150 BRITISH DOGS 



is hardly likely to either breed or pick up animals of the calibre 

 of those associated with the names above mentioned. 



The Collie Club has, by its influence, made our exhibited Collies 

 en masse more homogeneous, and its influence has, on the whole, 

 been to give more correct ideas to the public of what a true Collie 

 is. Naturally, too, with a breed that existed primarily as a worker, 

 one likes to see what influence for good or ill shows, and necessarily 

 the encouragement of a more or less ornamental animal, have exerted. 

 It is pretty generally admitted that we have to-day an animal of 

 a more uniform type, as well as a more pleasing one, so far as 

 regards the Rough variety ; but the craze for an extra long head 

 and one or two other mere externals for a time at least endangered 

 the breed. Some of those outside the pale of the Fancy may wonder 

 why it is not possible to have the taking coat and the workmanlike 

 appearance in one and the same animal. The fancier knows that 

 such is practically impossible so far as the Rough Collie is concerned, 

 and for this reason. One of the glories of a typical Collie, judged 

 from a show point cf view, is his coat, and this would be utterly 

 ruined if he were used as a sheep-tender. Moreover, from a 

 pecuniary point of view, it need scarcely be pointed out which is 

 the more valuable. 



The late Mr. Hugh Dalziel was one of those who thought that 

 the influences of shows tend strongly to deteriorate the dog in his 

 capacity as a worker, and it must be confessed that there is more 

 than a substratum of truth in what he more than once stated. It is, 

 however, only fair to say the contrary opinion has been vigorously 

 upheld by a good many owners of winning stock. These have 

 supported their views by adducing numerous instances of prize-bred 

 dogs that have proved excellent Sheepdogs. Instances coming under 

 personal observation cannot decide the question, for the reason that 

 they are numerically insufficient to draw safe inferences from. 

 Rather have we to ask, To what causes may be attributed the 

 wonderful sense and judgment and marvellous cleverness in dealing 

 with sheep inherent in the Collie ? To this there can be but one 

 answer : the constant education and practice in one particular work 

 and that in conjunction with a master and the selection, generation 

 after generation, of the progeny of the best to succeed to the work. 

 Even the habit of running round a flock has become an inherited 

 instinct, and, as Darwin points out, is seen in the action of the 

 Collie when running round a carriage and heading the horses. 



Other peculiarities that distinguish the Collie, and that are also 

 the inherited result of education and long practice, specially aided 

 by the selection of the best to propagate their kind, must of necessity 

 become more and more weakly developed the farther we get from 

 the sources that created and sustained them. Those who breed for 

 exhibition, as already suggested, care in the main for points of beauty 



