ARCTIC AND OTHER DRAUGHT DOGS. 



533 



work are exceptional. The owners of the 

 dogs know too well their value to spoil 

 them by harsh treatment, and as for over- 

 work, one needs but to cast a judge's critical 

 eye upon the animals to be convinced that 

 they are marvels of strength, that they are 

 usually in the prime of condition, and that 



unencumbered by the weight of the vehicle ; 

 the whipple-tree is mounted on a pivot, 

 enabling the dog to turn without being 

 violently struck by the shafts, and the 

 light harness must be so distributed as to 

 pre\-ent all rasping, or the o^•er-exercise of 

 any particular set of muscles. The carts 



"THEY OFTEN DRAG CONSIDERABLE LOADS' 



SO far from resenting tluir duties they 

 positively enjoy their work. It is said, 

 indeed, that there is only one day in the 

 week on which a Belgian draught dog is 

 unhappy, and that is Sunday, when he 

 remains at home inactive. Furthermore, 

 the Belgian club for the amelioration of 

 draught dogs encourage kind treatment by 

 offering generous prizes for the best-kept 

 and most capable dogs, and breeding for 

 quality and bone is studied with extreme 

 particularity. The construction of the carts, 

 too, and the manner of harnessing the dogs 

 so that the burden may be equalised, and 

 the stra-n lessened, is scrupulously attended 

 to by municipal bye-laws. The shafts are 

 so placed that the dog may lie down at ease, 



are always on springs, and a brake i3 im- 

 perative. The most approved position for 

 the dog or dogs is under the cart, with the 

 traces attached to the axle ; this method 

 relieves the animals of the weight which 

 they must bear when between the shafts 

 of a two-wheeled vehicle. 



The foreigner has difficulty in identifying 

 the breeds most generally used for traction 

 in Belgium, and only realises that the dogs 

 are of immense build and strength with 

 wonderful legs, broad thick withers, and 

 straight backs. Long coated dogs are not 

 often employed. The favourite breed is 

 a descendant oi the old Flemish Matin 

 often crossed with a dog of Great Dane 

 type. Apart from the Matin, any taU and 



