dogs in general—watch dogs—the shepherd’s dog.
among all the animals the dog seems pre?minently intended by nature for the companion and friend of man. even the instinctive passions all animals have for their own kind appear to be in a measure sacrificed to human influence, for the dogs often care more for the society of man than for that of their own kind. not only is the dog a trusty and valuable friend and associate of man, but the companionship between the human and the canine races developes in the latter many of those noble qualities not possessed under other circumstances. the turks look upon the dog with abhorrence, and almost universally in the east he is an outcast from human society. the consequence is that all his good qualities are lost; he is no longer the faithful companion, ready to defend his master with his life, but on the contrary, he is deceitful, bloodthirsty, and as unlike the more favored dog of other countries as it is possible to imagine.
watch dogs.
many kinds of dogs are used as watch dogs, and where all that is required of them is a notification of nightly intruders, and the awakening of the household, perhaps the species used is of comparatively little consequence. where the dog is intended to act as a defender as well as a sentinel, strength and courage are important requisites. with many the bull dog is a favorite for this purpose. though the least intelligent of his species his unflinching and unconquerable courage renders him a terrible opponent. so utterly without intellect is his courage, however, that no consideration of his foe’s powers deters him from attacking the most formidable thing that gives offense. striking examples of this quality are displayed in england in what are termed “bull baits,” exhibitions whose cruelty and brutality are scarcely excelled in the customs of any other country. in these bull baits the dog, while fastened to the nose of some unfortunate bull, has had one leg after another cut off with a knife to test his courage. so persistent is the dog in maintaining his hold that the most frightful mutilation will not compel him to relinquish it until his strength is exhausted from loss of blood; he has been known to die from this inhuman hacking with his death grip firmly holding the bull.
probably the best watch dog is the mastiff. capable of 69great attachment to his master, he unites strength with intelligence, and, while implacable toward intruders, toward members of his master’s family he is docile and gentle. his hearing is remarkably acute, for he can detect the difference between a familiar and a strange footstep, however light it may be.
the shepherd’s dog.
the rapid increase in the importance of sheep husbandry in this country will soon direct attention to the value of proper dogs for assisting in their management and protection. there are several different breeds used for this purpose, varying in different countries with their several local requirements. in spain the pyrenean, or st. bernard’s dogs, are found valuable to accompany the large merino flocks on their annual migrations to the mountains, as a protection against the wolves infesting the pyrenees. in spain, too, the mastiff is highly prized, an improved, large breed, with strong feet, short hair and slightly pointed nose, being much in use.
a gentleman of delaware gave, some years ago, the following account of a shepherd’s dog of the spanish breed in his possession:
“the dog is three times as large as the shepherd’s dog described by buffon, but is endowed with the same good qualities: immense strength and great mildness in his usual deportment, though ferocious toward other dogs. i can say, without exaggeration, that at least twenty dogs have been killed in my barnyard, or on my farm, by my dog montague. his dimensions are three feet eleven inches from his eyes to the root of his tail, and two feet eight inches high over the shoulders. he is a fine animal, entirely white. i prefer that color in recollection of the story of old jacob. in fact, i had formerly a black dog, and many of my lambs were born black. since i have had montague and his mother i have very few black lambs. the natural instinct of this animal is to guard your sheep against wolves and dogs. no other training is required, but to keep them constantly with your flock, the moment they are from the litter, until they are grown.”
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, 70probably 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 71benefit; 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 72the 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.
the shepherd’s dog of any of the breeds we have mentioned, has a natural inclination for working among sheep, but he may be spoiled by improper management, and then he becomes an enemy to the flock instead of a protector. a cross between the mastiff, bull dog or cur, and the shepherd’s dog, produces a mongrel which has an insatiate thirst for the blood of the sheep, and can scarcely be restrained from destroying them. the shepherd’s dog should be full blood, anything less is worse than useless. dogs even of the best breeds may be spoiled by neglect or mismanagement in the training. the shepherd must himself treat the sheep with gentleness if he desires the dog to do so; the dog will act as his master does.
