51 
September, 1919 
A SUPER-DOG 
WITH A PRIMITIVE STREAK 
The Police Dog Is the Embodi¬ 
ment of Strength, Alertness and 
Versatile Ability 
ROBERT S. LEMMON 
H IS name may not seem to promise it, but 
he's a hundred per cent House & Gar¬ 
den dog. In other words, a dog of intelli¬ 
gence, personality, character and all-around 
dependability. These are worth-while char¬ 
acteristics which, parenthetically, all breeds 
do not possess. 
The wolfish origin of the police dog and 
his development into the animal of today 
are so generally known that there is no need 
to repeat them here. What chiefly concerns 
us are his present qualifications, the things 
you want to know about any dog before mak¬ 
ing him a member of the family. For in the 
choice of a breed there are errors to which 
the inexperienced are prone—a dog must fit, 
precisely as if he were a hat, a gown or a 
pair of shoes. 
His Outstanding Characteristics 
The police dog, then, is “all dog,” a subtle 
combination of courage, hardiness, quick wit, 
determination and faithfulness. By inherit¬ 
ance and training he is fitted to cope with any 
situation involving defense of home, people 
or property; by instinct he is a gentleman 
and a pal. There is nothing of the molly¬ 
coddle or pampered pet about him. If you 
want a canine who will thrive upon three 
chocolate peppermints and one teaspoonful of 
(whipped cream per diem, don't get a police 
dog. A pound of lean beef and a chunk of 
bread are more in his line. 
It should be understood that these traits 
The three pups on this page are 
brothers, and excellent examples of 
the breed. Two of them won blue 
ribbons in the puppy class 
We defy you not to fall in love with 
a police dog pup—and respect him, 
too. Notice this youngster’s splendid 
head. Courtesy Mrs. M. E. Heilner 
are characteristic of a good police dog, by 
which is meant one of good breeding. For 
be it known that a dog so highly specialized 
as this must needs be a thoroughbred to ful¬ 
fill all expectations. If a strain of common 
blood is in his veins, it frequently happens 
that his defensive and offensive instincts will 
be perverted; and in the case of so powerful 
an animal the results will scarcely be de¬ 
sirable. The principle involved is common 
enough among all animals, human and other¬ 
wise; take the specialist away from his legiti¬ 
mate calling, and he must be of the best or 
disappointment will follow. 
It has often occurred to me that were less 
space given to the dogs themselves in the 
practical articles which are written about 
them, and more to the method of handling 
them and the general treatment accorded, the 
value to the reader would be increased. A 
dog is one of the most responsive creatures 
in the world, to wise as well as unwise han¬ 
dling. His owner should understand his 
limitations, both physical and mental; his 
likes and dislikes; the peculiarities of his par¬ 
ticular breed, and make allowances for them. 
Any dog that is worth owning is worth re¬ 
specting; respect connotes understanding, and 
understanding brings out the best traits the 
dog possesses. 
The Importance of Training 
The canine kingdom, unlike Caesar’s Gaul, 
is divided into but two parts: trained dogs, 
and the vast majority. In the case of most 
breeds, lack of training means nothing more 
serious than annoyance and inconvenience, 
but with a police dog it may prove actually 
dangerous. Consider for a moment: here is 
a dog which for generations has been bred 
(Continued on page 91) 
The part wolf origin of the police 
dog shows clearly in his conforma¬ 
tion and coat. But the undesirable 
wolfish traits are gone 
