French Shepherd and Cowherd Dogs.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 188, 22 January 1887, Page 4

French Shepherd and Cowherd Dogs.

In France there are three varieties of shepherd and one of cowherd doga. The most important is the sheepdog, termed chiende Brie, Labric, or Briard. It is a rough dog, something like the bob-tailed old English sheepdog ; the coat is long and rather hard, of a very " taking " silver grey colour, with blue shadingg ; the eyes are dark and- intelligent, and well-covered ; the head is rather long, and the ears, being generally cropped, it resembles that of the common wolf ; the hind-quartera are powerful, and there are double dewclaws ; the tail is well feathered, is often docked off. This dog is very intelligent, and makes a good companion. A shepherd told me that when the puppies are in the field they set to work at once, and, by concentric circles, guard the first grasshopper they meet ; but if allowed to do this too long they will retain the bad habit in later years, and abandon the Bheep for this innocent but useless occupation. Another variety of French sheepdog has a long, corded coat like a poodle. It is a little taller than the latter variety, but is less active, and, though presenting perhaps a more imposing figure on the show bench, is less esteemed in the country. This dog also has double dewclaws, its colour being black or dark grey. A third variety is met with in the south. The coat is not long, but neither is it quite short ; it is rather like the wolf's. The shape of the animal, its colour and its ways, much resemble those of the wild animal. The ears are nearly always cropped, but the tail, which is carried rather high, though not like that of the Esquimaux, is respected ; double dewclaws are also, in this case, a proof of good breeding. The French cowherd dog is much like a heavy, smooth-coated collie. Its colour is black-and-tan, but the tan must be vei'y light, or else the dog has a reputation of being hard-mouthed and of biting the legs of the animals entrusted to his guard. The tail is always docked, although some specimens are born bob tailed j the dewclaws muht.be double on the hind-legs. The dog must be powerful and active, but must obey the cowherd at the least notice. The best specimens of this variety are to be found in marshes of La dunargue. In a previous article we mentioned the large mountain dogs used by the shepherds of the Pyrenees, the Abruzzes, and the Apennines, to guard the sheep against the wolf and the higlnvaj r robbers of the mountain. These large and powerful animals cannot be termed sheep-dogs, and they do not interfere with the work of their smaller companions, and are only kept in case of danger befalling the herd or their master. — D. Frank, in London Stock- Keepet ,