The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-12-22
DOGS THAT DRAW LOADS.
/ SUBSTITUTE FOR THE HORSE IN
COUNTRIES OF EUROPE.

The use of the dog as draught an.
imal is steadily increasing in Belgium,
Germany, Switzerland and the Neither
lands, according to recent consular
reports, in spite of the strenuous op-
position of the Society for the Proven
lion of Cruelty to animals, and not
withstanding the severe discrimination
against the dog-owner in all highway
privileges and expenditures. The dog,
says the New York Post, has proved
to be 80 peculiarly adapted to the needs
Of the small farmer and the trades
man, and, withal, SO easily acquired
and 80 willing and cheap q servant,
that the transportation Of small guam
hties of merchandise through short
distances is chiefly done by him in
those countries. In the cities he hauls
the delivery carts Of the butcher, the
grocer, the baker, the milkmsn and
The shopkeeper;$in the rural districts
be draws the peasants farm produce
to the market, and. does many an odd
service that commonly falls to the, lot
of a donkey or horse. His useful
ness is, of course, strictly limited, by
his strength no less than by the police
regulations, to "small tesming," but
his worth is evident in his persistent
numerical increase. It costs nothing
to train draught dog, little, to feed
him and but little more to possess
him; he is housed without inconyeni-
ence or expense; he does his work
faithfully and we'll, and in these po-
tent considerations lies the explana-
tion of his widespread use.
The draught dogs are harnessed
from two to six abreast to a, two or
four-wheeled cart. When single dog
is used, he is hitched to q shaft under.
meath the cart, and merely aids the
driver, who, pushing from behind,
does the greater part Of the work.
The harness is simple, consisting Of 3
broad strap, or breast collar, Of
leather, passing around the breastsnd
tapering back about three feet on
each side, heightened by traces Of
cord or leather, which are attached to
the whifletree. The collar is held in
place by q back-band and girth, and
the leather muzzie, which all dogs, in
or out Of harness, are required to wear
at all seasons when outside their owf-
ers' PREMISES serves as bride, and
completes the working gear. The two
wheeled cart is about four feet high,
weighs some two hundred and fifty
pounds, and is provided with. long
handles, which are held by the driver,
who guides and balances it, while the
dogs, hitched to an iron bracket, trot
beneath. The four.wheeled cart,
which is used almost exclusively in
the country and remote villages, is
two and one-half feet high, weighs
about one hundred and fifty pounds,
AID is usually drawn by four Of more
dogs harnessed abreast,in front. 5f
q. The cost Of a draught dog varies
considerably, age health, strength and
spirit naturally being important fac
tors in determining it. In Ghent "a
young dog of ordinary promise may be
bought for $6 or 81; q well.hained
dog, between one and three years old,
will cost from 80 to $12, while S15 is
asked for very fine dog. In Brus-
sells good draught dog sells at from
sixty to 1875 francs ($11. .5s to $24.12).
In Antwerp the prices are. about the
same, a,,weli trained strong young dog
costing from $fs to $50, while six
year-old dog can be bought for q sum
between SO and $40. In Frankfort,
Germany, the value ranges from $15
to $25; in Lucerne, from seventy to
15O francs ($13.5l to $28.95).
Food and maintenance are trifing
items of expense, as a full-grown dog
can be kept strong and healthy on the
kitchen waste of q household of five or
six. In the country districts the food
is milk, bread; and vegetables e1clu-
sively, and, although it is apparently
insufficient, the dogs thrive. IF the
food must be bought, a stable Of six
dogs can be kept at an expenditure of
about six cents each per day. Carts
and harness may be had to suit the
purses of the purchaser.
It is impossible to determine even
an approximate average OF the weight
a single dog can draw through a given
distance in a given time. Somewhat
indefinitely, it may be said that six
dogs can draw load of 800 pounds
during several consecutive hours with
out sign of distress. It is fact also
that two dogs can draw peddler's
load from five O'Clock in the morning
until eight o'clock in the evening, with
only such rest as the intervals of sale
may offer, and that they will then be
less fatigued than their master at the
end of the days work. One dog alone
generally has strength enough to draw
q milkman's cart and sixty gallons OF
milk over o long route in a rolling
country. ..... .s.
The average working life Of these
faithful animals is ten years. They
reach their full strength at three years,
and from then until they are nine years
old SHOULD be at their best. With good
care and sufficient food most dogs are
capable of service even until fifteen
years old, and many trot their daily
round with cheerful alacrity although
bearing the weight of twenty years.