682 THE AMERICAN FARMER 



COLLIES. 



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COLLIES, commonly known as Shepherd dogs, also Scotch collies, are at present the 

 most extensively bred of any of the canine family, which is probably due to their 

 being the most useful dog generally to the farmer and ranchman in the assistance they 

 render in the management of sheep and cattle, their intelligence, docility, and strong natural 

 instincts for the care of stock, making their training for these duties a comparatively easy 

 task; and having once learned what is required of them they never forget, but are faithful 

 and untiring in its performance. To the shepherd in wild, mountainous localities, they are 

 indispensable. In many portions of Europe, where large flocks of sheep are under the care 

 of but one shepherd, they are often allowed by the aid of these dogs, to roam over vast terri 

 tories, often in places so rough as to be inaccessible to man, yet these sagacious animals 

 will follow them all day, and become so familiar with the members of their own flock, that 

 they will not permit them to intermingle with other flocks that may be grazing in the same 

 locality, but keep them entirely separate. It is not an uncommon occurrence to see a flock 

 of sheep and goats in the mountains of Switzerland and Scotland under the entire care of 

 dogs, who thus watch them during the day and drive them into the folds at night. Being so 

 constantly with their master, and receiving such perfect training from him for their duties, 

 has, according to the natural laws of transmitted characteristics, greatly increased the intelli 

 gence of this breed, which, combined with the care exercised in selecting the best specimens 

 for perpetuating it, has vastly improved the collie, so that he now stands first in intelligence 

 and sagacity among his race. In disposition he is docile and tractable, and always seems 

 anxious to obey his master s orders, and will watch for every sign and gesture from him 

 when he has once learned their meaning; in fact, he evidently takes pleasure in being useful? 

 and although he may readily be taught to perform tricks for the amusement of spectators, 

 he never seems to enjoy the sport, although he will do this to please his master, yet is apt to get 

 sulky and show displeasure when required to repeat them many times, evidently regarding it 

 as an imposition upon his dogship; but when called upon to serve his master in his own 

 especial duties, he will be faithful unto death if necessary. The intelligence of these animals 

 is truly astonishing, and the authentic anecdotes related of them often so wonderful as to 

 seem incredible. 



It is related of a Scotch shepherd who had in his charge seven or eight hundred sheep, 

 that one night as he was quietly driving home his flock as usual, a terrific thunder-storm 

 burst upon them, which so frightened these naturally timid creatures that a regular stampede 

 was at once instituted, and away the whole flock went rushing and scampering back into the 

 hills. It was too late to follow them, and if the disheartened shepherd could have done so, 

 it would have been an impossibility for him to have restored order to so large a number and 

 directed the flock homeward to the fold again. Not knowing what to do, the poor man 

 turned to his favorite dog, and in his Scotch dialect said, &quot; Sirrah, they are awa ! &quot; In an 

 instant the dog was off ; it was so dark he could not tell which way he had gone, and as he 

 did not return, the shepherd wandered about during the long hours of the night in the vain 

 hope of being able to find the scattered portions of his disorderly flock ; as dawn appeared, 

 and the dog not returning, he decided to go at once and report the disaster to his master, 

 when happening to look down into a valley near by he recognized, to his surprise 

 and joy, his faithful &quot; Sirrah &quot; not with a portion only, but the entire flock, keeping 

 them safely in charge. It is also related from authentic sources, that one of these dogs in 

 England whose master was a cattle dealer, would drive a whole drove of cattle to a neighbor 

 ing market unaided; and if he chanced to meet another drove on the road would so manage 

 as to pass it without allowing his cattle to get mixed with the others. Another anecdote 

 with respect to the collie, and one that seems almost past belief, is, that a sheep stealer in 



