New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-17
SAYS POLICE DOGS
CAN ROUT GUNNER
Animals Would Rid City of
Human Pest, Thinks
Their Trainer.
HE INSISTS WALDO
USED BAD SYSTEM
FOur-FOoted Assistants to Patrol.
man Need More Attention.
Says Henry |. Baer.

With 4 proper use Of police dogs there
wouldn't I've a guumsn in New York, or,
II there were. the town would soon be too
hot TO hold him.
Such is the opinion OF Henry I. Baer. Of
White Plains who is recognized as an
expert on the use and training Of these
dogs in America. and who has already
sold the bulk OF his kennels TO prominent
New Workers. including Mrs Harry
Payne Whitney, Mrs. Reginald c. Van
derbilt and Lawrence Waterbury EN-
Commissioner Waldo. according to Mr.
Baer. didn't think much Of the dogs and
so far as is known. doesn't think much Of
them now
But Mr.. Baers idea Of using the dogs is
about as different from Mr. Waldos as
could he imagined. for the former Com
missioner says :ir. Baer. put the dogs
under the supervision OF The police in gem
ial. Nobody was responsible for them
and they weren't responsible TO anybody.
Inside Of three months they had lost most
OF the training they had kept under Bng
ham. and in six they were more dangerous
to the peaceable citizen than TO the crook
And some OF the citizens with whom TN ~
are said to have had unsatisfactory re-
lations declare they would rather face
six gunner than one police dog with his
muZzle off
All this. says Mr.. Baer. is because they
don't know the real police dog but only
the dogs OF the department after Waldo
got through with them. And there's a
difference. which is easy TO tell and hard
10 teach-one cbeys and the other doesn't
It's difference. in the matter of dogs, be
tween a protector and a menace. The po-
lice dog obeys, and obeys SO well il would
be shorter almost 10 tell what he doesn't
do than what he does
But the first thing ne does-and that
which forms the basis Of his whole eff
ciency-is that he obeys but one master.
Give him mere and he is ruined. and un-
der the late administration he had as
many as were inclined 10 take him out
And the other things he does-catch and
desist when told. trail strangers up 10
300 feet giving tongue when found etc
all depend on his having one master, ac-
cording TO Baer.
one master. too. doesn't mean a person
who shows interest enough 10 hand INN
bone every third Sunday. That may do
for the cur but it's no use al all with the
German police dog. His master must live
with him-sleep and eat In the same room
get TO know him about as Thoroughly as
he knows himself. And he must, in addl-
ton. keep him in constant training-put
him through most of Lis drill at least
once or twice week. and oftener, II he IS
obstinate But the result If IT equaned
that attained in Paris and Berlin, would
seem to be well worth while.
The ganssters and gunner would have
no show" said Mr.. Baer, when asked
what effect the proper use of these doss
would have on the city's crime. Ihey
would soon get TO know 1t. There be no
getaways-no beating up people and SIP
ming off before policemen got there. Inc
dogs would get them while they ran OF
t,au them TO hiding More than that
thev'd save the lives of many of1icers VINO
have been ambushed in alleys or houses
where they followed criminals. Ihe ooss
would do that and do IT better than the
men. They would patrol the ofhcers peat
with him. as they do in Berlin, and wouid
down the first man that started row.
I'm afraid the present dogs are ho
good. Waldo let them be spoiled. the rleh'
use Of these dogs-the use we see III hu'
rope-would do more TO stop crime thdii
any other single act which could DE 'aAeii
by the department