Training and Management T3 



be left over from the household meal is not a good prepara- 

 tion for the steady working diet provided for them when 

 under training. It is quite difficult for them to believe 

 that dog biscuits cooked with horseflesh will really very 

 soon seem to them the most delightful fare that could be 

 provided. It may be stated that no dog should leave the 

 war-dog school under five weeks, and only a few should 

 do so then, the majority requiring six weeks to two months 

 to become thoroughly trained and hardened. 



The best method of kennelling the dogs when at the 

 school is for each dog to be chained to a separate kennel. 

 These should be of the box pattern, with a sloping roof 

 which opens upwards, and with a sliding door. Each 

 kennel should have in front of it a movable shelter, with 

 a wooden roof and floor. These shelters are a great 

 comfort to the dog, as they give it protection from both 

 the rain and the sun. Such kennels have proved ex- 

 ceedingly satisfactory, and the health of the dogs has been 

 very good indeed. They are also easily shifted about, 

 so that the ground does not get foul. This system of 

 kennelling was adopted at the Central Kennels in France. 

 The kennels should be periodically and frequently white- 

 washed inside. 



A man should be set aside to attend to the grooming of 

 the dogs. In the case of the old English sheepdogs, it is 

 as well to clip the legs, as all that long fur is uncomfortable 

 for the dog when in hard training, and when it gets wet. 

 In fact, all dogs with extremely shaggy coats should be 

 trimmed, especially about the legs, leaving only a good 

 thick saddle of fur along the back. One good, reliable 

 man should be put on duty as head nurse. He must be 

 kind, gentle, and practical, and not fond of dosing. Sick 

 dogs are far better without any drugs. Rest, warmth, 



