[Illustration:
THE SHEPHERD’S DOG.
]
This useful animal, ever faithful to his charge, reigns at the head of
the flock, where he is better heard, and more attended to, than even the
Shepherd himself. In the few remaining large tracts of land which are
appropriated to the feeding of Sheep, this dog is of the utmost
importance. Large flocks range over extensive tracts of land, seemingly
without controul: their only guide being the Shepherd, attended by his
Dog, the constant companion of his toil. It receives his commands, and
is always prompt to execute them; it is the watchful guardian of the
flock, prevents straying, keeps them together, and conducts them from
one pasture to another: it will not suffer strange sheep to mix with
them, but carefully keeps off every intruder. In driving a number of
sheep to any distant part, a well-trained Dog never fails to confine
them to the road; he watches every avenue that leads from it, where he
takes his stand, to prevent them from going out of the way. He pursues
the stragglers if any escape, and forces them into order, without doing
them the least injury. If the Shepherd be at any time absent he depends
upon his Dog to keep them together; and as soon as he gives the
well-known signal, this faithful creature conducts them to his master,
though at a great distance.
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