DOGS IN GENERAL—WATCH DOGS—THE SHEPHERD’S DOG.
Among all the animals the dog seems preëminently intended by nature for
the companion and friend of man. Even the instinctive passions all
animals have for their own kind appear to be in a measure sacrificed to
human influence, for the dogs often care more for the society of man
than for that of their own kind. Not only is the dog a trusty and
valuable friend and associate of man, but the companionship between the
human and the canine races developes in the latter many of those noble
qualities not possessed under other circumstances. The Turks look upon
the dog with abhorrence, and almost universally in the East he is an
outcast from human society. The consequence is that all his good
qualities are lost; he is no longer the faithful companion, ready to
defend his master with his life, but on the contrary, he is deceitful,
bloodthirsty, and as unlike the more favored dog of other countries as
it is possible to imagine.
WATCH DOGS.
Many kinds of dogs are used as watch dogs, and where all that is
required of them is a notification of nightly intruders, and the
awakening of the household, perhaps the species used is of comparatively
little consequence. Where the dog is intended to act as a defender as
well as a sentinel, strength and courage are important requisites. With
many the bull dog is a favorite for this purpose. Though the least
intelligent of his species his unflinching and unconquerable courage
renders him a terrible opponent. So utterly without intellect is his
courage, however, that no consideration of his foe’s powers deters him
from attacking the most formidable thing that gives offense. Striking
examples of this quality are displayed in England in what are termed
“bull baits,” exhibitions whose cruelty and brutality are scarcely
excelled in the customs of any other country. In these bull baits the
dog, while fastened to the nose of some unfortunate bull, has had one
leg after another cut off with a knife to test his courage. So
persistent is the dog in maintaining his hold that the most frightful
mutilation will not compel him to relinquish it until his strength is
exhausted from loss of blood; he has been known to die from this inhuman
hacking with his death grip firmly holding the bull.
Probably the best watch dog is the mastiff. Capable of great attachment
to his master, he unites strength with intelligence, and, while
implacable toward intruders, toward members of his master’s family he is
docile and gentle. His hearing is remarkably acute, for he can detect
the difference between a familiar and a strange footstep, however light
it may be.
THE SHEPHERD’S DOG.
The rapid increase in the importance of sheep husbandry in this country
will soon direct attention to the value of proper dogs for assisting in
their management and protection. There are several different breeds used
for this purpose, varying in different countries with their several
local requirements. In Spain the Pyrenean, or St. Bernard’s dogs, are
found valuable to accompany the large merino flocks on their annual
migrations to the mountains, as a protection against the wolves
infesting the Pyrenees. In Spain, too, the mastiff is highly prized, an
improved, large breed, with strong feet, short hair and slightly pointed
nose, being much in use.
A gentleman of Delaware gave, some years ago, the following account of a
shepherd’s dog of the Spanish breed in his possession:
“The dog is three times as large as the shepherd’s dog described by
Buffon, but is endowed with the same good qualities: immense strength
and great mildness in his usual deportment, though ferocious toward
other dogs. I can say, without exaggeration, that at least twenty dogs
have been killed in my barnyard, or on my farm, by my dog Montague. His
dimensions are three feet eleven inches from his eyes to the root of his
tail, and two feet eight inches high over the shoulders. He is a fine
animal, _entirely white_. I prefer that color in recollection of the
story of old Jacob. In fact, I had formerly a black dog, and many of my
lambs were born black. Since I have had Montague and his mother I have
very few black lambs. The natural instinct of this animal is to guard
your sheep against wolves and dogs. No other training is required, but
to keep them constantly with your flock, the moment they are from the
litter, until they are grown.”
What is commonly known as the shepherd’s dog is a smaller breed, seldom
more than two feet high. Those in France are usually black with white
touches on breast, face, legs, etc.; with sharp head and nose, and with
a countenance full of alertness and intelligence. In Great Britain,
particularly in Scotland, the colors of the shepherd’s dog are more
mixed with shades of red and brown; or black dogs with sharp ears,
turning down at the tips. The Scotch breed, or colley, is a light and
active one, probably the best adapted for those portions of our own
country where there is no danger from wild animals. It is pretty
extensively diffused in the United States and British America, and is
very useful to the farmer, shepherd or drover.
[Illustration: SCOTCH COLLEY, OR SHEPHERD’S DOG.]
The Mexican shepherd’s dog is doubtless a descendant of the Spanish ones
introduced at the time of the conquest, and is a marvel of fidelity and
intelligence. In training these dogs the method is to select from a
multitude of pups a few of the healthiest and finest looking, and to put
them to a sucking ewe, first depriving her of her own lamb. By force, as
well as from a natural desire she has to be relieved of the contents of
her udder, she soon learns to look upon the little interlopers with all
the affection she would manifest for her own natural offspring. For the
first few days the pups are kept in the hut, the ewe suckling them
morning and evening only; but gradually, as she becomes accustomed to
their sight, she is allowed to run in a small enclosure with them, until
she becomes so perfectly familiar with their appearance as to take
entire charge of them. After this they are folded with the whole flock
for a fortnight or so; they then run about during the day with the
flock, which after a while becomes so accustomed to them, as to be able
to distinguish them from other dogs—even from those of the same litter
which have not been nursed among them. The shepherds usually allow the
slut to keep one of a litter for her own particular benefit; the balance
are generally destroyed. After the pups are weaned, they never leave the
particular drove among which they have been reared. Not even the voice
of their master can entice them beyond sight of their flock; nor can
hunger or thirst.
A remarkable example of the intelligence of these dogs is displayed when
two flocks approach within a few yards of each other; their respective
protectors will place themselves in the space between them, and as is
very naturally the case, if any adventurous sheep should endeavor to
cross over to visit her neighbors, her dog protector kindly but firmly
leads her back, and as it sometimes happens, it may make a rush and
succeed in joining the other flock, the dogs under whose charge they are
go over and bring them all out, but strange to say, under such
circumstances they _are never opposed by the other dogs_. They approach
the strange sheep only to prevent their own from leaving the flock,
though they offer no assistance in expelling the other sheep. But they
_never permit_ sheep not under canine protection, nor dogs not in charge
of sheep, to approach them. Even the same dogs which are so freely
permitted to enter their flocks in search of their own are driven away
with ignominy if they presume to approach them without that laudable
object in view.
The English sheep dog, or drover’s dog, is a _tailless_ animal, larger,
coarser, and stronger than the colley. It is very easily trained and is
very well adapted for working among cattle, keeping the herd from
straggling when on the road or the prairie, and acting as an aid to the
farmer in the management of his flocks and herds. One of this breed was
used by an American farmer to drive home his cows. It was only necessary
to tell him it was time to bring the cows, and he would scour the farm
and bring them from all parts safely into the yard. On the prairies such
dogs would be of great use.
A careful, well tempered shepherd never allows his dog to harass or
worry the sheep. He walks his regular rounds quietly, the dog following
at his heels, appearing to take no notice of the sheep, and they almost
unconscious of his presence. Should anything occur in which the aid of
the dog is needed, he is at hand to perform the will of his master. If
the sheep break through a fence into forbidden ground, one word from the
shepherd is enough, the dog drives them back without causing much alarm.
If a sheep breaks away from the flock, the dog is not allowed to bite
it; he is taught to run before it and bark, in order to drive it back to
its place.
A dog which has been properly trained will be continually on the look
out for stray sheep, and will, of his own accord, visit those parts of
the pastures where the fences are weakest, and where ditches or ravines
exist, into which the sheep may be in danger of falling. Heavy sheep,
with large fleeces, will sometimes lie on their backs for a whole day or
night, being unable to get up. When in this position, instances have
occurred of their eyes being picked out either by ravens or carrion
crows. They are all subject to the attacks of dogs and foxes. A well
trained shepherd’s dog will find sheep that are in this position, and
attract attention to them.
Well trained dogs will not annoy ewes with lambs, nor show any signs of
irritation when assaulted by the ewe for the protection of her young.
They keep at a respectable distance from quarrelsome rams, not
considering it to be any part of their business to fight with them. They
are very watchful at night, especially during the lambing season,
guarding the lambs from the attacks of foxes and dogs and all other
intruders.
In training a young shepherd’s dog, the services of a well trained,
experienced dog will be almost indispensable. The ardent temperament of
the young dog must be subdued, and there is no better mode of doing so
than by compelling him to accompany a well trained dog and imitate his
actions. A long line in the hands of the trainer, attached to a collar
or belt on the neck of the young dog is generally necessary in the
training process. With the aid of this contrivance the dog may be
perfectly subdued, and made to obey all the commands of the trainer. He
can be taught to “go away,” “come back,” “come in front,” “come behind,”
“bark,” “lie down,” “be quiet,” “get over the fence,” “slop them,”
“bring them back,” and every other evolution in the field exercise of
the sheep dog. The training should commence when the pup is five or six
months old. The older the animal is, the more difficult will it be to
train him.
The shepherd’s dog of any of the breeds we have mentioned, has a natural
inclination for working among sheep, but he may be spoiled by improper
management, and then he becomes an enemy to the flock instead of a
protector. A cross between the mastiff, bull dog or cur, and the
shepherd’s dog, produces a mongrel which has an insatiate thirst for the
blood of the sheep, and can scarcely be restrained from destroying them.
The shepherd’s dog should be full blood, anything less is worse than
useless. Dogs even of the best breeds may be spoiled by neglect or
mismanagement in the training. The shepherd must himself treat the sheep
with gentleness if he desires the dog to do so; the dog will act as his
master does.