220 British War Dogs 



to a unit, supervision over both men and dogs should be 

 carried out by a specially detailed officer. The isolation 

 of the dogs is a most important point, as if they become 

 accustomed to see strangers constantly, they lose their 

 alertness and sharpness. A good way is to place their 

 kennels, which should be the ordinary box variety, in a 

 stable, or compound, which can be locked up. They 

 should be made very comfortable with straw in their 

 kennels, so that they rest well. 



Their meal should be given, on coming off duty, in the 

 very early morning, and should be ample. They must on 

 no account be fed at night. 



Correct Posting and Management 



When sentry dogs are first drafted from the training- 

 school to any unit, a little consideration must be shown 

 them in the first instance on arrival. They must be 

 allowed time to settle, and the first tests must not be too 

 severe. After a few days, the dogs will have developed the 

 possessive sense for their new environment, and the sentries 

 will also understand the method of handling them. It 

 will be understood, that these dogs will have already gone 

 through a considerable period of training, and all that is 

 necessary now, is, that those who have the handling of 

 them, should be themselves sufficiently educated in the 

 methods of communication employed by the dog, to be 

 able to interpret those signs. Therefore, the training of 

 the sentries should also include definite instruction on the 

 rules to observe when sentry dogs are employed. It should 

 be pointed out, that the effect of employing dogs, and of 

 carefully observing the rules of management, will, be to 

 greatly safeguard the sentry himself, and to enable him to 

 carry out his duty with increased efficiency. 



