76 British War Dogs 



When under training, the newly-arrived dog, however, 

 should be hand-dried, if it comes in with its coat thoroughly 

 wet, as just at first they are apt to get chilled, from this 

 unusual condition. In winter time, also, all the dogs 

 under training must have good warm beds of straw to dry 

 themselves in. Those of more hardened condition, can be 

 allowed to dry themselves in the straw, but it is a good 

 plan, if it is very cold weather and they are very wet, and 

 have been long journeys, to shut the doors of their kennels 

 for a couple of hours, as they dry much more quickly in 

 this way, and warm themselves up better. This advice 

 applies also to wet days, as well as wet ground. If the 

 weather is very wet, it is better to defer the training until 

 it has cleared. When the dog is thoroughly broken and 

 hardened, it will be able to stand any sort of weather 

 condition without harm, but with several hundred dogs in 

 varying degrees of training and health, the Commandant 

 will be wise to defer the work for a few hours, even at the 

 risk of losing this valuable time, (and in war-time every 

 half-hour is of importance), if he wishes to avoid a crop of 

 chills and complaints in a certain proportion of the dogs. 

 During heavy rain, in fact, they should have the doors of 

 their kennels closed. This may seem unduly pampering, 

 but it is my experience that if care is exercised at this 

 period of training to keep the dogs warm and dry when at 

 rest, they harden much more quickly than if they are asked 

 to face too severe conditions at first. In summer time, of 

 course, this question of chill and damp does not so much 

 arise, and usually the sun is hot enough to dry the coats 

 after April ; but even in the summer the dogs under training, 

 messenger dogs especially, should not be allowed to stand 

 outside their kennels in heavy rain. 

 ; Another extremely important point, in regard to the 



