SHEEPDOG AND A KNIFE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1203, 3 February 1914, Page 4

SHEEPDOG AND A KNIFE.

ANIMAL’S WONDERFUL SAGACITY.

The manager of Ben Lomond station, a property owned by Sir Richard Butler, of Adelaide, teHs the following story illustrative of the wonderful sagacity of his sheepdog. The animal, whose name is “Jinny,” always accompanies the man from the homestead to the woolshed when he is about to kill a sheep there. On one occasion the man found it more couvienent to kill the sheep in an adjoining paddock. He, therefore, set out, accompanied by the sheepdog, haviug first put the knife in his pocket and the usual meat bag on his shoulder. When “ Jinny ” saw his lootsteps were not directed to the woolshed, and that apparently be had uo kuife, the well-trained animal refused to follow him ; nor could she be induced to do so either by scolding or coaxing. The man went on, and had just killed a lamb, when “Jinny,” who had evidently travelled far and fast, arrived with the regular slaughtering kuife in her mouth. The manager in explaining this remarkable action, says the animal must have noticed that the man was not carrying the customary slaughtering knife. She thereupon lelt him and turned off to the woolshed. Jumping upon the door of a sheep-pen she obtained possession of the kuife and returned with it to her master. She selected the right knife from two others that were uot used, as they had broken handles. The distance travelled by the dog in order to get the kuife was about three miles.