The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-05-03
THE DOG In BELGIUM
HE PLAYS A LEADING PART IN THs
STATES DOMESTIC ECONOMY
The Canine PsIice of Cheat Nre
strsnE Factor In the SnpPression Of
CrIm--The WORK They ~" and the
WAY They Are Trained F"r ~.

CrImr-The WORK They 10 and the
Msy They Are Trsinrd F"r ~.
Every one is familiar with the I'M
portant part which the dog plays In
the domestic economy of Belgium.
Anything aud everything which falls
TO the part OF donkey or horse in other
lands is done willingly and chccrfully
by these littlc creatures Hut their use
as servants does not stop with these
ordinary duties. which can hc perform.
eel 10y animals of me- high intelligence.
The Bclginu dog has hccume q recog
nizcd member " the police force. aud
since his cutry iuto this field uf action
crime In tue particular districts which
are patrollcd boy him * said to- have
diminished two-thirds.
This fact needs some explanation.
Client j. not only pierced 10y canals.
hut Is surrounded 10y rich farms ami
| land ~ well as by mxuriaut market
and horticultural gardens. The city
does = large trade IN flowers aud bulbs.
| The dock loafrrs and floating pupulh-
ton that shipping always brings are
| tempted - innumcrahlc petty thrfis,
| while thc extent ~ the gardens and
| fields aud the isolation ~ some of tho
| farms make IL extremely difficult for
the authorities IN cope with them sin
gle handed In the hope of checking
crime and robbery The chief commits
siuncr OF police obtained the services
" dogs lie most carefully arranged
every detail OF their training which is
done entirely 10y Kindness, ana it j.
satisfactory to know that any member
OF the force would be- Instantly dis
missed for striking dog.
The methods used In training the
dogs demand the utmost patience.
Dummy figures ARE used. made rs near
lv a, possible To- represent the thieves
and dangerous persons they may he
likely 10 meet The dog Is taught To-
seek 10 attack. to seize 10 hold. hut
without hurting seriously The first
step T. to place the dummy iu such
position that u will resemble q man
seeking tn conceal himself The dog
soon understands that Il is an enemy
whom he must hunt aud enters into
|
Il Is more difficult To teach him that he
must not hurt him. The teacher lowers
the figure 10 the ground. and the dog
learns that. though he may not worry
his prey. hc must not allow his pros
trntr zoe TO move finger until the Dr
der Is given After th, dummy, living
model i used. and as this process {,
not without danger. the person usually
chosen for this part is one who takes
care Of tho dog and for whom he hn,
a lively affection. hut at the same
time he is prevented at first from show
Ing too much zeal 10y wearing a muzzlc
Aftcrwnrd the experiment j. tried ot
other members OF the force, aud n
four months the dogs education IA q
policeman X considered complete, ant
he takes his place with the rest Tho
animals are also taught 10 swim and e
seize their prey IN the water, 10 saw,
! life from drowning. to scale steel wall'
= aud to overcome all artificial obstacles.
, Most Of these dogs are sheep dogs
, but besides tho Belgian there are ais,
the Russian and the Brie dogs. Durlnl
the day they take their rest In com
! Portable. loose boxes attached Ia th'
head station OF police. But at II
p o'clock their duties begin. and the las
stroke ot the hour has no more thar
I sounded before they set up a chorus o
dcafcuiug barks as II 10 show thci
cagcrncss Ia get 10 work. They are ol
duty till u the next morning. but do no
' seem fatlgici by their long hours.
II Is necessary that these hardwork
e ing animals should be well fed, an,
, their menu for the day would not b
refused by any hungry man. II cor
n sists of soup. II, rice and bread, th
last bciug tho best Kncipp bread
They have hearty meal twice a da
y ~ well as n biscuit and a slice Of brcn
o before starting on their nights rount
Their uniform consists ~ a leather 90
$ lnr strongly bound with steel and arm
a ed with sharp points 90 rcpel any al
.. tack from their victims, From this go
lar hangs a medal which bears IN
dogs uamc and address as well as th
J. date ~ his birth
Should the dog be- lost or detanr
n this medal serves 20 identify him. !
# place of helmet he wears a fine wiz
II muzzlc, which win allow him 10 drnl
but not 10 eat. This IL 10 prevent hlI
from being poisoned. II is fairly loo-
, ana Is attached by elastic bands whio
u allow II 10 he Instantly snntchcd q
the hcnd In their quarters there Ia
dressing room where each dog has
peg placed beneath his name and froI
A. which hang the collar muZzlc, chair
" etc, which belong To him. They hay
a. their private medical man. who keeps
:, close watch ON their heslth.-Aew Yor
Herald.
y. Towns Made while You Matt.