156 British War Dogs 



barren, rocky coasts, far from human habitation. From 

 Newfoundland this morning comes the story of the wreck 

 of a coasting steamer on a terrible coast. Ninety-two 

 passengers and crew were saved by the intelligence of a New- 

 foundland dog belonging to one of the crew. The ship had 

 gone ashore on a reef of jagged rocks, and it was impossible 

 to get a boat out to her in the boiling sea. Finally, a light 

 line was tied round the dog, which obeyed his master's 

 signs and swam ashore, making it possible to rig a block 

 and tackle, by means of which all the souls in the ship were 

 brought to safety. A baby of eighteen months was taken 

 ashore in a mail bag." 



If discipline is inculcated on the right lines, so that 

 reason is cultivated simultaneously, it will be found that 

 an understanding is born into a dog's mind that orders 

 should be obeyed for their own sake, and, therefore, its 

 training in discipline should be along those lines in the first 

 place, which the dog is most easily able to comprehend. 

 To illustrate this, I may mention the case of a young dog 

 I had great faith in. It was a collie, with a strain of spaniel, 

 and displayed extreme intelligence and affection. While 

 joyfully adapting itself to all its duties, it unfortunately 

 had the greatest dislike to any sounds of firing or passing 

 near any explosions. I had arranged a test one day, where 

 " Rob " was asked to run down]a trench, on each side of which 

 were exploding powder flashes. Nothing would induce 

 him to do it, and the promise of the most delectable dainties 

 had no effect whatever. He had been brought to this pitch 

 of training gradually, but this final test, which it was 

 essential he should pass, seemed to be one he would never 

 be able to attain. I, however, remembered someone, for 

 whom M Rob " seemed to have conceived a very special affec- 

 tion. This person stood at the other end of the trench, 



