256 British War Dogs 



and present stations to the Messenger Dog Section from 

 which the dogs allotted to them are drawn. Dogs in replace- 

 ment of those lost are delivered by the Messenger Dog 

 Section to that army to which the unit in question belongs 

 at the time. All losses of messenger dogs are to be notified 

 in writing to this Messenger Dog Section, the register of 

 dogs, and, if possible, the equipment being forwarded. 



III.— Breeds 



The following are the breeds chiefly employed as mes- 

 senger dogs : German sheep dogs, Dobermannpinschers, 

 Airedale terriers and Rottweilers. 



IV. — The Transmission of Messages 



The dog runs backwards and forwards between two 

 attendants (attendant file, consisting of attendant and 

 assistant attendant). Both attendants must be well 

 known to the dog. In order to make the dog familiar 

 with the stretch of country over which messages are to 

 be carried, the assistant goes with the dog from the end 

 where the attendant is waiting to the other end. From there 

 he sends back the dog, which finds its way again to the 

 starting point by its sense of locality. The dog is now 

 ready for use, and may be sent backwards and forwards 

 between the two men of the file. Each end of the route may 

 be occupied by a dog. The information to be sent is placed 

 in a tin case, or dispatch bag, on the dog's collar. Dis- 

 patches brought by the dog may only be taken from it by 

 its attendants. 



A change of route inside the same sector is to be avoided, 

 as the dog is otherwise inclined to run off on the earlier 

 route. 



