The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-08-13
ROUGH.COATED COLLIE.
Personal Observations of the President OF
the Collie Club of America.

on. Mowbray Palmer in Country Life.l
Several years ago, ii was my good Tor
tune to witness what impressed me as be
ing a very great achievement accomplish
ed by Il rough-coated collie. \ friend of
mine was the possessor of large flock
of sheep. and, the second morning of my
visit to his estate | arose early and as
| stepped out upon the porch | saw GO
ing by the house this flock, accompanied
by the shepherd and his two dogs They
were on their way TO the distant pastures,
dimly seen through the rising mist. that
with its ascension brought the glOrieS of
the country into view.
Interest drew me into conversation with
this bent old shepherd. who, | learned,
had followed this occupation from the
time he was Il boy; and tie warmest spot
in his heart seemed to be for the success
sive dogs who had not only been his com
paniOns but his chief aids. | had read
Il good deal and had been told much more
regarding the actual requirements of a col
lie with the flock, but this WAS my first
conversation with a man who had had
actual experience from infancy. The chat
ting between us was carried on as the
sheep were driven to the locality selected
for the days pasture. In the lead of the
flock. with as much importance as might
be displayed by any drum ma jor-but
WIN iai It's" 'oii'fIH. wa oHt vi
two dogs. Following him. hut never at
tempting to pass him. came the sheep.
some 400 or 800 in number. and behind
these walked the shepherd, the second dog
and myself. AT the slightest Indication of
break on either side of the procession.
the rear dog. without instructions of any
kind. would dart out and crowd back the
misbehaving sheep into the fiock-with
entire silence and absence of rOughneSS
4 Id
to a fork. and l could not for the life of
me see how the dog ia the lead was to
determine the direction in which they
should go. Turning TO the shepherd.
said: Now, how will that dog know
which road you want the flock to take"
He told me just to watch. He had no
sooner said this THIN the dog. percevinG
the fork in the road. quickened his pace
and ran upon the little grass-plot that
formed the beginning of the division of
the highway. Reaching this spot, he faced
the shepherd with n keenness not before
manifested. and as he did so the shepherd
waved his crook to the left; the dog i'm
medidtely jumped into the left-hand road,
thus blocking the way, which forced the
sheep to take the one to the right. A few
days after this mornings experience / had
the particular qualification Of seeing this
same leading dog, ON Il wager of time
against any DINER dog IN the County, pick
out of a mixed flock of Al sheep 172 of his
own flock, winning the championship of
the County. No less interesting than the
sight of this work was the anxiety that
his old master displayed. 1t seemed as
though he not only had staked his last
farthing, but from the expression of his
face one felt the dogs success must also
be matter of life and death.
To the inexperienced this wedding out of
a flock may read a bit like fairy tale.
but you have only 10 visit one of the many
localities in Scotland where sheep are
raised to see the thing done time and again.
and only in so doing can you thoroughly
appreciate the union that exists between
these dumb workers and the men. who,
from years of isolation, are but bit less
dumb.
The collie has been taught to work witt,
as much tenderness and care on every
other branch of stock. not even barring
the restriction Of fowl to certain pasture.
He never OyerlOoks the Responsibilities i'm
posed upon him. and his quick hearing.
keen sight and discrimination between
friend and foe eliminate the necessity of
sign bearing the inscription Beware
of the dog" for he is on the lookout for
the intruder before the trespass is made.