Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-03
SHEPHERD DOGS.
Many sheep Saved on Western
Ranches by Their Vigilance

The winter just closing in the northwest
has been one long to be Remembered by the
rauchmen. Stock raisers in Colorado, wy
oming and Idaho have many sad stories To
tell of the thousands of cattle ana sheep
that persisted on account of the severe coiu
and by starvation due to heavy SHOWS on
the ranges l. became cold that the
lives of the herdsmcn were put in hazard IN
attempting to rourd up the stock from the
plains which would wander aimlessly away
in their efforts to find shelter and food.
Jud Bristol. the most noted sheep raiser
In the northwest located at Fort Collins.
COL in speaking of the troubles expert
enced during the recent snow storms, say
that to the shepherd dog must be given
credit for the saving of many hundred OF
his sheep and possibly the lives of some OF
his herdsmen. due to their great intelligence
and faithfulness. When questioned as 10
the intelligence of these animals, Mr.. BrlS-
tol said: Il could fill a book with the won
derful reasoning powers of these dogs, IN
stances that have come directly under my
notice, illustrating beyond doubt that they
are often more thoughtful than their mas
tiers.
The most noted breed of shepherd dogs
known to western sheep men started with
a pair of New Zealand dogs brought to
Colorado in 1875. ! now have several Of
the breed on my ranges, and their work is
remarkable.
Il remember one pup in particular l say
pup as he was but six months old when he
was taken on the range for work. He had
done excellent work for a few days, and
one afternoon the weather indicated an ap-
preaching blizzard and my men began
rounding up the she ep to get them in the
corrals. There were 500 in the bunch, but
when We counted them in We found about
POO short. and at the same time it was no
ticed that the pup was also gone.
well. all hands Immediately started out
for search. We hunted most all night and
a part of next day, but were unable to find
found some five miles from the corral. To-
Gated in little draw and with the faithful
dog standing guard. The poor dog was
nearly famished. as he had been for thirty
six hours without food or water. He was
looked upon as hero after that. but with
the exposure and subsequent overlooking
he died not long afterward.
The mother OF this pup Was a fine ami
mai. One night the herder brought in his
1iockS and, having had a hard day of it, he
hurried them into their pens and went to
the cabin to cook himself some supper. He
missed the dog when he arrived at the
house and thought it strange, as she usual
ly followed him. However, he did not take
the trouble to search for her. Going to the
corral next morning there he found the dog
guarding an open gate which he had left
in his haste the night before. The dog had
suffered the panSs of hunger and thirst
rather than to allow the sheep a chance TO
escape.
Another illustration of this dogs smart
ness. One day she was sent with a new
miles away. When night came the dog re-
turned in a very excited condition. and by
her actions We knew that something was
wrong. We mounted our bronchos and
soon reached the ranch, and found that the
new herder was nothing more than a
tramp, and after getting a good square
meal he had taken up his old vocation
leaving the sheep cared for only by the
faithful dog.
"A few months ago there was a young
man from the east came out to work for
me, tenderfoot, We called him, and the
herderS took great pleasure in filling him
with halr-raiSinS stories. until he was firm
~ OF the opinion that each time he went
out on the range he would be killed by the
bears or Scalped by the Indians He came
running N one day declaring that he had
seen bear We would not believe him and
sent him back TO work a few DAYS after
ne came IN again and reported having seen
the same animal again. We thought nos
sipIy mat there might be a Wolf. as there
We're a great many of them around so We
went with our guns and foxhounds and
sure enough, across d draw on the side of
a hui We saw a black animal and while we
knew II was not bear, We couldn't make
out what ii was. Well, We started the TOW
MOUND ana the shepherd dog out on the
ttall and we followed. They soon chased
MN over the hill out of sight. but shortly
dlterWard We met the shepherd coming lei
surely back. We went over the hill and in
Int suIch We found the foxhound standing
over the dead animal, which proved TO be
a large black Mexican sheep Now tbe
idctS We're that as soon as the shenbard
uos round 1t was a sheep she had given nm
the chase and returned to the flock wbjIa
a,S i i;TI Knew nothing more than to catch
ana XIII II II he could"
lneSe We're only a few instances that
came 10 the mind of the old sheen mar
showing what great assistance he dari,.aS,
from the dogs mus