The book of dogs; an intimate study of mankind's best friend (1919) (20118005383)

Title: The book of dogs; an intimate study of mankind's best friend
Identifier: cu31924001178130 (find matches)
Year: 1919 (1910s)
Authors: National Geographic Society (U. S. ); Fuertes, Louis Agassiz, 1874-1927; Baynes, Ernest Harold, 1868-1925
Subjects: Dog breeds; Dogs
Publisher: Washington, D. C. , The National Geographic Society
Contributing Library: Cornell University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE
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Photograph by i\ssociated Illustration Agencies, Ltd. A PHIDIPPIDES OF MODERN WARFARE Like the famous Greek athlete who ran from Athens to Sparta to summon aid in the repulse of Persian invaders, this dog scurries over shell holes and mined areas, wriggles through barbed wire, and braves an artillery barrage to carry a vital message to headquarters when telephone wires have been shot away and communicating trenches have been made impassable for men (see pages 17 and 73). the bones and other refuse just outside his home, until the place looked like the outside of a fox burrow when the hunt- ing is good. Wild dogs when they had been unsuc- cessful in the chase, perhaps, and conse- quently hungry, would be attracted by the odor of this waste food and would come and carry it off. They would come fur- tively at first, but as they found they were not molested they would come boldly, and "by thus disposing of refuse that would otherwise become offensive even to prim- itive man they performed a service in ex- change for benefits received. In this way man would become used to, and would even encourage 'the presence of. dogs in the vicinity of his home. Then, with so many wild dogs living near by, it is certain that occasionally their dens would be found by the man and the puppies carried home to amuse the children. Such puppies would grow up with little fear of their human hosts, and by their playful, friendly ways would probably win for themselves at least tol- erance, if not actual affection, and dogs would become a recognized part of the household. The puppies of these dogs would be a little tamer than their parents, and those of the next generation a little tamer still, until some of them became so domesti- cated as to have no thought of ever re- turning to the wild state. SHARING man's COMFORTS When fire was invented or discovered, no doubt such dogs shared with man its comforts and its protection, and this may have strengthened their determination to throw in their lot with the mysterious beings who could create such comfort and protection for them.