48 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



GERMAN SHEPHERD, OR POLICE, 

 DOG 



(Fur illustration, sec page 33J 



On the continent of Europe there are many 

 kinds of dogs used for guarding sheep, but 

 those best known in this country are the Ger- 

 man and Belgian sheep-dogs. They have come 

 into unusual prominence within the last five 

 years because of the notable part they have 

 played with the Red Cross units and in other 

 activities on the battlefields of France and 

 Belgium. 



This is one of the handsomest and most at- 

 tractive of dogs, and approximates more 

 closely than any other the really wolf type. 

 Strong and clean of limb, bright of eye, and 

 alert in every sense, gifted with a very high 

 intelligence and a wonderful memory for what 

 he has been taught, he is a most excellent and 

 useful working dog. 



The German shepherd dog should stand 22 to 

 26 inches at the shoulder and sliow in every 

 line the qualities which he is supposed to pos- 

 sess : "intelligence, alertness, loyalty, gentle- 

 ness, courage, obedience, willingness, and de- 

 votion." He is a graceful, powerful dog, with 

 beautiful lines and curves denoting both 

 strength and speed. 



It is not necessary to mention the many uses 

 he has been put to in the present war, as Red 

 Cross, No Man's Land patrol, messenger, and 

 ration-carrier. It is perhaps as well to say here 

 that any such active, restless, vigorous, and in- 

 telligent animal as this becomes a grave respon- 

 sibility to its owner and should be sedulously 

 cared for and kept in control every minute. 



They become very dangerous when neglected 

 or turned adrift or thrown on their own re- 

 sources by being lost, and once they form a 

 habit of chicken or sheep killing they become 

 inveterate and persistent in their maraudings 

 and ordinarily must be shot. 



One very beautiful dog of this kind was re- 

 cently shot in the Catskills after repeated rav- 

 ages which started a rumor of wolves in the 

 region. This impression was very natural, and 

 when the photographs sent to the Conservation 

 Commission were identified as a dog the rustic 

 sufiferers were still onh' partly convinced. Dog 

 it was, however, and apparently a very fine ex- 

 ample of this new and interesting type. 



While the standard allows great range of 

 color, those most often seen in this country are 

 of the so-called "wolf colors — dark tipping of 

 hair over a tawny or bufif ground. The muzzle 

 (unlike that of a wolf) is usually blackish. 



Both the German and the Belgian dogs may 

 be divided into three general types, namely, 

 rough-haired, wire-haired, and smooth-haired. 

 By their erect ears and general expression they 

 betray their near relationship to the wolf. 



Some of the varieties are becoming popular 

 in this countr\' as companions, and while they 

 do not seem demonstratively affectionate they 

 are staunch and loyal and conduct themselves 

 with quiet dignity which is equaled by few 

 other breeds. 



THE BELGIAN SHEPHERD DOG 



(For illKsfration, sec page 55) 



Many types of shepherd dogs have been de- 

 veloped in Europe, and doubtless a good many 

 have just "growed," like Topsy. But it is not 

 likely that the Belgian dog is of the latter class, 

 for in common with several other Belgian va- 

 rieties he has arrived at a very concise stand- 

 ard, and has proved in the present war one of 

 the most dependable and valuable of dogs for 

 the purposes of finding and bringing aid to the 

 wounded in No Man's Land, as well as carry- 

 ing messages where a man could not go and 

 live. 



He is a trifle smaller than the better known 

 and more extensively advertised German shep- 

 herd, or "police," dog, and is usually solid black 

 in color. He is also a bit stockier and less 

 rangy in build and has a little more width of 

 brow. While not so strong as his big, light- 

 colored German congener, nor so formidable 

 as an antagonist, he is equally intelligent and 

 capable, equally keen of scent and sight, and 

 probably less of a responsibility for his owner. 



THE PYRENEAN SHEEP-DOG 



(For illustration, sec page ^H) 



One of the most beautiful dogs in the world 

 is the Pyrenean sheep-dog, but, alas ! the breed 

 is almost extinct. Technically speaking, this 

 animated snowdrift is not a sheep-dog at all, 

 but closely related to the mastiffs. In form of 

 liody and texture of coat he greatly resembles 

 the Tibet mastiff, though the latter is not so 

 tall on the legs and is quite different in color, 

 being velvety black, with rich tan markings. 



Had the Pyrenean dog been a herder of sheep 

 like the collie, no doubt his tribe would have 

 been as numerous as ever; but the Spanish, and 

 later the French, shepherds used him chiefly 

 to guard their flocks against the ravages of the 

 wolves and bears. 



When wolves and bears became scarce in the 

 Pyrenean Mountains, the need of this valiant 

 defender grew less and the breed was neglected, 

 until now but a few specimens remain. 



The Pyrenean sheep-dog is one of the finest 

 dogs that has been used in the manufacture of 

 the present-day St. Bernard. It is quite possi- 

 ble that the old hospice-dog (which died out 

 when roads and railways cut hither and thither 

 through the Alps) was more of this type than 

 is generall.v supposed. 



The Pyrenean dog is one of the large dogs, 

 but by no means so immense as the St. Bernard. 

 A good male dog would probably weigh about 

 100 to no pounds, as against 250 pounds for the 

 St. Bernard. 



He is usually pure white or cream-colored 

 and bears a coat much like that of a Newfound- 

 land, only with more underfur and of a more 

 woolly texture. 



He has seldom been brought to this country 

 or even to England. He is preeminently a 

 guardian dog, used to insure safety to the 

 flock from the attack of wolves, smaller and 



