The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-07-05

Story of a Shepherd Deg.


A writer in tue Prairie Farmer, over
the signature of "Wool-GrowcE" tells a
long and marvellous story about his shep-
herd dog, from which We make the fol
lowing extract zEa ai
hes"I Iwill add a short account Of twhat
I used to DO withu;y dog Colonel, which,
fear, those who have never seen a well
broken dog, viii be apt to class among dog
stories. usE
F." When Colonel was six monthsold, 1
i.drQye With him a large flock ofsheep from
Ohio to Illinois. spending forty y-seven days
on. the road. He had never been behind
a flock of sheep until the day T. started.
In four weeks timeI could send bimointO
a hundred acre pasture, and he would make
Circuit Of it and bring the foekou with
out leaving sheep, and without lurrying
them out of walk. By the way it is
very important to break a dog to 20 slow
the most Of dogs are too eager and hurry
sheep too much. l fegried the Wabash
river at Attica. The boat ran up on allow
level bar where there were. no yards OF
fences to assistin getting the sheep aboard.
Y ith two hands end the dog loaded ithe
boat without having to catch one of them,
and the fjok made FIVE boatsioads. I GOT
up on the bank where the dog could See
me web, and then by motions made him
jam the flock down tight to the boat, and
when well jamed.up, mount on theirbacks, I
and by barking and nipping-not severe
enough to call it bittinE-shoyed them
right in. No ten men without dog could
yhaye9lOadedi them so,soon, if they Gould
have idOneit at all. E.-s vrar-- r. ~
=" When l had occasion to drive not to,I
exCced5ten hnndred sheep fow mias,S II
-Tantedino other help bat the dog's |
have driven that many sheep along the
road six or eight miles, where it was un-
fenced, Sometimes on one and Sometimes \
on the other, and sometimes on both sides, /
myself being ahead of the flock, the dog
behind, the sheep so strung through the ]
timber perhaps / did not sec the dog for an
hour at a4iBls. A2- -1 * |
"When the ,ck gOt.to. spreading out |
fan-shaped, as flock will where there is a
chance to pick, Colonel would 90 odt and
turn in, the corners, passing up just far
enough to effect thai purpose, aud no
farther. He used, apparently, las much
Judgment IN passingup the side Of q f jck,
Just So far as woald.a man. When he vas
indoubt t5ab01t ansorder, lie WoWld sboRand I
look back until the order was repeated. Ii
have many day driven all over the prai-
rie aud taken flock ia every direction by |
walking on before, leaving him to bring
the sheep after me, without looking at bin
OF speaking to him, could send him two
miles out into the prairie after thousand I
sheepzBhleh were Strung for half a1mile,
and be would collect and.drive them all
up to me. have owned dogs that would
do the same, but none but him that did
notrush the sheep very hard 5tH.aI
] !" I could send 'Celenel over 4 fence on
ahead q quarterof a mile, 10 stand ina cross
lane to prevent the fJck froa turni1g out
Of the road. l have herded a thousand
sheep with him for weeks on pieces Of
grass surrounded by other crops, When
herding on 5 peiee Of grass bouaded on
two or more sides by othercrops, watch-
lone side and let lin guard the remain
ding sides, His manner was 20 steal
quietly along the edge OF the corn Khen9
ever he saw the sheep approaching toe
near, and show himself merely sufficient
to make them turn their heads in apothera
direction, yet not enough to frightep them
over to the other side Of the field With
him could feed cRa peice Of grass boun-
ded Quail sides BY corn, clear to tho edge |
without allowing the sheep to destroy a
dozen ears. u.