The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-05-23
Wonderful War Dog.


been experimenting with dogs trained
to do military duty; and now it is
announced officially that the results
are excellent
Perhaps one reason for the good be-
havior of the animals is to be found
in the rule of the guidance Of their
human trainers, which reads:
Always, before you punish a dog,
make sure that you yourself are per-
fecily calm and without anger. Never
fail 20 praise dog for good work.
Use every opportunity TO speak to the
dogs. either praising or censurinS
them as the case may demand
It is no life of fun and play that
awaits puppy who is distinguished
by being selected for the honor of
becoming the member of regiment.
He must learn almost as much as a
private soldier and drill fully as hard.
The first that is taught to the young
dog is to walk exactly at the proper
distance from the soldiers whom he
accompanies neither too far before
nor behind them, and when thus on
the march to be absolutely as grave
and attentive as a man.
This training lasts till he is seven
months old. Then the puppy must
turn out every day and run races with
the older dogs to strengthen his mus
Giles and chest After he has done this
for about five months, and when he is
a year old, the real military work be-
gins.
BY this time the dog knows his own
troop of men pretty well. But he must
now learn TO distinguish every man in
it, even in the darkest night, SO that
he shall know by scent if soldier
who does not belong to his regiment
tries to approach the camp.
This, of course, is one of the vital
necessities for the war dog, because
he is to be used both as sentry and
a messenger in war, and in each case
he must recognize an enemy or
friend at once.
Then he must learn to obey instant
ly, so that at the word he stops as IL
frozen stiff. Thus he learns to drop
TO the ground and crouch low with his
head between his forelegs the moment
he hears the command down And
there he must remain, for hours If
necessary. till he hears the regimental
whistle that tells him that he is TO
come on.
Then comes another hard and long
branch of learning. He must becomes
so that he will carry articles in his
mouth and hold on to them no matter
what happens. The trainer gives him
a cap or glove at first, and sends him
to carry it to some officer. Then
men turn out when they see the dog,
90 at him with shouts and make be-
lieve to attack him. AL first the new
dog either drops what he is carrying
TO bark and snap at the pursuers, or
he will stand over it and prepare to
fight.
Now. of course, what is wanted in
war is not that dog should protect
whatever he is carrying by fighting
for it. In that case his fight would be
short, for the enemy would simply
shoot him and then get the message
or the ammunition With which he had
been intrused.
So the trainer bends all his efforts
to teach the dog, first that he must
under no circumstances drop the par
eel from his mouth, and second, that
he must dodge an enemy. keep out
of his sight, if possible, and under
any circumstances run away from
him without delay.
Now, as any dog, no matter how
careful. may lose his parcel at times,
the dog must be taught to search for
lost articles. He is drilled in this
until he gets SO expert that most OF
the German army dogs can find a cap
or a glove that has been lost anywhere
along the line Of march mile long.
Now comes an important lesson.
The dog must be taught to lie down
alongside Of any object that may be
pointed out by the soldier, whether it
be a button from a coat or cannon,
and stay there without uttering a
whimper while his regiment moves
on. Even if 1T be- away for a day