This useful animal, ever faithful to his charge, reigns at the head of the flock, where he is better heard, and more attended to, than even the Shepherd himself. In the few remaining large tracts of land which are appropriated to the feeding of Sheep, this dog is of the utmost importance. Large flocks range over extensive tracts of land, seemingly without controul: their only guide being the Shepherd, attended by his Dog, the constant companion of his toil. It receives his commands, and is always prompt to execute them; it is the watchful guardian of the flock, prevents straying, keeps them together, and conducts them from one pasture to another: it will not suffer strange sheep to mix with them, but carefully keeps off every intruder. In driving a number of sheep to any distant part, a well-trained Dog never fails to confine them to the road; he watches every avenue that leads from it, where he takes his stand, to prevent them from going out of the way. He pursues the stragglers if any escape, and forces them into order, without doing them the least injury. If the Shepherd be at any time absent he depends upon his Dog to keep them together; and as soon as he gives the well-known signal, this faithful creature conducts them to his master, though at a great distance.
THE BULLDOG.
THE BULLDOG.
When little children meet any dogs they should take care not to tease them, more particularly the Bulldog, for when that dog is completely roused it is the fiercest of its kind, and is probably the most courageous creature in the world. It is low in stature, but very strong. Its nose is short; and the under jaw projects beyond the upper, which makes it look very fierce. Its courage in attacking the bull is well known; its fury in seizing and its obstinacy in keeping its hold, are truly astonishing. It always aims at the front, and generally fastens upon the lip, the tongue, the eye, or some part of the face; where it hangs in spite of every effort of the bull to get away from it.
Many stories are told us of this most cruel sport; but of late years the inhuman custom of baiting the bull has been almost entirely laid aside, and there are now few Dogs of this kind to be seen. The great danger of the Bulldog is, he always makes his attack without barking.
THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG.
This breed of Dogs was originally brought from the country of which they bear the name, where their great strength and sagacity render them extremely useful to the settlers on those coasts, who use them in bringing down wood from the forests to the sea side. Three or four of them yoked to a sledge, will draw two or three hundred weight of wood piled upon it, for several miles, with great ease: they are not attended by a driver, nor any person to guide them; but after having delivered their loading, they return immediately to the woods, where they are accustomed to be fed.