The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-09-12
From the Southern Farm and Home.
Raising Our Own Dogs.


This valuable branch of plantation economy
receives, in every section of the country, de-
gree of attention fully adequate to its impor-
tance. White and black, young and old, free
men and freedmen, alike, we ALL of all condl-
tions ages and sexes and sects, habitually raise
our own dogs" Unlike other departments OF
useful production, this has no Gibbs and flows
but at all periods of our history as people, IN
peace and war, prosperity and adverslty, we
have never been known to flag in this great OBJ,
ject Of national pursuit-thc ample supply OIL
dogs.
In the production of articles of food and OF
animals for labor or consumpion-we often
times fail. Some sections import mules at high
prices. We buy beef cattle and bacon; we
buy mutton or do without it. But while nei-
thcr pigs nor poultry, sheep, goats or swine OF
low degree may be visible on plantation, 60
where YOU may, ample demonstration will greet
eye and ear, that at all hazards "we raise our
own dogs"
This invaluable animal, which has formed
the primal eldest" theme of all school boys
composition through all the ages, is none the
less appreciated in later life. Such is the uni
versatility of 'dog culture" that not infrequently
the most thriftless men possess and support the
largest number of them. Faithful dogs yelP
around them-repay their affection through all
the night season, and assist them by day to con,
sumo the superhuous fruits of the earth. And
the wayfaring man encounters many whclp,
whithersoever he may go-sometlmes almost
too lazy to bark, but quite too mean not to bark
at him by the way-baying, half recumbent, to
bless him on his Journey, with all the mean
ness he can afford to expend.
The general interest which the human race
takes in the canine, encourages the presentation
of some views on the hackneyed subject, with
an exposition of the services rendered by the
dog, and some suggestions on the proper treat
ment of an animal so generally "raised."'
Perhaps the principal end served by the dog
is that he keeps the country from being infes,
ted with sheep. This noxious creature would
increase beyond bounds, were it not for the fun
the dog has in keeping him under. Not that
the dog eats sheep, this tinid quadruped. 1t is
mere playfulness, encouraged by the fact that
the sheep does not resist, but only runs from
him. The sheep won't fight, so the dog has 1t
all his own way, and all the more fun. 1t Is
perfectly plain sailing-his method With the
sheep. =,
The most remarkable fact connected with
this habit is, that the sheep killing dog seems
never to be domesticated. We never knew a
man to own one. The habit is confined to
wild species of the animal. Mems dogs have
often been believed, in neighborhood, to rem
der this public service, but their owners never
claim it on their behalf On the contrary, they
usually dispute it with apparent surprise and
indignation of injured innocence. The sheep
killing variety is not the tame dog.
Another feature of canine nature fits him for
what is called the yard dog. 1t is the feature
expressed with equal truth and poetry In the
words following, viz: that
'dogs delight
To bark and bite"
and it is faithfully enjoined on us in the same
followed, and, indeed one which it would be
somewhat difficult to disobey.
This favorite attribute is often INDUCED at
the expense of both the brute creation and the
human, without proper discrimination. The
dog will bite the best friend of his master, un-
less personally introduced. lie stands on etl-
ouette A man in dishabilc stands bad chance
with dog. He admires full dress.
The indiscrimination of the dog in this re-
card was once the subject of comment by a
friend of mine, who remarked that IN half
century of experience he had only once known
a dog to bite the right man. This really looked
as If there was discrimination OH the dogs part,
but on mistaken grounds of evidence. lie gen.
erally bites the wrong man..
Dog-owners and raisers labor under many
,hallucinations One is that their dogs will not
bite you They know you so well, they are
confident, in their own mind, that their dogs
must know you, too-cant help knowing you.
I am repeatedly reminded of the story OF two
gentlemen entering yard. Says a; "Brother
B, please call this dog" Bon Brother a, a,
he won't bite you." A. "But he has done bit
me-" Such is the mistaken confidence men
havo in their own dogs. Never trust them
Keep the dog raiser between you ana tnem al
all timcs-conscientio sly-or you are in dam
ger.
Freedmen are very successful in dog-raislng.
Those who have no visible means of support
are usually the most so. A freedman will not
sell his dog for any price. There is sort of
superstitious notion entertained by him of the
fatal consequences. The law of cause and ell
feet it is known has not much weight on the
Judgment of the freedmen.
Our generation has been accused of being
thriftless and wearing out the country-con-
verting the goodly land of onr ancestors into a
wilderness. They have not neglected, howevc
er, to add to its charms that peculiar one OF
being "howling wilderness" Night is made
hidcolls, and day dangerous, by these vlgilant
substitutes for fences and locks. In ordcr 10
the full dcVcl0pmcnC ol our lcso.'ioe' -, oii
line, to which SO many persons arc peculiarly
devoted, ought we not to import Chlnamen, OF or
some other citizens who are fond of dogs? and
by this means create dog market? Fancy q
hcathcn Chinese haggling with frcedwoman
on a hind-quarter of hound. Instead of New
York middling and low grades of Liverpool, of
Surats and Brazilian cotton, of Erie bonds and
Pennsylvania Central let the inquiry be: How
is mastilf this morning? What's the ruling
price of cur? And let Ma'am Venus praise
her grey hound vcnison and juvenile Cutlee
shout "Here's your fine fat flee I"
The census taker should have q list OF qnes-
tions Do you raise your own dogs? What
NUMBER Value? In what docs their value
We once knew the owner of fancy Italian
greyhound, thoroughbred, to declare his dog
worth $500. Hc was asked the question last
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