally excavated (挖掘), searchers found evidence of a dog lying across a child, apparently trying to protect the youngster. Perhaps few of the millions of dogs in the world may be so heroic, but they are still a source of genuine delight to their owners.
    A dog fits easily into family life. It thrives on praise and affection. When a master tells a dog that it is good, the animal happily wags its tail. But when a master scolds a dog, it skulks (躲闪) away with a sheepish look and with its tail tucked between its legs.
    People in the city as well as those in other areas can enjoy a dog. Medium size or small dogs are best suited for the confines of the city. Large dogs need considerable exercise over a large area.
    Dogs are not always well thought of, however. In recent years dogs in the city have been in the center of controversy. Some people have criticized dog owners for allowing their pets to soil sidewalks and lawns, although in some cities laws oblige owners to walk their dogs along street curbs. In turn, dog owners have argued that the animals serve as protection against vandals (故意破坏者)and burglars and thus protect their detractors as well as their owners. When a person, it will bite in its own defense.
    The Dog Family
    The wild ancestors of all dogs were hunters. Wolves and other wild relatives of the dog still hunt in packs for their food. Dogs have retained the urge to be with the pack. This is why they do not like to be left alone for long. Some breeds of dogs still retain the hunting instinct.
    Dogs exist in a wide range of sizes, colors, and temperaments. Some, such as the Doberman pinscher and the German shepherd, serve as alert and aggressive watchdogs. Others, such as the beagle and the cocker spaniel, are playful family pets, even though they were bred for hunting. Still others, such as the collie and the Welsh corgi, can herd farm or range animals. Each of the dogs just mentioned is a purebred. A mongrel dog, however-one with many breeds in its background—can just as easily fit into family life.
    Dogs have been with humans since prehistoric times. Over the years they have performed various services. They have pulled sleds over snowy tracts. They have delivered messages, herded sheep and cattle, and even rescued persons trapped in the snow. Dogs have served as a source of food, too. The ancient Romans are said to have prized certain kinds of dog stew. The Aztecs of ancient Mexico raised tiny dogs, thought to be the forebears of the Chihuahua, to feed the large carnivores (食肉动物) in the private zoos of the Aztec rulers. In the past dogs have even been worshiped as gods. Recently, they have been used in drug research, medical experimentation, and space science. Soviet scientists launched dogs into space to test the ability of mammals to survive the harshness of space travel before people were sent up.
    Dog Training
    Dogs are trained as guard dogs in peacetime by the United States Army and other military services. Because of their keen sense of smell, dogs are used by police at times to track down escaped prisoners. Law enforcement agencies also rely on the dog’ s acute sense of smell to uncover illegal drugs. And specially trained dogs serve as the "eyes" of the blind, guiding the steps of their sightless masters around obstacles and hazards.
    Any young dog can be trained to understand commands and to do simple tricks. When correctly trained, it is conditioned to respond to your commands, noises, or gestures.
    Once an owner decides to train his puppy, however, he must be willing to stick with the job until the puppy learns the task. First, the owner should select a simple "call" name for the animal. The call name should be used frequently so the puppy can learn to recognize the sound of it.
    A training session is best begun when the puppy is hungry because it is more alert at that time. Also, the owner can reinforce the dog’ s correct responses to commands with a dog biscuit or meat tidbit (美哧食品). The hungry dog is more apt to associate the correct performance of a task with a food reward.
    To get the puppy into a collar at first, entice (引诱) it to you by extending your open hands, pet it and say "good dog" (and include its name) when it comes, and finally slip the collar around its neck. Then attach a leash to the collar. If the puppy has confidence Jn you, it will walk along with you even though it is wearing the leash. A metal chain leash is usually best because the puppy will not be able to chew and play with it.
    Wait until a puppy is at least six months old before trying to teach it tricks, but do teach it the meaning of "no" at an earlier age. The young dog must be corrected vocally each time it does something that you disapprove of. If you are consistent, it soon learns by your tone of voice what pleases you and what displeases you. Formal training sessions should entail no more than ten minutes of work at a time, and they should never tire the dog.
    To teach the command "sit", keep the dog on your left side and pull up on its leash with your right hand while gently but firmly pushing its hindquarters to the floor. While doing this, say the command "sit" with authority. Reinforce its correct actions with a tidbit.
    To teach the command "stay", work with the puppy after it has learned to sit. While it is sitting, raise your palm to the dog and order it to "stay". It will probably try to get up, so tell it "no". Whenever it remains in the sitting position after you have given the "stay" command, reward the dog with a tidbit.
    More effort might be needed to teach the command "come". When the dog has learned to stay, command it to "come" and call it by name. When it comes to you, lavish the dog with praise and give it a snack. A very stubborn dog might have to be pulled with a cord tied around its collar while the command is given. If this is necessary, be firm but accompany the command with a friendly hand gesture. Many tugs may be necessary until the reluctant dog learns the meaning of "come". Do not be impatient with a puppy when teaching it simple tricks, and never get angry. If the training sessions are not going well, break them off and resume them later in the day or even on another day. In addition, give praise and tidbits to the dog only when they are earned.
Police uses dogs to track down escaped prisoners because of dogs’______.
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答案keen sense of smell
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