HARD LIFE FOR DOGS

Shannon News, 5 April 1927, Page 4

HARD LIFE FOR DOGS

ALLTHE-YEAR-ROUND ; JOB., "ALMOST HUMAN INTELLIGENCE." VANCOUVER, Feb. 11. In the Western States of America Western Canada and the remote North dogs have a harder time in minister? ing to community activity than theii prototypes in Australia and New Zealand have. The sheep dog of the .West has an all-year-round job. In 'the spring it is his job to protect newly-born lambs from marauding coyotes. Then comes the rush of iho shearing season, and the menace of the grizzly bear and the mountain lion hangs over the summer pastures in the higher altitudes. In Western States, waterless camps and bitter sandstorms are his almost daily experience in the rough "drove" to the railway. Finally, there is the long winter, with blizzard and below-zero temperature. In such a hard school, the sheep dog, starting at the age of six weeks, learns his trade and works at it until that day when the end comes in storm or an uneven battlo against the coyote or timber wolf. Unlike the dogs of Australia and New Zealand, they do not work by signs, but learn the language, be it English, French. Indian, or tho medley of European tongues their Western masters affeet. Although the old English sheep dog and the Australian and New Zealand strains are distant cousins the Western dog is a distinctive type, accustomed to heavier work and rougher conditions of life. He is anything but beautiful, and has often a mongrel appearance, but there is tho pure,gold of the shepherd strain, and almost human intelligence, Range men love him for his quick wit and tough muscle, and above all, for great natural courage that impels him to stay with tho sheep against wild animals and winter gales. The husky provides the only regular means of communication In the fai North, remote from tho railroad. Four to five dogs constitute a team, pulling 4c.wt. over snow and a much heavier load over glare ice. Strung in Indian file, harness comprises leather collar, saddle and traces. The lead dog must be intelligent His task is to locate and follow a formerly-used trial, that may be hidden beneath a recent fall of snow. He also, probably by instinct, tells where the ice underfoot is safe or dangerous for the load, and obeys the simple orders of the driver, "mush," "whoa," "cha," and "hw!e," indicating to go forward, stop, -lejjt or right. The dog nearest the toboggan is required to keep it on the trial.