72 British War Dogs 



their kennels, and loud choruses of derision were hurled at 

 the raw recruits. When the turn came afterwards for 

 members of the first class to exhibit their prowess, great 

 was the assumption of superiority and determination to 

 show how much better they could do. 



In order to accustom them to gunfire, the best method 

 is to encourage the young recruit with a daily practice under 

 rifle fire with blank ammunition. One or two rifles are 

 sufficient at the start, and the number may be increased 

 as the dogs get accustomed to them. Afterwards thunder- 

 flash bombs can be used at varying distances. At Shoe- 

 buryness the dogs were also taken daily to the batteries, 

 first of all to the 18-pounders and afterwards to the 

 heavies. Much gentleness and careful treatment is needed 

 here, so that the dog may not be unduly scared at first. 

 The whole process must be gradual. It is a good plan to 

 feed the dog with tit-bits during the firing. It is remark- 

 able how soon most dogs get accustomed to the heaviest 

 firing. I am frequently asked how long it takes to train a 

 messenger dog, and to this no very definite answer can be 

 given, as so much depends on the individual dog's intelli- 

 gence and stamina. For it must be understood that not 

 only has the mind to be instructed, but the health and 

 muscular activity have to be brought up to a high standard. 

 The great proportion of the dogs sent to the school have 

 been previously living indoors, sometimes in hot kitchens. 

 The change to an outdoor life is quite an experience, and 

 it takes a little time for them to become hardened to 

 weather conditions. Then, again, very few dogs have 

 been accustomed to gallop several miles every day over 

 every sort of surface, and their feet are rarely in good 

 working condition. Another point is that the usual manner 

 of feeding a single house-dog on any odd scraps that may 



