Sentry Dogs 221 



Rules 



i. The dog should be posted at dusk or after dark, and 

 must go off duty in the early hours. It is highly important 

 that they must never be on duty at an hour or spot where 

 there is much traffic, as they thereby deteriorate. 



2. The dog must be handed over to the sentry by the 

 keeper, who will have attached a leather lead to the dog's 

 collar, and the sentry, who should have been previously 

 instructed on his procedure in connection with the dog, 

 will lead it away, and will keep the dog beside him on the 

 lead all the time. It has been suggested that it would 

 be a good plan to picket the dog a hundred yards or so 

 beyond the sentry, so that it can give warning ahead, but 

 this is a mistake. The dog should be close to the sentry, 

 so that the latter can study and feel its movements, as it 

 will be found that the dog will begin to give warning by its 

 attitude alone, long before it actually makes any sound. 

 The sentry will find that the dog at this hour of nightfall 

 is in a high state of tension and suspicion. All its senses are 

 doubly acute, and even if it is quite dark, he will feel the 

 sudden cessation of movement, the muscular tension, and 

 the rising hair on the part of his companion. These signs 

 will indicate that some suspicious sound has been heard. 

 It is his duty then to give his full attention to this warning, 

 and to listen intently himself. If the dog gradually assumes 

 a normal attitude, the exciting cause, whatever it was, has 

 passed away ; if it commences to give low growls, the sentry 

 can be quite certain that there is cause for extreme watch- 

 fulness, and must be prepared for immediate action. It 

 should be clearly emphasized, how greatly the sentry's own 

 safety is enhanced by this observance of the dog's move- 



