THE SCOTCH COLLIE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 280, 3 October 1879, Page 2

THE SCOTCH COLLIE.

There has been much said and written about the great intelligence and sagacity of the shepherd dog, particularly the Scotch Collie, and yet his merits are not overestimated in the least, We have known and bred them for years, have sent them to almost all parts of the country, and have always received favorable reports from the purchasers. In all reasonable things the Scotch. Collie, will give unbounded satisfaction, and no more trusty or faithful friend can be bad than he will • invariably prove himself to be; but those who expect him to do their work in their own particular way, without having first been taught how it should be done will b disappointed. These dogs will herd, - drive, and tend sheep, naturally, for they have been bred for this particular purpose for so many years that it has now become an inherent propensity, but they must be accustomed to the stock and the stock to them, and must be brought to understand just how you wish your particular work done before you can expect them to prove entirely satisfactory. This is one of the greatest troubles that is experienced by purchasers of trained dogs, for they expect to have them " start in," the first morning they airive, and drive the stock well, and they disappoint their owner, as anyone would well know they would, if he would give the subject a thought. Generally, much better satisfaction is experienced by purchasing a pup, and then gradually accustoming him to your own particular work, than in buying a well-trained t'og. The very first thing to do when you get your pup is to accustom him to your voice and command, and until you do this thoroughly, you cannot commence handling your dog. The best and soonest way tn do this is to always feed him yourself, and make it a point not to permit the pup to be played with and mauled while too young. Our advice to those who'want to have a first-class dog is to let the pup run comparitively wild, so it does not get into mischief, until he is at least eight or ten months old, by which time he will have gotten steadier and more easily managed, though you can in the meantime take him with you when you go for your stock. Do not force your dog, but let him take to his work gradually, and ,by all means treat him kinaly, for ther/ r" one peculiarity about this breed: ;f WL break the will of the pup by harsh ment, which is as useless as it is cruel, dog will be useless. After he has once reached full growth with his courage unimpaired there is but little danger of having him made cowardly and sneaking. Whether a dog be a good one when full grown or not depends a great deal on the one who handles it, for a violent-tempered man will make a cowardly dog out of his pup, while a careful, kind, considerate man will soon have an animal which will repay him for all his care, for it will be invaluable in herding, tending and driving almost all kinds of stock; will be invaluable as a watch-dog, carefully guarding the premises at all times, and will be a soume, : of pleasure to the members of his ownefch family. We know of no dog which will? better please the farmer, stock-breeder, poultry-fancier, or country gentleman, than a well-bred Scotch collie.—Exchange.