78 British War Dogs 



the batteries and accustomed gradually at varying distances 

 to the sound of 18-pounders up to the 12-in. guns. An- 

 other lesson is the water training, and in this case the dog 

 has to cross a stream, either by jumping, or swimming, or 

 wading, and there is also the obstacle crossing, which may 

 be barricades of barbed wire, fencing, thorn-hedging. The 

 smoke barrage has also to be met and conquered. This is 

 made by setting alight bundles of straw or hay, or by 

 harmless smoke bombs, and the dogs must run through it. 



In all these tests the dog has to do the work voluntarily. 

 It is not coerced or compelled. It must want to do it. 

 For this reason it will be understood how much patience 

 is required, and that no definite time can be laid down for 

 each dog's training. Those that refuse are gently asked 

 to try again, and are this time given a much easier test, 

 and so are led up to the point which was at the time rather 

 beyond their intelligence. The classes are now ready for 

 the running work, and are taken out shorter or longer 

 distances, according to their capabilities, and are slipped 

 back to the training post. 



In the meantime the new dogs are dealt with. Each dog 

 is taken singly by a keeper, and slipped back, and this 

 system is carried on over and over again, and at increasing 

 distances. The officer in charge of the training will find it 

 very useful to have a platform erected, from which he 

 surveys the surrounding land sufficiently to inspect the 

 running of the dogs, and note each one's behaviour. The 

 eye soon becomes practised where the training-ground is 

 in open country to distinguish the running dogs from a 

 long distance, and note will be taken as to whether the dog 

 comes steadily or if it stops, and why. This training is 

 carried on twice a day for all the dogs, except those of the 

 highest class, which will probably have been taken out four 



