The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-03-22
DOG AMBULANCE CORPS.


Can Help Himelf to Medicine.
IFrom the New York Press.l
Lechenich, near Cologne, in the Rhine
lands, is the home OF Jean Bungartz,
the animal painter and animal lover
who is at present engaged upon an in
terestng experiment in dog training,
After success in training dogs for act
i've army duty, accommodating, sentry
and messenger service--success certified
to by the German government-Mr.
Bungartz turned his attention to new
branch of the work, and is the first to
train dogs for hospital and ambulance
service.
First Of all, when scarce six months
old, the puppy must learn to- obey, to
answer to the ordinary commands,
"Come here" down." speak" ''for-
ward, march" and the like. Then he is
taught to wear his harness. This last
consists Of a collar, sailcloth rug tightly
rolled, and two saddle bags each with
two compartments, to carry dog biscuit,
bandages, ammunition, etc. The whole
lis arranged to fit comfortably over back
and shoulder, and when the pockets are
filled, should not weigh more than ten
pounds
When accustomed to- his harness and
obedient to his masters look and word
lit takes several months to reach per-
fection-the collie is ready for his pro-
fessional training.
:, a. fully
understood, then comes the sentry's
training Here the dog has to learn to
take up his position at a given distance
in front of his master, and ito stand up
and return at once when the enemy
again the inevitable assistant-ap-
proaches in the darkness, The dog,
once in position, is allowed at first sew
eral minutes, and then more and more
before the enemy approaches, that he
may learn not to relax his attention
during the whole time of his watch. AT
first, of course, the trainer encourages
him with "Look out! Keep watch"
One cam easily see what an Invaluable
aid the dogs sharper senses, would rem
der him. when thus trained. Sentry and
scout thus aided and protected could
not be surprised.
Then comes the messenger" train
ing. The dog is taught to run short dis
tances between trainer and assistant,
back and forth over all kinds of ground,
until, when once the letter is enclosed
in the little waterproof pocket on his
collar the four-footed dispatch" knows
he is to run in the direction indicated
and not to allow any obstacle, natural
or human, to interrupt or stop him I'm
til the goal is reached. The Bungartz
dogs are so perfectly trained, and when
reported finished" by their master,
they are not dependent upon him, but
will take and carry out orders from any
man, of the regiment into which they are
enrolled The reading of the words of
command to the men, that they may
not confuse the dogs with unnecessary
talk is all that is required.
Seeking the wounded was at first
also a part of the army dogs duty, but
recognizing the immense Importance of
this work, and not wishing to overbur-
den his pupils brains, Bungartz has
trained dogs for this purpose alone, and
those are the so-called Hospital or
Red Cross Dogs"
For this duty collies are used, as for
LIE OlIlCIs illus I1CS lloNillS CAuci1 III
hardlhood, intelligence and fidelity.
The Red Cross dog wears the same |
harness as his fellow of the regulars, |
with the addition of a large red cross !
on the saddlebags a lantern to be strap |
ped on his back at night, and a small |
flag with red cross ON white ground, |
which he carries when on g. message be- |
tween the ranks of the hospital col |
umns. In the saddlebags he carries, be- |
sides his biscuit, everything necessary |
for the first bandaging, and even a. we'll |
protected flask OF brandy. The dog |
must be trained with all his harness on,
that he may become accustomed to its
weight and pressure, and may know it |
for part of his duty.
The professional training begins in
the room in which the dog has had his
preliminary lessons in obedience. His
master holds In him in leash, while the
assistant takes the dogs rug, and lies
down in one corner of the room. The
master leads the dog a little way In the
opposite direction, then turns suddenly,
and with the command forward,
march! Seek the woundedp' leads the
pupil directly up to the PROSTATE man.
The latter then gives the dog some fay-
orite morsel. but first the pupil must
have obeyed the command to give
tongue. Then the process is repeated
again and again until on command
"Seek the wounded" the dog without
LEASH goes directly to the assistant and
gives tongue at once. Then the lessons
are continued out-of-doors, at first in
open country, where the distance is
and finally the assistant
hides himself in a bush or ditch until
the dog learns to seek Independently
The first lessons and the tests of the
finished pupils are held at night, and
tells of remarkable work done
by the dogs on nights so dark that the !
seeking party passed within five feet 4
If the prostrate man on OPEN ground, ,
and but for the collie would not have
found him. Bungartz's prize pupil, a
female collie, not quite a year old, learn
ID in two weeks to- find the most careful ,
y-hidden man with perfect ease, and in ]
dependent of any help but the COM
mand, seek the wounded~ :
Any war historian. or soldier, who !,
las seen battle can tell how the !
Heath roll is sweplled by those of i
wounded who