| Show Belgian Barge Dogs Have Been Used F For or Many Years as Guards on Boats 1 Travelers in Belgium sometimes see on the decks of barges and arid canal boats little black dogs keeping keeping keeping keep keep- ing their watchful eyes on everything everything everything every every- thing going on about them They are the Belgian barge dogs and from their use they derive their name which incidentally is pronounced pronounced pro pro- pro pro-I and means in Flemish little skipper writes P. P Hamilton Goodsell in the Detroit News Little is definitely known of the breeds breed's origin It has been used for many years as a guard on the boats that ply the inland waters of Fland Fland- ers It may have been distantly related to the Pomeranian as they both have the same like fox-like head with bright eyes upstanding small ears and dainty well-shaped well little feet Although the has not the full coat of the Pomeranian one of its characteristics is its profuse profuse profuse pro pro- fuse ruff raft It weighs up to 18 pounds and possesses the usual terrier qualities The breed first made its appearance in England in the eighties but it was not until much later that it became became became be be- came known to any extent in this country At one time it is said sailors on ships bound for America from Belgian Belgian Belgian Bel Bel- gian ports would steal these dogs and find a ready market for them It is an excellent watchdog ever alert and inquisitive and somewhat suspicious of strangers and it is splendid with children It is a good hunter of rats moles and other vermin and can be used to hunt rabbits It is hardy and easy to care for Altogether it is an attractive businesslike businesslike businesslike busi busi- little dog ideal for the small house or apartment and possessed possessed possessed pos pos- pos pos- of sufficient reserve to classify classi classi- fy it in the one-man one category The breed is listed as sport non ing and not ot as a toy or terrier |
