152 British War Dogs 



many temptations to be met and overcome, and sad are 

 the falls from honourable conduct, before our dispatch- 

 carrying friend learns to listen to the prompting of his 

 higher sense. Appetizing food is the most serious tempta- 

 tion. For this reason, messenger dogs should always be 

 very well fed, so that the allurements on the road are less 

 likely to trouble them. But, even so, there are some 

 dogs which find, when under training, great difficulty in 

 renouncing the delights of the rubbish heap, where such 

 delicacies as fish and bones of ancient origin are available- 

 As the training proceeds, and the object of the journey 

 begins to dawn on the dog's mental horizon, each time it 

 dishonourably stops at any cherished place of call, it will 

 feel more and more guilty. In this process of moral pro- 

 gression, it is greatly aided by a companion of more 

 advanced rectitude, who may be travelling with him, or 

 who continues steadily on his way. As I have before 

 stated, the sense of emulation is very strong in dogs, and 

 is one of the greatest aids in training them. The greedy 

 and guilty fellow will be very impressed at his friend passing 

 such delicious fare, and, furthermore, the usual relish in 

 partaking of it, will be considerably impaired by the know- 

 ledge, that the said friend will reach home before him, to 

 receive the legitimate reward, and approving caress from 

 the instructor. 



I have seen many amusing instances during this moral 

 education of the dispatch carrier. On one occasion, a 

 collie found a workman's dinner, neatly done up in a cotton 

 handkerchief, under a hedge. He was nearing home and 

 going along with a steady swing. The delightful scent of 

 the repast was too much for his half-trained sense of honour, 

 and he stopped to examine it. Feeling uneasy in his mind, 

 however, he did not care to delay to eat it there, and 



