Beg. 25, 1897.1 
FOREST AND STREAM„ 
BIS 
he Mmmt 
FIXTURES. 
BENCH SHOWS. 
1898. 
Jan. 5.— Wilmington Kennel Club's showi ■WiltningtOD, Del. E W 
Jester, Sec'v. 
Feb. 15.— New England Kennel Club's fourteenth annual show. 
Boston. James L, Little, Sec'y. 
Jan. 18.— Biittei-iy Bench Show Association's show, Grand Rapids, 
Mich. Miss Grace H GriswoW. S?c'y. 
Feb. 21.— WestmiimtPr Kennel Club's twenty-second annu&l show, 
New York. G de F. Grant, Sec'y. 
.—St Louis Kennel Club's third annual show, St. Louis, Mo. 
Wm. Hutchinson, Sec'y. 
FIELD TRIALS. 
1898. 
Jan. 10.— U. S. F. T Club's winter trials, West Point, Miss. W. B. 
Stafford, Sec'y. 
Jon. 17 —Continental F. T. Club's trials. New Albany, Miss. W. S. 
Bell. Sec'y. 
.Tan. M —Pacific Coast Field Trial Club a trials, Bakersfleld. Cal. J. 
M Kilgarif, Sec'y. 
Jan. 24. -Champion Field Trial A.sEOclation's Champion Stake, 
Tunelo. Mi=s. VV. B. Slaflford, Sec"y. 
Feb, 1. Alabama Field Trial Club's second annual trials, Madison, 
Ala, H K, Milner, Sec'y. 
DOCS AS DRAFT ANIMALS.— 11. 
Mr, H. C. MORPas, Consul at Ghent, reports a.'! followF: 
In this western portion of Belgium, including the two 
Flander.s the dog has been employed "beyond the memory 
of man" as a beast of burden. Everywhere in the city and 
country he may be ,seen employed in what may be generally 
described as small teaming. He is a characteristic feature 
of life, and to the Fleming abroad there is ahvays something 
missing— his familiar servant, the dog. For this existence 
and employment of the dog there are several good and evi- 
dent rea.sons. The dog him.self, his strength and endurance, 
are the principal factors; the conformation of the country in 
which he livesHud works, the limited resour es of his master, 
as well as the economy and facility of his maintenance, are 
secondary considerations. 
The Belgian 7Jor/.— There are all kinds and conditions of 
dogs at service in Belgium; there are large, medium and 
small dogs, strong and weak dogs, .smooth coated as well as 
shaggy dogs. It makes little difference to the Fleming 
what his dog may be, whether he be fitted for service or not, 
if the master needs his labor, he harnesses him to a cart and 
puts him to work. For this single reason there are very 
few lazy dogs in this country. Th(?re is such a diversity o'f 
variety and breed as to be bewildering when we undertake 
to describe what dogs are employed as draft animals in this 
country. There is, however, a type of dog peculiarly fitted 
for toil which is only found in Belgium and Holland. To 
this breed therefore special attention will be given. All the 
other kinds which may happen to be pressed into the ranks 
of the toilers may be properly considered as mongrels or 
half-breeds, and without any right to recognition as draft 
animals. 
The Belgian dog— the breed being known only by this 
name— is a large, compactly-built animal. When standing 
he measures in height from 20 to 80in.; the hair is smooth 
and short, generally tan or dark-brown. Both his tail and 
ears are cut short, the former because it is believed that the 
strength which would otherwise center into this extremity 
is retained in the spinal column and haunches, and the lat- 
ter in order to prevent the constant flapping of the natu- 
rally long ears, which would be a great inconvenience and 
hindrance to their work when annoyed by flies. 
Strcngtli.—ThiB specimen of dog has been employed in 
Flanders for years unnumbered. These dogs are seldom 
harnessed single, but are usually driven two, three, four, 
five, or even six abreast. Five or six of such animals can 
easily draw a load of 600 or 8001bs. for a considerable dis- 
tance and during several consecutive hours. The level 
plains of western Belgium and Holland are especially suit- 
able for the employment of dogs for hauling purposes, 
While in mountainous regions they are not practicable for 
heavy loads, still eveu in slightly rolling country they are 
able to outdistance horses for long hauls. For example, the 
distance between Ghent and Brussels is thirty-four miles: 
ordinary horses require four hours to cover it, while a team 
of dogs will easily go over the ground in three hours with- 
out any apparent fatigue. A good team of two to four dogs 
will haul a peddler's load from 5 A. M, to 8 P. M., with only 
such short intervals of rest as they may obtain during the 
sale of goods. 
The Belgian dog may be put to work when about a year 
old and can be employed daily during eight or nine years. 
He geuerallj; lives to be ten or eleven years of age. After 
death the skin is .still of value for tanning purposes. 
Training and. Cost.— The training of these animals is very 
simple. It is customary to fasten the young dog, when 
about six. months of age, alongside of experienced dogs and 
without giving him any load to draw, thus to teach him to 
run in harness. The prices of the dogs vary. Young ordi- 
nary dogs sell for about $6 to $7; a good specimen between one 
and three years of age brings SIO to $12, while a very fine ani- 
mal will command $15, The number of dogs employed as 
draft animals in Belgium is very considerable, but exact 
statistics on this subject are not obtainable. According to 
the police registers of Ghent, 2,03T dogs are licensed for haul- 
ing tn this city. These animals are exempt from the $2 tax 
imposed on pet house dogs, which number 3,775 in this city 
of 100,000 inhabitants. Notwithstanding the great number 
of these animals employed, there is an absolute and entire 
lack of statistics or literattire on this subject, so far as I can 
learn, not a single published book relative thereto existing. 
^recfZ.— Properly speaking, there is no organized trade in 
these animals anywhere in Belgium; dog markets are held, 
but the only people who frequent them are small farmers or 
merchants who may have an extra dog not necessary for 
their business which they wish to sell. There are no persons 
who make a specially of breeding, raising and selling dogs 
used for hauling purposes. When anybody has a dog to sell 
he generally informs his neighbors, and then, if any of them' 
happen to need such an animal, he bargains directly for it. 
On this account the breed is not improving. There are no 
efforts to this end, and in all probability, by the haphazard 
crossing with other breeds, it is more likely degenerating. 
A dog seller informs me that in this respect improvement 
could be made, as, if there were a systematic and scientific 
crossing of the Belgian dog with the Ulm dog or Great 
Dane, he believes a very materially better breed would be 
obtained. Such efforts, however, have never been made in 
this country, as the market price of dogs does not justify the 
expense. It is chiefly because of their cheapness that the 
Belgian dogs have never attracted much attention or study. 
Food and Care. — Their food and maintenance are trifling 
items of expense. One large dog can subsist on the kitchen 
waste of a household of five or six persons. Properly speak- 
ing, daily meat is iudispensable, but very few of these Bel- 
gian animals get it. They should have daily lib, of meat — 
horse meat will answer; if they receive that much in a week 
they are lucky. In the country districts the dog's food is 
exclusively uiilk, bread and vegetables, but still he seems to 
be healthy, and to thrive on it, If specially purchased the 
food of five or six dogs will average 0 or 7 cents apiece per 
day. The care and attention required are slight. At night 
the dog must be given a good kennel, full of straw, and left 
unchained. Incidentally it may also be mentioned that, not- 
withstanding his long day's work, he is an excellent watch- 
dog. It should be noted that his feet never need attention, 
and that he is likewise proof against all kinds of weather, 
supporting equally well the extremes of heat and cold. Any 
casual observer will, upon reflection, be convinced that, in 
view of his generally hard treatment, the Belgian dog of 
burden is a patient, long-suffering animal. The French in- 
deed, well express this condition of servitude by their pro- 
verb, "I would not be a dog in Belgium." 
Wagons and Har ness.— Yery little of interest can be said 
of the wagons and harness employed. Two-wheeled low 
carts are preferably used. They should be as light as pos- 
sible, and when loaded so balanced on the axle as to be al- 
most in a state of equilibrium, thus relieving the back of the 
dog from all possible weight. Wagons or carts without 
shafts for this reason are the best, as then the dog is free to 
move around and lie down when halting. The carts in ordi- 
nary use weigh 100 to 1201bs. They cost $8 to $12 The har- 
ness is a horse's equipment in miniature. Even when driven 
several abreast each dog should have separate harness, as he 
is then in less restraint. The only peculiarity, if it may be 
so called, is that the p'^d or saddle placed on the back is rela- 
tively much thicker and stronger than in the harness for a 
horse. A good dog's harness made of leather costs from 
SI. 2.5 to S?. There are indeed snecial manufacturers of these 
articles. The great majority of dog harne.sses in use are, 
however, home made, of pieces of old leather, rope, or any old 
stuff which may be at hand, and most rudely put together, 
co.5ting generally only a few cents. 
Conclusion.— In conclusion it should be noted, as hereto- 
fore mentioned, that, owing to an entire absence of any 
organized trade or busine.=s in the breeding and sale of dogs 
used for draft purposes, it is practically very difficult to de- 
termine with any precision the utility 6t their service from 
a statistical standpoint. It may, however, be taken for 
granted, I think, that their general and common use 
throughout Belgium tends to prove that, under the condi- 
tions existing here, they are a great economy and labor 
factor, A farmer, peddler or merchant can buy a very good 
outfit &f three or four Belgian dogs, harness and wagon for 
§40. Their subsequent cheap keep and little care also are 
great considerations. Furthermore, one great advantage 
which dogs have in this country is that they may be housed 
in very small quarters. In many village households, crowd- 
ed together as the dwellings generally are in Europe, the 
dogs may be kept in the courtyard or cellar, while horses 
would require separate quarters. It must also be consid- 
ered that pasturage is essential for horses at certain seasons 
of the year In these respects the dog, in the eyes of these 
people, enjoys great advantages over his equine friend. 
Whether or not in our country such considerations would 
be sufficient to give the dog the preference, or even place 
him on an equality with the horse, is a question that must 
be referred by me to higher authority. So far as possible, I 
have endeavored to describe the Belgian dog as he is found 
at home employed for draft purposes. Would he be the 
same dog in foreign lands, can only be determined by trial 
and experience. 
France. 
Concerning dogs as draft animals in France, S. E. Morse, 
Consul-General, Paris, writes that: 
The use of dogs as draft animals is practically unknown in 
this consular district. Dogs are sometimes utilized for the 
propulsion of the small handcarts used by ragpickers, but 
this use is hardly extensive or important enough to be con- 
sidered. 
Germany. 
Mr. Charles de Kay, Consul-General at Berlin, reports: 
There may be said to be no breeding and training of dogs 
used as draft animals in Prussia, and as little harness as 
possible. It is true that, for the purpose of advertisement tn 
large cities like Berlin, Hamburg and Dresden, dogs of even 
size and fairly decent breed are occasionally harnessed to 
lacquered wagons bearing the name of some firm, but such 
are rare. The dog wagon is a familiar sight in the streets of 
Prussian and Saxon towns and on every highway in Ger- 
many, but it is usually a rudely constructed four-wheeled 
cart made by the village carpenter and smith, and employed 
to bring milk, vegetables and other agricultural produce 
from the country into the town, or agricultural implements 
from the village to the field. The dogs used are of any breed 
that comes handy to the peasant, usually the short-haired, 
heavy-limbed dog about the size of a foxhound, or else a 
small specimen of the liver-colored hound, suggestive of the 
Danish dog. Spotted carriage dogs and others of any dis- 
tinctive breed or style are very rare, for the simple reason 
that the people who employ dogs are very poor and would at 
once sell any dog to the dog fanciers that might show good 
points. Still, there seems no reason why special kinds 
should not be bred, whose weight and pulling powers would 
give them a decided advantage over all other dogs for this 
purpose. 
Last year, at Dresden, there was a special exhibition of 
dog wagons and dogs, mostly two to a team; but the entries 
did not present anything remarkable, except in the case of a 
fancy team of four big mastiffs, which presented a hand- 
some appearance, but could not be considered practical. 
The harness is a strap harness of the simplest descrip- 
tion. It must be remembered that a woman, man or 
boy always accompanies the dog or dogs, and generally 
assists by pulling. Here in Berlin one rarely sees the smarn 
milk carts with high wheels that may be noticed in Belgium 
and Holland, where the dogs are sometimes harnessed below 
the wagon and pull strongly in collars like horses. 
There are laws regarding the treatment of dogs which 
are intended to protect them from overwork and cruel 
treatment. One is a rule that, when in motion, the 
woman, man or boy with the wagon must have hold 
of the tongue or handle of the cart. Another is that 
persons must not ride on dog wagons. It is doubtful if 
either one of the rules is of value to the dogs, while it is cer- 
tain that the owners regard them as oppressive, since they 
furnish the rural and city police one more excuse for over- 
bearing conduct toward the poor. 
The following are the regulations governing the use of 
dogs. It may be noted that, whereas a very large sum is 
raised from the tax on dogs thatdonot work for a living, the 
hona-fide working dog is exempt from taxation, and thus 
enjoys a freedom much envied him by his master. In regard 
to muzzles, they are supposed to be muzzled when at large, 
even in the country; by special order they must wear the 
muzzle when used as draft animals. 
Section 1- Every dog harnfssed before a wagon must carry a 
safe, properly arransred' muzzle, which allows the do? to breathe 
freely ami to cool his tongue, but makes biting- impossible. 
Skc. 2 Dogs that are unfit for draft purposes ou account of sick- 
ness, exterior hurts, or on account of their bodily make in general 
are not permitted to be harnessed to a wagon. This is also not per- 
mitted for dogs that are temporarily unfiD to pull— for instance, in 
the case of pregnant or nursing bitches or bitches in beat during the 
continuance of this condition. 
Sec 3. Dogs which may be considered unlit to pull according to 
the above signs, either permanently or temporarily, may be im- 
mediately removed from the street— that is to say, from the" wagon- 
by the police. 
Sec. 4. The weight of the wagon and loading must not be so great 
that the strength of the dog is overtaxed. The overloading of a dog 
wagon is punishable and gives the police the right to order the im- 
mediate interruption of the drive and to prohibit the continuance of 
the same until a reasonable reduction of the load shall have taken 
place. 
Sec. 5. A proper vessel must be kept on the wagon from which the 
dog can drink, and also, during the time from October 1 to AprQ 1, 
there must be kept for each dog a mat to lie on and a cover to .spread 
over it during halt^j. 
Sec, 6. The cartman of a dog wagon is in no case allowed to sit on 
the wagon while driving; on the contrary, he must walk beside the 
dog and lead it by a leash. When on municipal and other much - 
frequented streets be must permanently keep bold of the wagon 
shaft. In case the driver wants to leave the wagon while at a halt, 
the dog must be loosened and fastened to the wagon in such a man- 
ner that he can neither get loose from nor move the wagon. 
Sec, 7. Dog wagons must give the road to the utmost edge of the 
way to all other vehicles and borsemen that they meet or that over- 
take them 
Sec. 8. Wagons harnessed with dogs are not allowed to be hitched 
to other wagons. 
Sec. 9, The use of two-wheeled dog wagons is only allowed under 
the condition that the dogs are exclusively used for pulling and are 
not burdened b.y the weight of the cart on their backs. 
Sec. 10, The regulations published in regard to the marking and 
lijhting of wagons, as well as to the driving in ditches and on slopes 
and embankments of the roads, applyalso to dog vehicles. 
Sec 11. Actions contrary to these police regulations will be pun- 
ished, unless more severe punishments are to be applied according to 
the general penal code, with a fine of 60 marks. 
Latterly an effort has been made by the local Society for 
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to cause the substitu- 
tion of donkeys for dogs as draft animals. The movement 
is commendable so far as supplying poor people with donkeys 
is concerned, but it is accompanied by the usual exaggera- 
tions. The charge that owners of draft dogs abuse them 
more than they would donkeys cannot be held reasonable; 
on the contrary, the natural lovableness of the dog, bis fidel- 
ityand intelligence, win for him far more attention and 
kindness than the more useful draft qualities of horses, 
oxen, sheep, donkeys and goats. Statistics that show that 
draft dogs do not live long prove nothing, because the aver- 
age life of dogs is low. There can be no question that dogs 
which are worked in a reasonable way remain in better 
health than dogs that have little exercise. Naturally, the 
poverty, bad food and bad quarters of the people who use 
dogs as draft animals make it appear as though work were 
hurtful to dogs. If the same care were taken to feed, clean, 
harbor and work dogs as hor.ses, I have not the slightest 
doubt that they would live longer and remain in better 
health than dogs not so employed, with the possible excep- 
tion of hunting dogs in the hunting season. Their chance 
of good treatment is always greater than that of other ani- 
mals, owing to their winning natures. 
The use of dogs as draft animals is probably the oldest in 
the world, antedating perhaps by thousands of years the 
use of ox, horse or ass. It is a method that seems fitted for 
special people and special lands — as, for instance, to note the: 
best known, the polar regions. But there are other placeSi 
where, among the poor, even donkeys can be profitably re- 
placed by dogs, because the latter are cheaper to feed and 
useful as watchdogs when not in harness. Such are very 
sandy regions, where grass and hay are dear, the suburbs of 
large towns, islands subject to bleak winds, and hilly dis- 
tricts where roads are bad. The chief objection to the 
ordinary dog as a draft animal is his lack of weight and un- 
developed flanks; but if it were once understood that dogs 
for draft purposes were needed in America, the managers of 
dog shows could be veadily induced to give prizes for dogs 
with the needed points and training, and it would not be 
long before a sturdily pulling dog could be bred in any re- 
quired numbers. The best way to begin would be to set the 
fashion of dog wagons for the boys and young children of 
well-to-do people, who could afford to pay for such dogs 
while they are scarce and consequently dear. The dog is a 
very willing worker and responds as no other animal, not 
even the horse, to encouragement by voice and gesture on 
the part of his master. 
The American Consul at Brussels, George W. Roosevelt, 
reports to the Department of State as follows: 
Nowhere, excepting perhaps with the Esquimaux, is the 
use of dogs as draft animals so extensively practiced as in 
Belgium. In Brussels and its suburbs more than 10,000 are 
employed as beasts of burden. 
Since 1842 the harnessing of dogs has been absolutely pro- 
hibited in England. The custom obtains in some parts of 
Germany and Holland, but is wholly unknown in France 
and Italy. I am reliably informed that during the past 
twenty years tha use of dogs as draft animals in Belgium 
has steadily increased, completely superseding the don- 
key. Previous to this time the dog was only seen hitched to 
small, light-running milk carts. At the present time his 
use is very general; bakers, butchers, washerwomen, in fact,' 
nearly all trades find him useful in some part of their work. 
They are hitched single, double, and sometimes three or four 
to carts weighing from 50 to laOlbs. When the animal is 
hitched beneath, the cart is provided with supports attached 
to the shafts to relieve the dog of the weight of the cart and 
load when standing. The axletree is bowed, so as not to 
interfere with the action of the dog when in motion. These 
carts vary in size and construction. The milk carts are 
usually constructed after the same model, varying only in 
size. They are neat but small box shaped affairs resting 
upon two wheels, Much attention is given to the harness, 
which is heavily studded with brass ornamentation. ' 
As far as I am able to learn there is no special breed of dog^ 
used here for draft purposes. All sorts and sizes, according 
to conditions, are employed. Experiments have been made 
to produce a large, strong animal by crossing as follows: 
Mastiff with Danish hound, St. Bernard, shepherd (collie) 
and setter; St Bernard with collie and common hound; 
Danish hound with setter, and Newfoundland with collie. 
The pure-bred Newfoundland is rarely used here as a draft 
animal on account of the height of hindquarters. 
A good draft dog usually sells for from 60 to 125 francs 
($11.58 to $24 13), But the increase of the number of small 
carts drawn by dogs has provoked the propagation of a cate- 
gory of dogs which endure the greatest privation, and as his 
value is insignificant his life is of small consideration, as he 
is easily replaced either by a stray dog or homeless cur. 
As scarcely any attention is devoted to breeding, none 
whatever is given to training the dog as a draft animal. His 
first initiation into bondage is by being hitched alongside of 
a dog long in service. If the new recruit is refractory and 
refuses to pull he is forced to do so. 
A special harness, consisting of collar or breast strap 
(Dutch collar), traces, saddle, tugs and girth, is used for 
dogs hitched in front of carts. For those hitched beneath 
or at sides of carts the harness is supposed to consist of 
breast strap, girth and traces. 
Muzzles are obligatory at all seasons of the year, as the 
dogs are always more or less vicious, rendered so by unna- 
tural employment and powerless condition to escape danger 
when left, as they very frequently are, hitched in the cart 
and unprotected by the owner. It is not an infrequent oc- 
currence for a cab or beer wagon to collide with the small 
cart and injure the helpless dog, A regulation imposes that 
owners of draft dogs shall employ leather muzzles approved 
by the municipal council, a model of which is exposed at the 
central division of police in the Hotel de Ville, This regula- 
tion is not always complied with, and much needless suffer- 
ing is given the poor dumb creatures by ill-fitting and badly 
adjusted muzzles. 
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 
Belgium is industriously working, not only to ameliorate 
the condition of the dog as a draft animal, but eventually to 
succeed in having a law passed prohibiting the harnessing of 
dogs in any manner whatever. 
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