282 British War Dogs 



interested in the subject, but strongly disapproved oi such 

 measures. 



" My own action as a commanding officer would be to 

 prohibit, under all circumstances, the use of dogs, in any 

 connection, with a regiment in the field." 



It is with the deepest regret that I remember this con- 

 versation, in view of the fact, that later this officer's 

 cherished only son was killed in the war, under circum- 

 stances, that could probably have been reversed, had the 

 regiment, to which the poor lad belonged, been provided 

 with a few messenger dogs. 



An important question arises when selecting a suitable 

 training site, in connection with live stock. No time must 

 be wasted by breaking the dogs to sheep, cattle, etc., for 

 the obvious reason, that they do not have temptations of 

 this sort on the battlefield, all herds and flocks having 

 been cleared by the fleeing inhabitants or by the enemy. 

 Therefore, the immediate vicinity of the training ground 

 must not be too much of a pasturage ; thus the young dog, 

 when it commences its training, is not distracted by any 

 temptation to chase. Later on, when the idea of its work 

 is fairly firmly established, and it is beginning to make 

 journeys from the surrounding country further afield, it 

 will not be so likely to interfere with any animals, as it 

 will, by this time, have one definite idea implanted in its 

 mind, to the exclusion of others. It will thus be seen, 

 how similar is the dog to man in the fact, that when 

 doing useful work, its thought does not stray to evil, 

 and the well known verse of the friend of our child- 

 hood — Mr. Watts — applies to the canine race as well as 

 to our own : 



" And Satan finds some mischief still, 

 For idle hands to do." 



