DOGS OF WAR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 26, 9 March 1942, Page 6

DOGS OF WAR

BRITAIN'S ARE BETTER THAN GERMANY'S The first and only establishment of its kind in Great Britain, at an Army School near London, is now training dogs lent by their owners for service during the Avar. Hitherto the work has been largely experimental; now a regular system is turning out fully trained dogs at a rapid rate. And, of the dogs offered, a much higher percentage than in Germany, where, a large number had to be rejected as unsuitable, are proving useful for Avar service. Messenger dogs, mostly Border collies and other sheepdogs, learn to carry dispatches SAviftly and silently under realistic battle conditions. Others, Alsatians and crosses of lurchers, greyhounds, terriers and so on, .are trained in guiding patrols to enemy positions, or, for static defence, in giving Avarning of enemy approach. They act like pointers, although real pointers and other gun dogs cannot be used, because their instinct for game might distract their attention from the. Avar. LJriLaiivs Avar dogs live in comfortable, roomy loose boxes, semelimes lavo or Ihrec together, and artfed on cooked horseflesh and biscuits. The nfi'ieers and men a\ ho train. Lheni are selected lor IJicH' peace-lime experience avilli <.!«-•>- they are either breeders cr trrmier--engaged Jn' Britain'.- important d<inbreeding industry, ii"\v known to dog lovers in many quarters ol' tin globe for its fine specimens of most breeds.