The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1907-11-01

There are decided contrasts in the
treatment of mans best friend" In
European countries. On a recent visit
to the continent, writes Samuel Walter
In Pennsylvania Grit, one of the first
sights that greeted US after landing,
was a big vegetable cart drawn by two
hard working dogs without the slight
est assistance from the men who walk
ed beside It. But we found before we
had Travelled through many European
countries that this was ONLY a small
portion Of the hard work that is re-
CURED Of them. The pet dogs of the
United States are considered wonder
fully cute and smart when they can
be trained 10 draw light carts until
tired Of the novelty. What would these
children think Of a dog that will pa
tlently work all day long, drawing
heavy loads in big carts over stony
roads obeylng every word of their mas
tiers, and never offering the slightest
objection to the hardest kind of work ?
That Is the way the working dogs" Of
Europe are trained.
1t seems pltlful to the tourist who Is
u-naccustomed 10 tho sight, to watch
the patient, untlrlng work Of the faith
full animals. But the dogs do not seem
to mind it. They do not know anything
better. Their fathers and mothers be-
fore them spent their lives in hard
work, and they submit to their lot from
tiny p%uppyhood. when they trot beside
their mothers, and become accustomed
to the chains and straps Of their future
bondage.
These dogs which are known as
working dogs are Of no particular
breed, but they are always large and
strong looking. They are trained to all
kinds Of work, and are found in many
countries Of Europe. In France and
Belgium they are usually found in the
greatest numbers on the streets. pulling
the heavy push CARTS although they
are quite as frequently trained to per-
form certain household tasks, like
churuing, etc. that can be worked by
machinery with the dogs to furnish the
power.
In Holland the dogs are not only used
to pull the carts and for other street
work. but they are also found along the
canals pulling the heavy canal boats:
Just as the strong mules and horses do
In this country. Usually there are two
big dogs attached to the rope Of the ca
nal boat, but l have seen a single dog
on the tow path, Juggling with all his
strength to pull a big boat, with a WONT
an and several children on the boat and
the man walking beside the dog, keep
ing him up to his hard work, but sell
dom lending a hand. III this country
the s. p. C. AS would get after such
hard hearted masters.
But | have seen other dogs that re-
ally seem TO enjoy their work, and
their eyes will sparkle and their tails
wag with delight at a word of praise
from their masters. The dogs that pull
the numerous carts through the streets
of Belgium and Holland are "geared
up" in many curious ways. Some of
the carts have shafts like a wagon and
are intended for only one dog, When
the load is extra heavy, another single
tree or whifletree is attached at one
side, with an extra dog hitched to this.
l have seen a big push cart with sew
eral heavy trunks upon 1t, drawn by a
single dog. The master usually walks
In front. and taking hold of the shafts
guides the cart and holds 1t In posi-
ton, but seldom does any Of the pull
Ing. This is done by the big dog fasten-
ed underneath with the straps attach
ed to the center of the cart. For the
vegetable push carts, which are much
the same as those Of the United States,
the dogs are also geared to the center
of the cart, underneath, but back to
their master, who holds the handles OF
the cart and guides and pushes 1t as
they do here except that they do very
little pushing.
Besides the hard work at carting,
etc, these faithful creatures also make
excellent watch dogs. The owners of
the carts can leave their produce, etc,
to 90 into the houses, or wherever they
please, while the growing dogs will
drive away any one who attempts to
approach the cart.