Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-02-02
A VALUABLE FARM HAND
Dogs That Save Much Labor on
the Farm.
The Best Kind--YVhAt They Should Do
and How to Make Them DO 1.-THE
Shepherd Dog Coming to the
Front-English Sheep Dogs.
[coPxR1GHr, 1897

/
for the benefit of the useful order of
dogs, particularly those that are of
service on the farm.
Emerson said: "A weed is a plant
whose usefulness has not been discov-
cred" and the farmers dog in all parts
of the country may be defined in sim
| liar manner.
Farmers as a class are not very quick
to adopt what is of practical Importance
to them, especially when it is some
thing that cannot be brought to their
| door; consequently what is common to
every other agricultural community in
the world is uncommon in America,
for good useful farmers dog would
be difficult to find. Occasionally you
hAar of Farmer Brown havi g a good
one that came from the ola co,lss4- ?.
but lack of a mate of his kind prevented
the substitution of such dogs.
While American farn,,s would give
IS for dog, which would save the sum
in wages in week. S., 900 can be readi-
" obtained for superior ornamental
st. Bernard and half that for a poodle
trimmed la Franchise, trotting behind
belle, or a saucy bulldog at the heels
of "Chappie.
1t was left to New Jersey to effect a
much-needed change, when, at the
last interstate fair at Trenton, sheep
dog trials were given under the aus
pieces of the New Jersey Kennel league.
Some enterprising members of this
state club sent to England for cracks,
when it was learned that not one out of
a hundred of the bench show collies,
which were generally supposed to be
shepherd dogs, were of any use to the
farmer
About a week before the trials there
landed from White Star steamship
two very ordinary looking dogs which
some one said were not worth their
freight Wallace was one of these, a
large black and white dog combining
the good qualities of the old Welsh
driving sheep dog and the Scottish
rounding dog called collie. The other
was o daughter of Champion Turk, the
dog Queen Victoria praised when she
attended the sheep dog trials in Wales.
There was but little competition for the
purse of $3.50 offered at Trenton, so
these two dogs divided it, and before
their work was finished one of the spec
tators said that Wallace, who to the
city-bred man did not look worth his
freight, was worth flock of sheep.
Now farmers from far and near want
to know something of the new dogs and
it may interest them to know that they
will
Drive and fetch cattle.
Drive, or go in front and lead sheep.
Drop at command, or on the lifting of
the hand
Search for cattle or sheep on com
mand. alter their course, as directed by
whistle, or wave of hand.
Remain with injured animals, bring
sheep after their master if he is on
horseback.
Head off sheep or cattle by jumping
wall or fence Keep them in road or let
them pass one by one.
Fetch cattle or sheep out of water.
Take sheep or cattle TO water and
bring them back without assistance
Watch the flock or cattle at night and
keep ours away.
Catch sheep by holding on to the
wool by the side of the head without
injuring them, and many other things
requiring both intelligence and train
ing
iaag ou,s- logs would be valuable
~ = farai IS !ovoEi question That it
by purchasing collie you are not sure
OF getting a useful farmer Dog
The shepherds Of Wales have splendid
dogs bred for generations at hard work
on the mountains. Theso ae,e telsh
animals are sure 10 be thoroughly
trained and make excellent dogs for the
farm
There IS another kind IF shepherd
dog, also used on the Welsh hills and
in many parts Of England, called the
bob-tailed sheep dog
When In old England everything else,
including windows, were taxed, mans
best friend was not overlooked, but
the poor shepherds we've allowed
one dog free provided thcy eat his tail
ehort,9which was supposed to interfere
ri5h the chances of catching harcs.
After being prevented by law from en-
joying the usual cdudal appeudage.
eventually they were born la statute.
and they have been born 50 ever since.
Knowing, wide-awal1e fellows they are.
when you get them straight from stock
that inherited this pecuiarity; always
resolute and determined not quarrel
some except when his flock or anything
belonging to his master is molested, and
then woe to the venturesome offender,
be he human or canine If canine il is
ton TO one he never RECEIVERS from the
attack, for bob-tailed sheep dogs do not
appreciate the quality Of mercy.
For hard work, native intelligence,
faithfulness, sagacity and general
adaptability they have no superior. 1t il
but seldom, however, that they can be
made 70 gather the flock or round in
the collie fashion, and this ir probably
the reason why cross between these
two varieties generally makes the best
farmers dog