18 British War Dogs 



esting to note, how very ancient, nevertheless, is the asso- 

 ciation of the sheep dog with sheep, and it is therefore not 

 to be wondered at that the modern animal takes so in- 

 stinctively to the idea of this useful method of turning d 

 capabilities to account. 



Not only were there human marauders to be feare 

 during these early times of which we are speaking, but 

 the persons of both the keepers and their flocks were in 

 constant danger from attack by bands of ferocious wolves. 

 These guardian dogs, watchful and alert through the dark 

 hours, must have been supremely valuable, and terrific 

 and desperate must the conflicts have been at times, when 

 the prowling hordes attempted to break through the 

 guarding cordon. 



Later on, as this guerilla mode of warfare ceased, and 

 wolves became extinct, the qualifications of the sheep dogs 

 changed, and it was no longer necessary for them to display 

 such an aggressive disposition. A quaint writer of the 

 sixteenth century — Dr. Caius — describes this change in the 

 duties of the sheep dog : 



'* Our shepherd's dog is not huge and vast and big, but 

 of indifferent stature and growth, because it has not to 

 deal with the bloodthirsty wolf, since there be none in 

 England, which happy and fortunate benefit is ascribed to 

 Prince Edgar, who, to the intent the whole country might 

 be evacuated and quite cleared from wolves, charged and 

 commanded the Welshmen, (who were pestered with these 

 butcherly beasts above measure), to pay him yearly tribute, 

 which was,' (note the wisdom of the King !), three hundred 

 wolves. Some there be which write that Ludwall, Prince 

 of Wales, paid yearly to King Edgar three hundred wolves 

 in the name of an exaction, (as we have said before), and 

 that by means thereof, within the compass and term of four 



