The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-06-19
Preservation Of Sheep From Dogs.

The writer well remembers, w!.su .
boy; that his father (residipg in Ken.
tucky) never had any sheep killed by
dogs, although his flock was much the
largest of any in the heighborhood. Oh
ono occasion, well remember, when
thero were over City sheep killed one
night, Immediately around in the neigh-
borhood, and that five or six neighbors
that had lost sheep, the night previous,
came to my fathers to learn his losses,
but their astonishnlent was great to learn
he had lost no sheep, They then sagely
concluded that they were his dogs that
had deprecated on their Aocks. Ao-
cordiugly all his dogs, some eight or ten,
were called up, aud their mouths rigidly
examined, to find blood or wool rs evil
dencc Of their guilt; but none appeared,
and their astonishment was still greater.
My father told them he could easily
satisfy them. They would never have a
sheep killed by dog or wolf if they
would do with their flocks as he did
with his. Their wonder was increased
when he told them all they had to do
was to let their sheep run with their
cattle constantly, and they would never
have a sheep killed by deg or wolf
To show them the proof Of his correct
ness, he invited them to walk with him
to the pasture where his sheep and cattle
were feeding, taking all his dogs.
When they reached tho pasture, my
father requested tho gentlemen to set the
dogs on the sheep or cattle. This was
done. The sheep Immediately sought
protection by running to, under and
behind the cattle, while the latter made
an immediate attack on the dogs, and in
less than five minutes every dog was
run out of the pasture, One of the e
gentlemen asked tho privilege Of brings
ing his dog, thinking my fathers dog
had been trained to run from the cattle.
The request was readily granted, and all
the gentlcmen met again next morning,
when some four dogs were set on the
sheep with the same result, viz; the dogs
were driven out of the pasture in even
less time. This satisfied the gentlemen,
and there were no more sheep killed in
the neighborhood.
About twenty years after, fell hei,
to some thousand head of sheep. The
ncighborhood to which l removed was
then greatly afflicted with what were
called sheep killing dogs; and remember
ing my fathers custom, kept my sheep
and cattle together, still residing in
Kentucky. One morning six Or eight
of my neighbors called in that had lost
some eighty sheep the night before.
Learning l had lost none of my flock
they were unanimous in the belief that
my dogs had done the mischief. The
dogs were all called up and critically
examined for for proof of their sheep
killing proclivitics, but without the least
success.
AS they had two or three dogs of
their own with them, l told them that if
they would walk with me to my sheep,
| would learn them how to preserve
sheep from being killed by dogs. They
did so, and OH reaching the pasture of
some two hundred acres, l desired the
gentlemen to set their dogs ON my sheep,
and to do their best in doing so. The
effort was most earnestly made, but it
was not five minutes before every deg
was driven over the fence, out Of the
pasturc-the sheep running directly to
the cattle for protection, and the cattle
assumed the most belligerent attitude
toward the dogs, and cleared the pasture
in no time of them. No more sheep were
killed in that region.
Any gentleman can prove this by
trial. 1t may take short time for the
sheep and cattle to assimilate together,
but that it is certain, is beyond question.