WONDERFUL WORK

Hokitika Guardian, 14 November 1931, Page 6

WONDERFUL WORK

EXHIBITION BY DOGS.

CHAMPION SCOTCH COLLIE

(Oh ristcli nr eh Times)

The exhibition of working dogs given by Mr J. H. Roberts,' of East Eyreton, at the Christchurch Show on Wednesday afternoon was one of the features of the day, and •it was unfortunate that it should have been held so late when the crowd had thinned considerably. It was after 4 p.m. before the show ring was cleared of the cattle and horses which came under the eye of the judges, and 4.30 p,m. before the exhibition could begin. Those enthusiasts who stayed' on were well rewarded for their patience by seeing a display of dog control the like of which has been the fortune of few iyew Zealanders to witness. Mr Roberts, who is a young man, has been stud shepherd for Messrs Madeley Bros, at East Eyreton for the last year or so,' before which Ire was for three years stud shepherd for Mr J. H. Grigg of Longbeach. Prior to tlialt Mr was in. Wales. SIX FLEET MERINOS. Six merino sheep, which are the most shy and fleet of any breed, were selected from Mr Roberts’s exhibition. Unfortunately a dog which was by no means a champion had previously been employed in trying to get the animals /through the l gateway into the' ring, and the sheep, frightened by the punlie, must have travelled nearly a mile before two of them were eventually yarded. Another four werfo brought on a lorry, but Air Roberts’s work was made difficult- by the .stirring up which the two early arrivals had received. In view of this he decided to us® two heading dogs, each of which lie controlled perfectly with separate whistles. The exhibition occupied about twenty minutes, and Air Roberts. who will give the public anotnsr exhibition to-morrow afternoon, was warmly applauded on his fine effort. CONTROLLING TWO DOGS. Glen, the dog which figured in most of the delicate work, is, like his partner Dash, a. Scotch collie with plenty of eye. Glen was international champion at the International Sheep Dog Society’s trials in England in 1926. He was trained by Mark Ilayton, one of the best dog men in England, and was bought by Mr Roberts shortly After the championship award. Glen is the first international • champion to have been imported to New Zealand. Air Roberts values Glen at £IOO. Dash is a sharp-eyed heading dog who has been hied by Mr Roberts end who has won numerous prizes at trials in England and New Zealand. The two dogs, though very much alike in colour and style of working, are not related. Similar exhibitions have been given by Mr Roberts' at the Royal Show at Invercargill and at 'the Waikari dog trials some few months ago. WORK OF THE CHAMPION.

Standing bv, the pen at the eastern end of the ring, Mr Roberts sent out Glen and Dash on opposite sides to head the six sheep at the other end. Glen was getting ahead of Dash on the way out, but a. whistle steadied the faster dog until Dash came on to level terms, which was .in itself nn amazing piece of control. They reached the sheep together, and crouched, 'Lillico-fasliion, on.' each, side of the bunch until it moved up. On the straight pull up to the pen two of the sheep broke away. Glen brought them hack while Dash hold thie others, and the two sections joined forces in a wonderful parade through, a gap in two hunting fences, across the paddock to another pair, the rapid negotiation of which earned a round of applause. DRAFTING IN THE OPEN.

The neatest piece of work was when Glen was called up t-o do- some shedding work. He ‘successfully drafted off three of the six, and with a sharp eye for a breakaway forced the unwilling trio backwards into the pen while Dash hunted thle other three away. The three sheep in the pen were then chased out and one drafted off by the quick-footed Glen while Dash' looked on. The lone sheep hurdled the dog in its characteristic haste to join its fellows, but Glen managed to separate it again and to hold it on its own until further orders.

Upon returning the six sheep to the holding paddock Air Roberts was warmly congratulated on his work by several officials of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association.