AKCHIG ANDY OLHER DRAUGHT DOGS: 
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 
2a) 
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 
prevent all rasping, or the over-exercise of 
any particular set of muscles. The carts 
“THEY OFTEN DRAG CONSIDERABLE LOADS.” 
so far from resenting their 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 
-emains 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 strain 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 is 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 of the old Flemish Matin 
often crossed with a dog of Great Dane 
type. Apart from the Matin, any tall and 
