ALSATIANS ON THE TRAIL

Hawera Star, Volume L, 29 November 1930, Page 16

ALSATIANS ON THE TRAIL

Alsatian flog 1 in Baglaml, like mahogany sideboards arid good manners, has gone out of fashion, says a London newspaper. The writer says: “One no longer sees him drearily watching the traffic from the inside of a closed car or tread on his unhappy toes as he is dragged through a shopping crowd at an elegant woman’s heels. He lias become h ically serious dog in England—a dog with a. career, who is> happiest when he is working for Jus firing. It is ocssible that in the near future ho may become a reguar niemher of the London police force.

<- lhe Alsatian’s immediate ancestors were regular 'police dogs,” Mr. C. if. Rattree. chairman of the Alsatian Sheep, Police and Army Dog Society, said to a “Daily Express’’ representative at the autumn working trials at !h? Crystal Palace, “and he has been uie.l for courage, obedience, and intelligence for generations. “The police in this country are }>einning to realise the value of the AluiMaik. both in tracking criminals and in personal defence. Many policemen too suburbs and outlying districts of London are using Alsatian dogs at > d;t. I think it will not be long before they are officially adopted.

Dogs as Detectives

“The Billericay murder could never Have been committed it the policeman, .....itorulge, had a police dog with him. A Gained Alsatian will iace gunfire without flinching, and will get his> man down before he has even time to pull tlie triggoj.’’

The reporter says: “The pick of the dogs, as Mr Hat toe spoke, were being put. through the trials for the open stakes, which demand superb self-control and courage from the almost human Alsatian.

“He meets tempting friends and a dangerous enemy on the open sports ground. He is offered succulent pieces of meat by strangers, and must entirely refuse them. He must find a hidden criminal, give tongue, and hold him although his quarry attacks him with stick and even fires blank cartridges in his face. If, however, the criminal decides to go’ quietly, the dog looses his hold, and .sits on guard until heln comes.

“Two criminals, well padded, served as victims at the Crystal Palace. One of them makes it his regular profession, travelling to dog trials all over the country, being hunted and brought down continuously by the best dog detectives. The scare on his arms speak of some rough encounters.”