Daily camera. [volume] (Boulder, Colo.) 1891-1928, 1897-11-05
CANINE CON TESTS.
shepherd Dogs Compete for Hon
ors as Herders.
A Society in France Which Has for
Its Object the Improvement of
This Breed of Dogs-Rules
of the Contest.

For two years there has existed in
france society known as the Club
!. du Chen de Berger Francois" which
is devoted to the improvement of the
breed of shepherd dogs in that coun-
try.
1t is seconded in its efforts by the
ministry of agriculture, and it's work
has been of such d nature that shepherds
and drovers take more than a little
pride in possessing membership in it..
The dogs used in France for guarding
and driving focks and droves differ
considerably from the Scotch collie.
Two of the principal breeds cultivated
there are known as the dogs of Beauce
and Of Brie, the country of the fragrant
''fromage."
The dogs of Beauce have rough
coat, sharp nose, erect, pointed ears.
and something of a wolfsh appear
ance. Those of Brie have long, shaggy
hair which conceals their eyes and to
great extent the form of their limbs.
AS both these localities are at no
great distance from and on opposite
sides of Paris the greatest rivalry ex-
lists between them.
The club held it's first competition last
year in the neighborhood of Chartres
and the second was held just month
. ago at Angerville, a village in the de-
>sartment of Seine ct Disc, on the plains
of Beauce, where shepherd dogs are
numerous and which are easy of ac-
cess to the drovers of the stock yards
of La Villette in the northern suburbs
( of Paris.
4 In judging the dogs entered in compe
: E1ition their points of beauty and the
purity of breed are first considered,
nd then follows the most interesting
fart Of the competition, the conducting
~ot flock of sheep over a prepared
course by each dog entered. This con-
test is described by a writer for LII
lustration:
AT half-past IL the procession starts
from the town hall of Angerville for
the proving ground, two mounted gen
darmes opening the line of march, fol-
lowed by the Opheonic society (the
name with which brass bands dignity
themselves in French villages. Then
follow the spectators and the com
petitors, conducted by their masters.
The route over which the sheep
should pass without deviation is traced
on the plain by two burrows turned by
a pillow, and marked from place to place
by small stakes floating tricolored pen
nants.
SIN the park at the commencement
of the course is a large drove of sheep
(which are to play their humble role in
the spectacle.
Each shepherd is required to drive
group of Is sheep over the course,
which has been made difficult by bar
riers, bitches and hedges, and it is the
duty of the dog to see that none of them
wahders from the flock.
"The troop should pass over all OBJ
stacles. climb the hillocks, descend into
bitches and pass between the hedges
Which form a chol1ed passage in com
pact band from which no sheep should
be allowed to separate itself.
~ SAmusing incidents are not lacking.
Of the 80 dogs entered few succeed in
conducting their Is sheep safely to the
goal. Wild chases over the plain and
between the feet of the spectators are
frequents More than one of the shep-
herds, exasperated by the stubborn
ness of the sheep before the obstacles,
seizes the leader by the tuft of wool
at the nape of the neck known as the
'chignon' and drags him through the
,S-lificult passages, thus inducing the
remainder of the stupid band to follow
like sheep
"The best dogs are those who do not
become nervous or excited but by their
calmness and by taking their time pre-
vent the scattering of the flock.
ga good shepherd dog should not nip
the hind legs of a sheep, as a cut from
his sharp teeth may spoil the shank,
which furnishes the most salable cut
of mutton, but should seize the animal
by the 'chignon.'"
After the trials of driving, the sheep
are placed in hurdles, and a competi-
ton of placing and separating into lots
is held, and the day is terminated in
fete in the village with illuminations,
merry-grrounds, dancing, and like
amusements.-N..Y Y. Herald.