DOG LORE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 77, 27 March 1912, Page 3

DOG LORE.

(By Laverock.) From time immemorial a sheep dog of one kind or another lias presided over, the welfare of flocks and herds in every land. Probably in an age less peaceable than ours this canine guardian was called upon in addition to Iris other duties to protect his charges from wolves and bears and other marauders. In that case it is very possible that the early progenitors of the breed were built upon a larger and more massive scale than is the sheep dog of to-day. In support of this theory the herd dogs of foreign countries, such as the Himalayan drover’s dog and the Russian Owtchad, are all of them massive and powerful aniihals, far larger and llei'cier than our own. As time went on flocks grew larger and civilisation moved apace, it was no doubt found essential owing to the new environments that both tiic breed and education of the guardian of the fold should receive special attention. To what an extent lie has been benefited to suit modern conditions we have the proof in the enormous change that lias taken place in the status of the dog as an animal, a piece of goods, and a commercial commodity. The fmctoScenCC of his special training is to ho witnessed at the numerous field trials held in different parts of our '.glorious Dominion, but the Elysium of them all is To Worn, where the evcntualion of the trial on March 29th. and 30th permits the countryside and the townsfolk to fraternise. The freethinker is especially invited, when he will be speedily converted from one who disbelieves revelation into a worshiper of the wonderful sagacity of the famous working collies that annually compete at this trial. The pastoral life of the shepherd and his dog is a healthy one, not devoid of pleasure. But take a wintry day on the rainswept hills, with a howling gale of wind searching the ridges and one is fain to admit that it is not altogether a mass of roses, but probably one of chill and burrs; think of tho memorable storm in the South of Scotland on January 24th, 1794, when nineteen shepherds and flve-and-forty dogs perished in tho execution of their duty. It is at such times that the collie meets hardship and peril with the heroism of a true soldier.

To the lover of dogs there can ho no pleasure more keen than that of spending a holiday at one of tho working trials to test the skill of the sheep dog, which ■ have become frequent fixtures among shepherds and farmers within recent years. A uni-, form mode of arranging these competitions has been completed by the governing body, hut will not bo enforced until next season. Three sheep are let out of a large pen, say in thej south of the field, the dog and his master are standing about the north of the field; the dog lias to bring the sheep up the cast side, round a small pen at the north end, driv6' thaifii down the west side, where a post is .placed about twenty yards from the .fence on the south side, and he must drive the sheep round the posts, then bring them up the course and force them into the pen at the north side. After they are let out of the pen they have to be shodded or separated, and one of the three sheep lias to be kept for a time from joining the others,, who usually makes quickly back to the south gate, through which they entered the field.

' TJie test work is really driving,, penning and shedding. Now almost any dog can make a shape at. moving or driving in a very rough; manner, and instead of driving them at a steady pace, they come on them violently and keep at them so keenly that the sheep are for a. while kept at. full gallop, then standing still, scattered about, then again away, at be pen. This style of driving is not to he commended, the sheep should, be dr.von steadily all the time, never at full gallop, hut at an even, trotting pace and without excitement. Very often the good, thriving dog becomes excited when nearing the pen; ho moves about more smartly; his patience, which,has stood him in good stead all round the course, is finished, and he makes a .desperate effort to pen the lot, with the result that two break away and one only is forced into the pen. By this time the sheep arc excited; he has lost command, puts on a number of bad turns, but ultimately pens them. The excitement still on at the shedding test; the sheep refuse to separate, and jin wearing the single sheep the dog is so keen and excited that again he gets too near and tries to rush his opponent, who, almost exhausted, ultimately succeeds in rejoining her companions. The difficulty is to get a dog so well trained that not only in driving will ho use his good sense, hut also at the penning and shedding, where the most skilful turns are required, will ho continue to use his judgment, and thus act from start to linish in a steady and determined manner.

Tlio judges also take, into consideration the stylo with which the dog goes through the work, whether smartly, cheerfully and gently, or roughly and indifferently: and how long lie takes to do it. Many will say there is a good amount of luck at trials. I have seen this the case, but seldom. For example, some dogs gel sheep of wilder temperament than others to work with, but while a slight mistake will throw out a first-class dog, I always contend that a good dog makes his own luck at a working trial. You can almost tell the winner by the style in which he loaves lids master, comes round on the sheep, takes possession of them without the doast excitement and has the good sense not to vex them on the course, nor yet at the pen. In general, the excelling competitors at working trials are the rough-coated black and wide collies. Kep, now dead, was one

of tlfis type, and was one of the most perfect working collies in Scotland. Ho was only a small dog, but most trusty when given the charge of sheep, and won many competitions on the trial field. As ;i companion be was gentle and quiet, and was a perfect house dog. Strange to say, he would not look at a rabbit or hare which may rise in front of him when dutifully herding the sheep, but a more alert gnu dog and retriever it would bo hard to find. At tho shows this type of dog is 'invariably at tho top of the class. He is considered tho most tractable, and is certainly the most agile. Second to tli is typo - in favour is the smooth coated variety, a very hardy, useful dog, well adapted for hill work and usually very fleet of foot. Ho is not so sweet in temper as the black and white, and is slow to make friends. The shepherds maintain that he climbs tho bills more swiftly than tho rough, and in dirty country, his clean, unfeatheed legs dot not collect and carry burrs and fern. Then there is the old English sheep dog. Intelligent and picturesque, workmanlike and affectionate, combining as he does in his shaggy person, the attributes at once of a drover’s drudge and of an deal companion. Although the modern dog is .sqpp, less.pftpnyijhan .of ofyl performing his legitimate duties as a shepherd dog, there is no ground whatever for supposing that he is a whit less sagacious than the mongrels which have largely supplanted him. The instincts of the race remain unchanged, hut the mongrel certainly comes cheaper. The strong-limbed bearded collie is capable of getting through a good day’s work, but it is not so steady nor so wise as the old-fashioned black and white, or even the smooth-coated variety. He is favourite with the butcher and drover who have sometimes a herd of troublesome cattle to handle, and he is well suited to rough and rocky ground, active in movement, and as surefooted as a wild goat. He can endure cold and wet without discomfort, and can live on the mountain ranges when others less sturdy would succumb.

There is not a more graceful and physically beautiful dog to he soon than the show collie of the present period. Produced from the old working type, ho is now practically a distinct breed. His qualities in the field are not often tested, but he is a much more handsome and attractive animal, and Ins comlincss will always win for him many admiring friends. 'A good working collie, however, is not always robed in elegance, and I have seen them run well in all shapes. What is desirable is that the shepherd and farmer should fix a standard of points and breed as near as possible to that standard, as the keepers of the show collie breed to an acknowledged type of perfection. It is to ho regretted that pedigrees are commonly ignored among owners of the sheep dog. Of course a good pedigree is of no immediate value to a had working dog, but as I have stated before, from a bad worker of good descent many an efficient worker might be produced by proper mating, and those skilled in the breeding of collies know the importance of a well-considered process of selection from unsullied strains. I should like to sec the shepherd's dog so certified by pedigree that after a reasonable number of wins on the trial field he might be entitled to a free entry in the Stud Book.

It is a pity that the hard-working dog of the shepherd does not receive the attention in the way of feeding and grooming that is bestowed on the ornamental show dog. Ho is too often neglected in those particulars. Notwithstanding this neglect, however, the average life of the working dog is longer ihy a year or two than that of his more beautiful cousin. Pampering and artificial living are not to tie encouraged, hut, on the other hand, neglect has the same effect of shortening the span of life, and had feeding and inattention to clear.!iness provoke the skin diseases which are far too prevalent. If the rough-coated working collie were as regularly groomed and as carefully kept as the show dog he would become more useful, and lead a happier life. It is un-

fair jb him that ho should ho allowed coutaually to scratch himself and bo seenVith bis coat matted, dirty and unkefi. What an inexhaustible subject fie dog provides, and I am confidentjhat without his skilful aid St. Patriot would have failed in driving the jjogs from Ireland.