, 1861-10-31
Ghe farmers Corner.
Shepherd DOGS.

SnePnefo dogs.
In some remarks upon the dogs Of Scot.
land, which the shepherds use to assist in
tending their Aocks upon the mountains, the
OAio Former says the reason why shepherd
dogs do not have that attention in this coun-
try that they do in Europe, is owing to
misunderstanding Of their uses, and some.
what different system of sheep husbandry.
Tie sheep pastures of Scotland consist Of
large tracts of wild, mountainous land, GOV
cred with heather and wild grass, with al
pine plants. There are in these regions few
dwellings, and one can travel a whole day,
seeing no signs Of human life but the shep.
herd's sheilihg or hut In such place the
value Of . good shepherd dog can hardly be
over:estimated. The following account we
copy from the above mentioned Journal:
Tho sheep are kept outdoors all the year,
especially in the northern part of the coun.
try; and the shepherd seldom sees any per
son. IN such regions, the dog is truly use
fhl animal; he Is worth more than man in
gathering the scattered flock, and wearing"
lhem in winter during snow storms; for at
these. timess The sheep seek the sheltered
holloEs to the lee of the blast, and in such
places are sure 70 be entqmbed in the drift,
where they viii in al probability. pefish.
The shepherd must, therefore, keep them on
the exposed side Of the hill, where the snow
cpupQt drift; and this must be done night
and day, in nlight or darkness. Without the
dog, lhis cannot Be performed, for the sheep
viii soon wanderoh, and be lost to the eye
Of the shepherd; but the dog keeps them to.
gether in the right place. So it may easily
bsseen that two or three Of these useful ami.
mails are Of more utility than an equal number
Of men. Should single sheep 60 astray,
good dog viii soon find il and bring It back
and { g al the same, If instead Of one, there
should be twenty.
Drovers use these dogs as aids in driving
aheep to market; and couple of them are
worth more than dozen boys with sticks.
They never worry the sheep, but, II neces.
sary,. will take hold Of Il without inflicting
injury. To have dog Of this kind In good
training Il . necessary that be should be a.
ways With the sheep, and be the companion
Of the shepherd; and It will generally be
found, that the best shepherds have the best
dogs, fof they talk to them as IL they were
reasonable beings, and treat them kindly.
Ths Scotch Colley cannot be called
brave dog, although some Of them exhibit
considerable courage. In biting, he snaps
like wolf We have seen bull-tefrier
chase half dozen Of them, each larger than
himself He protects the flock to certain
extent but his true value consists in bis care
uf H. lie does the work of . man, without
costing IS mueh for his fbod consists Of
scraps. oatmeal porridge and oaten cakes.
Meat be seldom tastes, and the more seldom
u 1lllsf. i6i be might acquire relish for
mutton. He Is highly valuable on large
sheep farm, orto the droyer; but less so on a
small fhrm or whore the sheep are fenced IN,
and Kept penned up dnringthe winter.
Tho care Of sheep id, with puppies, an.
acquired instinct Many Of them need liz.
lie or no instruction but Il is usual To-
ilh1 ~ 1n .Nilh an old dog, who shows.
them . gdla example which they are not
slow % Initiating,