What is commonly known as the shepherd’s dog is a smaller breed, seldom more than two feet high. Those in France are usually black with white touches on breast, face, legs, etc.; with sharp head and nose, and with a countenance full of alertness and intelligence. In Great Britain, particularly in Scotland, the colors of the shepherd’s dog are more mixed with shades of red and brown; or black dogs with sharp ears, turning down at the tips. The Scotch breed, or colley, is a light and active one, probably the best adapted for those portions of our own country where there is no danger from wild animals. It is pretty extensively diffused in the United States and British America, and is very useful to the farmer, shepherd or drover.
SCOTCH COLLEY, OR SHEPHERD’S DOG.
The Mexican shepherd’s dog is doubtless a descendant of the Spanish ones introduced at the time of the conquest, and is a marvel of fidelity and intelligence. In training these dogs the method is to select from a multitude of pups a few of the healthiest and finest looking, and to put them to a sucking ewe, first depriving her of her own lamb. By force, as well as from a natural desire she has to be relieved of the contents of her udder, she soon learns to look upon the little interlopers with all the affection she would manifest for her own natural offspring. For the first few days the pups are kept in the hut, the ewe suckling them morning and evening only; but gradually, as she becomes accustomed to their sight, she is allowed to run in a small enclosure with them, until she becomes so perfectly familiar with their appearance as to take entire charge of them. After this they are folded with the whole flock for a fortnight or so; they then run about during the day with the flock, which after a while becomes so accustomed to them, as to be able to distinguish them from other dogs—even from those of the same litter which have not been nursed among them. The shepherds usually allow the slut to keep one of a litter for her own particular benefit; the balance are generally destroyed. After the pups are weaned, they never leave the particular drove among which they have been reared. Not even the voice of their master can entice them beyond sight of their flock; nor can hunger or thirst.
A remarkable example of the intelligence of these dogs is displayed when two flocks approach within a few yards of each other; their respective protectors will place themselves in the space between them, and as is very naturally the case, if any adventurous sheep should endeavor to cross over to visit her neighbors, her dog protector kindly but firmly leads her back, and as it sometimes happens, it may make a rush and succeed in joining the other flock, the dogs under whose charge they are go over and bring them all out, but strange to say, under such circumstances they are never opposed by the other dogs. They approach the strange sheep only to prevent their own from leaving the flock, though they offer no assistance in expelling the other sheep. But they never permit sheep not under canine protection, nor dogs not in charge of sheep, to approach them. Even the same dogs which are so freely permitted to enter their flocks in search of their own are driven away with ignominy if they presume to approach them without that laudable object in view.
The English sheep dog, or drover’s dog, is a tailless animal, larger, coarser, and stronger than the colley. It is very easily trained and is very well adapted for working among cattle, keeping the herd from straggling when on the road or the prairie, and acting as an aid to the farmer in the management of his flocks and herds. One of this breed was used by an American farmer to drive home his cows. It was only necessary to tell him it was time to bring the cows, and he would scour the farm and bring them from all parts safely into the yard. On the prairies such dogs would be of great use.
A careful, well tempered shepherd never allows his dog to harass or worry the sheep. He walks his regular rounds quietly, the dog following at his heels, appearing to take no notice of the sheep, and they almost unconscious of his presence. Should anything occur in which the aid of the dog is needed, he is at hand to perform the will of his master. If the sheep break through a fence into forbidden ground, one word from the shepherd is enough, the dog drives them back without causing much alarm. If a sheep breaks away from the flock, the dog is not allowed to bite it; he is taught to run before it and bark, in order to drive it back to its place.
A dog which has been properly trained will be continually on the look out for stray sheep, and will, of his own accord, visit those parts of the pastures where the fences are weakest, and where ditches or ravines exist, into which the sheep may be in danger of falling. Heavy sheep, with large fleeces, will sometimes lie on their backs for a whole day or night, being unable to get up. When in this position, instances have occurred of their eyes being picked out either by ravens or carrion crows. They are all subject to the attacks of dogs and foxes. A well trained shepherd’s dog will find sheep that are in this position, and attract attention to them.
Well trained dogs will not annoy ewes with lambs, nor show any signs of irritation when assaulted by the ewe for the protection of her young. They keep at a respectable distance from quarrelsome rams, not considering it to be any part of their business to fight with them. They are very watchful at night, especially during the lambing season, guarding the lambs from the attacks of foxes and dogs and all other intruders.
In training a young shepherd’s dog, the services of a well trained, experienced dog will be almost indispensable. The ardent temperament of the young dog must be subdued, and there is no better mode of doing so than by compelling him to accompany a well trained dog and imitate his actions. A long line in the hands of the trainer, attached to a collar or belt on the neck of the young dog is generally necessary in the training process. With the aid of this contrivance the dog may be perfectly subdued, and made to obey all the commands of the trainer. He can be taught to “go away,” “come back,” “come in front,” “come behind,” “bark,” “lie down,” “be quiet,” “get over the fence,” “slop them,” “bring them back,” and every other evolution in the field exercise of the sheep dog. The training should commence when the pup is five or six months old. The older the animal is, the more difficult will it be to train him.