186 British War Dogs 



ment ; therefore, for the same reason would facility of 

 expression forsake a dog, if it were removed to any land, 

 where the inhabitants were less fluent of speech and of 

 ideas. This would, of course, happen in connection with 

 semi-civilized and uncivilized bodies of people. Naturally, 

 their intellects are circumscribed, and as naturally, there- 

 fore, their speech is in a much narrower groove. Their 

 dogs will at once reflect this lack, and while their sense of 

 ownership will in nowise deteriorate, they will find other 

 means of communicating their impressions, rather than by 

 barking, which is the form of speech of the civilized dog. 



As a dog becomes very closely in touch with its owner, 

 that is to say, when a dog is fortunate enough to come into 

 the possession of an owner who, while regarding it as a 

 dog, also realizes in it the presence of qualities, such as 

 reason, honesty, wit, affection, pluck, — in fact, the like 

 qualities of the human mind — the desire to exhibit these 

 manifestations of intelligence becomes very strong in the 

 animal. It seeks for every means in its power to reach 

 out to the invitation offered, to express these different 

 characteristics, and develops the power of speech to an 

 increasing degree. The bark is made use of in varying 

 tones, to express contrasting emotions. There is the short, 

 playful bark, when it is inducing one to accompany it 

 for a walk. This is accompanied by broad smiles, and 

 ingratiating little whines, and, finally, the episode is closed 

 with a loud, triumphant bark, when the object has been 

 attained, and the expedition has commenced. 



There is the bark of welcome, noisy and boisterous, 

 accompanied with much facial expression and bodily 

 gesture. In both these modes of self-expression, the clarion 

 note of warning, which is so noticeable in the watch-dog's 

 bark, is absent, and how telling it is in contrast ! There 



