14 British War Dogs 



I believe it is in this particular, that the great ineradicable 

 separation exists, between the dog, and those animals of 

 kindred appearance. The body scent is completely dif- 

 ferent, and we human beings are unable to explain the 

 meaning of the difference, because we do not understand 

 the language of scent. Buff on continued many experi- 

 ments with wolves and wolf cubs, but found that the 

 natural habits and instincts of the latter varied from the 

 dog in so many ways, such as the time of gestation, its manner 

 of selecting its mate, rearing the young, etc., etc. He sums 

 the whole matter up in the following downright sentence : 

 " The wolf and the dog have never been regarded as the 

 same animal, but by the nomenclators of Nature History, 

 who, being acquainted with the surface of nature only, 

 never extend their views beyond their own methods, which 

 are always deceitful and often erroneous, even in the most 

 obvious facts." 



That the association of the dog with man, is of such an 

 ancient origin, is, in itself, a very remarkable fact. The 

 cause of that association, in the first place, was probably 

 the recognition of a common interest. Thus, just as the 

 starlings associate with sheep, so the dog found that the 

 habits and food of man, accorded with its own desires, 

 and it began to follow the tracks of the hunters in the chase, 

 with the hope of participating in a portion of the remains 

 of the quarry. It would also frequent the camps and 

 dwellings of primitive man, to inspect the offal heaps. 

 Man would soon observe the useful scenting properties of 

 the dog, and also its natural instinct for guarding, and 

 would lay himself out to tame and train such a useful 

 animal. The dog, being naturally sociable, would quickly 

 respond, and would also soon find, that, as so many of the 

 pleasures and comforts of man, were such as it thoroughly 



