Dogs with Foreign Armies _ ,i 



this, there was a very elaborate association of dog cl 

 These were at one time separate institutions, each one 

 standing for a particular breed of dog, and they were 

 much on the same basis, as are the dog clubs in this country 

 at the present time, which do not pretend to do more 

 than improve the breeds from a show point of view, and 

 to arrange dog shows. The Germans have, however, 

 always made a feature of training dogs in connection with 

 their clubs. In our own country, we have our gun d< g 

 and sheep dog trials, but this particular aspect of the 

 education of dogs is carried on in Germany on a much 

 larger scale. During the Herrero War — the German Wes1 

 African Colony — sixty trained dogs were sent out with the 

 troops from Germany, and many experiments were made 

 with them. These tests must have been considered to be 

 of a promising nature, as after that time, the whole ques- 

 tion of dog training in Germany was taken up much more 

 seriously, and under Royal and official patronage. 



All these aforementioned dog clubs were now amal- 

 gamated, and formed one huge Association, which called 

 itself " Der Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde." The 

 Crown Prince was president, and the affairs of the organiza- 

 tion were directed by military officers. Branches were 

 inaugurated all over Germany, and in Austria as well, and 

 shows were constantly held to display the training standards 

 attained. The association kept and issued annually a list 

 of dogs under training, and against each entry was inscribed 

 notes relating to that particular animal's capabilities. 

 This book was open for all to purchase, who wished to do 

 so, but the fact was that the whole association was a war 

 organization, and each of the branches was ordered to k< 

 a secret register of those dogs considered especially suitable 

 for war purposes. 



