The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-28
EUROPEAN POLICE DOGS.
n IncoFruptIble ThIeT Takers
OF Csutlnental Critics.

mahcu LOT ANttc ncl8tum 70 chTNl Oub bhts
innovation--ln Antwerp. Client. Mons. Druges
and ostend-an innovation which has. now
spread to other parts OF Htrope. Monsieur
Il. van Wesemael, Police Commissioner OF
Client, was the first TO suggest trained dogs
az auxiliary police.
In March. 1890, three Belgian sheep dOgs
were bought for him By the veterinary ofacer
OF the city, and their training was at once
taken In hand by the Police Commissioner.
shortly before Christmas ten dog policemen
were at work. and after a reasonable period
had elapsed q report was sent 10 the burgo-
master. After ten months Of trial the most
conservative members Of the City Council
OF Ghent became enthusiastic over the new
police recruits and voted more money for
dogs TO be used In the Faubourg de Bruges
and along the smaller COCKS. 5oon there
we're thirty big. powerful dog policemen on
duty and working with surprising efficiency.
They would take q new man over his night
beat with a zeal. a thoroughness and a re-
~ientless. systematic ardor that would kill
q lazy constable. They knew their work. and
could and did correct many q man who was
q stranger to the beat.
The system 10 now a proved succ ess. and
the veterinary surgeon OF the city periodically
goes out to the fairs to buy dogs. Many
breeds have been tried, but the best Of all is
tho big Belgian or French shepherd dog, the
Wv hfA "a khCtoun AIu oEOtuCu-
daels. with hair long or short, wiry or silky.
These are unmatched the world over for their
endurance. boldness. fidelity and intuitive
Instinct.
Some Belgian cities-Mons, Saint GILES
and Schaerbeek-buy their dogs at ten and
even eighteen months OF age; but M. van
Wesemael prefers to buy his recruits when
they are six months old and can be subjected
to an exhaustive training with surer results.
Thu narfna NJ Sw.tpfn1 1urln. Rwnoo kh~.. A.
six months.
For the first fifteen days new recruits are
kept in the kenRels and are merely taught
obedience. Military brevity. combined with
unyarying kindllness. marks all orders. In
due time certain night guards come and take
out the recruits with the veteran dogs when
the night bell sound The dog police 20 on
duty at 10 O'Clock at night and finish work
at Q In the morning. They never &c out In
to become acquainted with tho ordinary
public.
When on duty each carries q leather collar
bearing a tin medal. with its name. birth.
date and the word Police There is also
n cloak for stormy weather, which covers the
body from neck to tail. IL IL leather mounted
and waterproof. The dogs also wear muzzles
while on duty. for their whole training makes
them regard the civilian as an enemy. and q
au1AhC 10 uoCNSnuIy AOI NuO BfObtOVOO Of
peaceable citizens. This mu2ale IL OF a spe-
cial kind. 1t is a tin cup. perforated for respir-
alton, which prevents the dog from eating
any food ne may ind In the road at night.
An elastic arrangement. however. permits
the unmuzzling OF the animal IN an instant.
when the muzzle swings from the collar.
ready to be replaced when the emergency
has passed. Thus unmuzGled the well fed,
trained and powerful animal il a formIdah BILE
oAWaraoRs, ay,nn To- ~, 70, "A kt-I-. 1919
being an accessory OF great Use to the night
patrol. whether a criminals intent Is fight
OF A ght.
The entire education OF the newly arrived
dogs In undertaken by the brixadiers-con-
tr0leurs. or officers In authority over the night
patrol. When coaching the dogs the brieu-
der contr0leur IL always in civil dress, and
often he Stimulates the appearance OF a tramp
or suspicious character. He goes through
the pantomlme OF assaultinR the night guards,
runs. away. slouches. along with suspicious
bundles, leaps into bitches filled with deep
water, soales high walls and generally runs
the whole Eamut Of a rascal caught In the
act.
Every week the dog police are lined I'd in
the paddock for medical inspection. They
mitTed. ono might, relate amusing. pathetic
and all but incredible anecdotes OF the intelli-
sence OF, these carefully selected and well
When a new recruit is beginning to show
aptitude under training. the night guard to
whom IL Is assigned comes to the kennel and
dogs are assembled for duty. The men are
provided With bones or scraps Of meat for
on the lesson II is sought to teacbeensmssIVy
that only men. In police uniform may be
trusted. All others are to be eyed with sus-
on the night patrol leads out the beginner. TO
familisrize 1t with every nook and corner
Of the beat, For one month this work goes
the hours OF duty being gradually increased
to the standard eight.
object me les sasnsn'h Ne IS Is s'p freo 20 %pSe sesseS s .ns
irritated by a brizadier- contr6leur. In eX-
treme o. se~ a slow witted recruit ia nal
BY the Official actor. simultaneously every
policeman in the station caresses the dog
md gives y da'ntIes; i 3 no wonder then,
once eager 20 obey the commands Of the
police. and more thar age 70 attack a sus-
piffIST S,I lSSki nae. ee,tc s I IN SIStl S SlStser b,,r..u
mSlntaIns In its grounds, artLstioaIiv arranged
walls, water Jumps and other Obsta Giles, as
training these dog, They ACQUISITION new.
to make nyinR leapa exceeding Sin. feet. and
They are trained. in this last respect by a
pull at the leash when they Jumn for the neck.
dSSs; S II X. t t4stDE RS.lT REM b. ,cSE 5Ts Mu,1 |.
touch the back OF HE knee. he drups. TO show
that the object Ia. attained. This operation
often repealed. shows the intelligent dog
what the object o. the. pursuit a and how
II may ne best accomplished. After q fine
the animal operates without heing held in
leash. end yet instantly responds 10 It's mas
ter's whistle. no matter how headlong may
be the pursuit in which II is en- n Eed.
When an officer arriveR on hIR heat n, re-
leases his dog with the laconic command,
"Cherche.- Instantiy the dog passes swiftly
into and around farms AID outhouRee beyond
the city boundary. IL knows all poeeihle
places OF conccalment. for " during the earlier
stages Of the training It's memory In this rp-
spcct has been lax, morHels OF meat have been
placed In remote corners a. an infallible
guido 10 these places.
The dog does more scouting in ten minutes
than ia we'll raid human comrade could do
in an hour. II bArks or 9rowis OF In any
suspicious tho patrol AZ Once Joins the dog.
Each niRht guard. BY the way, carries o re-
volvpr with twenty rounds Of ball cartrSd ge,
a whistle. handcUifs and q dark lantern.
Strict orders are given TO the men IN pre-
vent their dogs from picking up bones or
tempting motAple un the beat. aone superb
animals were lost before the chief connis-
eionPr and his veterinary surgeon settled on
the dict, which now renders tho dogs almost
Ind TO delicacics casually found In the
night.
the body OF a dog colleague suddenly poisoned
the patrol Will take up the body Of his Ioyni
and faithful friend and bfar II hack to the
bureau, 80 leaving the field un siarded. The
mere fact Of the poisoning Of q dog shows
the proximity OF q criminal on the beat, 40
the patrol muet call for aid from tho next