Buffon was of opinion that this variety, which is chiefly found in
Denmark, Russia, and Northern Germany, is only the Matin (the usual
sheep-dog of France) transported into a northern latitude. The colour
of this dog is generally white, marked all over his body with black
spots and patches, in general larger than those of the Dalmatian, of
which some have supposed him to be a congener. His ears are for the
most part white, while those of the Dalmatian are usually black.
The great Danish dog is a fine sprightly animal, but is of little use
either for sporting or watching. Like the Dalmatian, he is chiefly
used in this country as an attendant on carriages, to which he forms
an elegant appendage.
Mr. Johnson, a traveller from Manchester, on his route through
Scotland on horseback, was benighted, and coming to a small
public-house on the road, he thought it better to take up his
lodgings there, if possible, than to proceed further that night. On
entering the house, he found only an old woman, who, to his inquiries,
answered she would accommodate him with a bed, and provide for the
horse in a small shed, if he would assist her in carrying hay and
litter, as there was no other person then in the house. This was
readily agreed to by Mr. Johnson, who, after having done so, and taken
a little refreshment, was shown by the old woman to his bedroom.
A large Danish dog, which accompanied him on his journey, offered to
go up to the room with him, which the old woman strongly objected to,
but Mr. Johnson firmly persisted in having him admitted. The dog, on
entering the room, began to growl, and was altogether very unruly. His
master in vain attempted to quiet him,--he kept growling and looking
angrily under the bed, which induced Mr. Johnson to look there
likewise, when, to his utter astonishment, he saw a man concealed at
the farther end. On encouraging the dog, he sprang immediately at him,
whilst Mr. Johnson seized his pistols, and presenting one at the
stranger, who had a large knife in his hand, and was struggling with
the dog, declared he would instantly shoot him if he made further
resistance. The man then submitted to be bound, and acknowledged that
his intention was to rob and murder Mr. Johnson, which was thus
providentially prevented by the wonderful sagacity of his faithful
dog. Mr. Johnson, after securely binding the man and fastening the
door, went (accompanied by his dog) to the shed where his horse was
left, which he instantly mounted, and escaped without injury to the
next town, where he gave to a magistrate a full account of the
murderous attempt, and the culprit was taken into custody and
afterwards executed.
A gamekeeper belonging to the castle of Holstein (in Denmark),
returned one evening from a long and fatiguing chase, and deposited
the game in the larder, without being aware that he had locked up his
dog at the same time. Business of importance unexpectedly called him
away immediately afterwards, and he did not return for five days;
when, mindful of his game, he went to the larder, and beheld his dog
stretched dead at the door. The gamekeeper stood extremely affected;
but what were his sensations, when he saw on the table eleven brace of
partridges, and five grouse untouched! This admiration increased his
grief, when he found the poor dog had suffered starvation rather than
transgress his duty.
At a convent in France, twenty paupers were served with a dinner at a
certain hour every day. A matin dog belonging to the convent did not
fail to be regularly present at this repast, to receive the scraps
which were now and then thrown to him. The guests, however, were poor
and hungry, and of course not very wasteful, so that their pensioner
did little more than scent the feast, of which he would fain have
partaken. The portions were served by a person at the ringing of a
bell, and delivered out by means of what in religious houses is termed
a _tour_--a machine like the section of a cask, that, by turning round
on a pivot, exhibits whatever is placed on the concave side, without
discovering the person who moves it. One day this dog, who had only
received a few scraps, waited till the paupers were all gone, took the
rope in his mouth, and rang the bell. His stratagem succeeded. He
repeated it the next day with the same good fortune. At length the
cook, finding that twenty-one portions were given out instead of
twenty, was determined to discover the culprit. In doing which he had
no great difficulty; for, lying in wait, and noticing the paupers as
they came for their different portions, and that there was no intruder
except the dog, he began to suspect the truth; which he was confirmed
in when he saw the animal continue with great deliberation till the
visitors were all gone, and then pull the bell. The matter was related
to the community; and to reward him for his ingenuity, the dog was
permitted to ring the bell every day for his dinner, on which a mess
of broken victuals was always afterwards served out to him.