Connecticut western news., 1876-08-04
COLLIE DOG TRIALS.

CVLL1E UUO 1h1ALSs
 A Scene mt Alexandra Park---Thc Sagacity
 of Sheep Dogs---An Exhibition of Welsh
 Cnniues.
 The London Standard has the follow ing It has occurred to the Kennel club, 0 body of gentlemen who are interested in the improvement of dogsof all breeds, that the collie trials which had proved so su ecessful in Wales might be carried on Q little nearer the metropolis, and they there fore organized meeting in tho Alex andra park. The mode in which th trials are conducted is as fol lows A flock of Welsh wethers, one hun dred in number, have been brought up to the park, and were penned near the grand stand on tho racecourse Fr om this flock three animals were taken at hazard, and conveyed to the side of the hilton which the palace stands and set at libe rty. On the circular cricket ground, so me half mile to the west, a triangular pen of hurdles, with an open ing in the base, formed sort of station, about whi ch are grouped the judges and officials of the show, and from which the shepherd d with the dog that was about to be tested took his departure. The men and dog walked together along the race course until the sheep were sighted, when he gave sign or word to his four footed companion, and the intelli- gent brute at once started off at @ gallop and sought fir, t to drive the sheep down the hill toward his master. When he had succeeded in doing this, the man walked toward the pen, and the dog drove the sheep after him until they were near enough to operate in getting the sheep inside. Twenty minutes was the maximum time allowed, the prizes being won by those who succeeded in penning their sheep in the shortest time, while those who failed to pen within the allotted time were disqualified. It was not difficult to discover that dogs and sheep were working under great disad- vantages, and animals which have no douLt a well deserved reputation on their own hills failed to distinguish themselves under totally novel condi- lions, though enough was demonstrated 1 to make it apparent that these collie trials are likely to become very inter- esting annual performance. Though a space of ground was marked of by ropes and stakes, which were respected by the spectators, the sheep felt under no restric- tions, and the poor collie, therefore, that had been used to the clear view of @ Welsh hillside, with no human being but his master within miles of him, had to dodge his charges among visitors and 1 round plantations, which frequently hid them altogether. The sheep were many of them very wild and ran like deer, their disinclination to proceed in the di- i rection of the pen being increased from the main flock being in full view, and thus stimulating the natural ovine ten dency to rejoin companions. In several cases, on the dog nearing the three sheep, the nimble and independent wethers scattered and galloped in differ ent directions out of sight, when the collie, after an honest attempt to bring them together, seemed to conclude that it was hopeless to complete the task in twenty minutes, so he philosophically dropped it altogether and trotted back | to his master. Some of the triads of wethers behaved iu manner more in accordance with the gregarious traditions of their race, and when, in addition to hanging together, they happened to start in the right direction down hill, the first portion of the dogs work was easily and speedily done. The marvel ous sagacity of this breed was seen when the sheep were near the pen and the dog had to overcome their natural disincli- nation to enter. Not only did the ami nal in this position obey every sign and word of his master, but he would exer- else what might almost be called his own reason and discretion in the mode of carrying out his masters wishes in & fashion that was astonishing. Success, however, depended altogether on the be- havior of the three particular sheep. One famous dog named Handy, which won the champion prizes two years run ming in Wales, was very unfortunate in this respect. He succeeded in getting them to the pen in splendid style, but nothing could induce the brutes to en- ter. They broke away score of times, and, after display of ability worthy of his high reputation, poor Handy failed to accomplish the task within the twenty minutes. The most successful per formance was that by slut named Mad die, belonging to MT. John Thomas, of she succeeded in little over four min utes. A famous dog named Boy did the work in seven and half minutes. An l OGuSI CalloI bOOh uIu0 and two others, Pentre and Tweed, twelve minutes each. There were nine- teen entries for the all-aged stakes, and these were tested. MT. Lownds' Lad die perhaps showed the highest training, by tho way in which he followed every motion of his shepherds hand; now circling round, now creeping nearer to the flock, and then sitting on his launches until the signal to move again was given. The man who worked the dog had not seen him for twelve months. But tho triumph in point of quickness was reserved for Mfr. Jones' young dog, Boy, who brought his charge to their pen in seven minutes and half. MT. Thomas Maddie also penned his sheep very we'll. It is curious that all these were Welsh dogs belonging to Welsh grazers, but then the great home of s-Scotland-was not represented. The English dogs nearly all managed to let their sheep wander in freedom "over the hills and far away" but MT. J. Glendinny's Tool got his lot together very we'll, and penned them cleverly.
 A Dyer.