Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-12
COLLIE DOG FOR THE FARM
Useful as Real Helper in Car.
ing for Stock and Fine
for the Children.
BY DIR. o. P. BENNETT, ILLINOIS.

BY DIR. o. P. BENNETT, ILLINOIS.
cannot understand why more farm.
ers do not. take up the breeding OF
Scotch Collies 1t is certainly a very
ENJOYABLE and very profitable fancy
NO farm is complete without its col
lie, and they can be made to not only
pay their way, but to bring in from
$50 to 500 a year clear profit besides
the help they will be to the farmer.
The rough-coated Scotch Collie Is
one OF the very oldest breeds of dogs.
Its history extends way back into an
cient times, when dogs of this breed
We're used by the shepherds to care for
their flocks.
1t is to-day used for the same pur-
pose in England and Scotland, and our
own country in the west, where they
are indispensable to the sheep grow
erS.
sheep, but can easily be taught to drive
cattle and many other kinds of live
stock. In fact, this comes naturally
to them and they need very little
training.
was greatly surprised last month
to know that one of my bitches that
mad always been kept in town and
hardly ever saw COW, had. when
sent INTO the country. proved herself
10 oe most excellent cattle dog, go
ing one to two miles and bringing
nome the COWS without help.
Inc pitch was 3 years old at this
time and it only shows how little care
or training Is needed to make dogs
or this kind indispensable around
farm.
For several years I was engaged ex-
tensively in the poultry rancy, and
had trained one of my collies to keen
Fowls out of our front yard and out
or the garden. He would spend hours
at time at this task and never seemed
to tire of making himself useful.
l know Of no other animal more in
telligent or sagacious or more capable
of learning than a collie.
They are extremely beautiful, grace
ful IN every movement and are very
active all the time
They are very clearly in their habits
and can easily be house broken. Their
heavy coats make it possible for them
to withstand all kind Of exposure and
weather.
In the coolest winter they will Law
down in snow and rest rather than
occupy warm place prepared foz
them.
They think and act for themselves
IN any emergency, making excellent
Watch dogs, and always show loyalty
and love for their master. 1t is really
surprising how long they will remember
friend
| have collie in mind that I sent
to friend some five years ago. and
happening to visit the place where h,
has been during this time, it was an
very evident to all that he remem.
bered me and still had a kindly feel.
ing for me that no one could doubt it.
Collies require very little care or at
tentton. and those who wish fancy
OF some kind, but who have not much
time to spend with it. cannot do better
than take up the breeding OF collies.
Little puppies require some watch.
ing Tor couple of weeks. and then, If
| given food and water two or three
| times day, will look after them.
sci, es.
Adult collies require but one feed a
day, although I give mine luncheon in
the morning and all the food they will
eat at night. Where one has only one
| dog the table scraps from an ordinary
family are sufficient.
| They should not be given fish or
chicken bones, as they break easily.
leaving sharp points, which are liable
to cause perforation of the bowels. re-
cutting in death.
A we'll developed bitch will have two
filters of from six to ten every year.
have known of filters Of eleven. and
occasionally one less than six. One
can SEE from that whore the profit
comes in, for puppies Of ordinary
breeding readily sell at from So to s12.
| and If they are Of sufficient merit thew
VIII sell very much higher to the fam
cier.
Good dogs sell as high as se75 and
fine puppies bring as high as 500. Thu
prices OF course, depend greatly upon
the quality and breeding of the indi-
vidual.
1t must not be supposed, however!
that simply because they are fashion .
ably bred and of sufficient merit to
win on the bench, that they are not
coed for the farmer or the stockman,
for such is not the case
One or my best bitches has ra;sas
two champions that sold for 81, 900 each
and yet she herself has won several
hrsts in various sheep trials in Eng
land
Ihese prices must seem extren,eIy
nigh for those who are not acouainted
with collie history. but they are very
small indeed compared with what some
nave commanded One collie know NJ
was brought to this country from Eng
land several years ago at a cost OF
$500, and one last year cost his Ameri.
can owner $4,000. A number change
) hanos every year at 81 600 each ana
many at from $10O to $500.