Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-11-01
(From the Century Magazine }


ed by criminals If accompanied by a
powerful and sagacious dog is a rea-
sonable supposition, yet it remained
for little Belgium to carry out this
innovation-in Antwerp, Ghent,
Mons, Bruges and Ostend-an inno-
vation which has now spread to
other parts of Europe. Monsieur E.
van Wesemael, Police Commissioner
of Client, was the first to suggest
trained dogs as auxiliary police.
In March, 1899, three Belgian sheep
dogs were bought for him by the vet
erinary officer of the city, and their
training was at once taken in hand by
the police commissioner. Shortly be-
fore Christmas ten dog policemen
were at work, and after reason
able period had elapsed report was
sent to the burgomaster. After ten
months of trial the most conservative
members of the city council of Client
became enthusiasts over the new po-
lice recruits and voted more money
for dogs to be used in the Faubourg
de Bruges and along the smaller
docks. Soon there were thirty big,
powerful dog policemen on duty and
working with surprising efficiency
They would take a new man over his
night beat with a zeal, thorough
ness and a relentless, systematic
ardor that would kill lazy consta-
BILE. They knew their work, and
could and did correct many a man
who was a stranger to the beat.
The system is now a proved sue
cess, 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 the
big Belgian or French shepherd dog,
the powerful and sagacious Briads
and Groenendaels, with hair long or
short, wiry or silky. These are un-
matched the world over for their
endurance, boldness, fidelity and in
tuitive 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 sub
jected to an exhaustive training with
surer results. The period of train
ing varies from three to six months.
For the first fifteen days new re-
cruits are kept in the kennels and
are merely taught obedience. Mill
tary brevity, combined with unvary-
ing kindliness, marks all orders. In
due time certain night guards come
and take out the recruits with the
veteran dogs when the night bell
sounds. The dog police go on duty
at 10 o'clock at night and finish
work at in the morning. They
never go out in the daytime, and on
no account are allowed to become ac-
quainted with the ordinary public.
When on duty each carries leath-
er collar bearing a tin medal, with it's
name, birth, date and the word "Po-
lice" There is also a cloak for
stormy weather, which covers the
body from neck to tail. 1t is leather
mounted and waterproof. The dogs
also wear muzzles while on duty, for
their whole training makes them re-
gard the civilian as an enemy, and
a muzzle is necessary for the protec-
tion of peaceable citizens. This muz-
zle is of a special kind. 1t is a tin
cup, perforated for respiration, which
prevents the dog from eating any
food he may find 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 unmuzzled the we'll
fed, trained and powerful animal is
a formidable adversary even for an
armed burglar, besides being an ac-
cessory of great use TO the night pa
troll whether a criminals intent is
fight or flight.
The entire education of the newly
arrived dogs is undertaken by the
adiers-controleurs, or officers in
authority over the night patrol.
When coaching the dogs the briga-
dier-controleur is always in civil
dress, and often he Stimulates the
appearance of tramp or suspicious
character He goes through the pan
tomime of assaulting the night
guards, runs away, slouches along
with suspicious bundles, leaps into
high walls and generally runs the
whole gamut of rascal caught in
the act.
Every week the dog police are
lined up in the paddock for medical
inspection. They come to know this
event, and If space permitted, one
might relate amusing, pathetic and
all but incre lible anecdotes of the in
telligence of these carefully selected
and we'll trained brutes.
When a new recruit is beginning
to show aptitude under training, the
night guard to whom it is assigned
comes to the kennel and leads it forth
when the patrols with the older dogs
are assembled for duty. The men
are provided with bones or scraps of
meat for the newcomer, and in this
way stress is laid on the lesson it is
sought to teach-namely, that only
men in police uniform may be trust
ed. All others are to be eyed with
suspicion, If not with positive feroc-
ity. Later on the night patrol leads
out the beginner, to familiarize 1t
with every nook and corner of the
beat. For one month this work goes