CHAPTER V. 

 THE SMOOTH-COATED SHEEP DOG. 



THIS variety of the collie has mostly been pro- 

 duced in the north of England. Being less cumber- 

 some in formation than the dog previously written 

 about, it is better adapted for work on many of 

 the hills, especially those where rocks and rough 

 stones are more plentiful than heather and bent 

 grass. The smooth sheep dog is a most active 

 animal. I have seen one that could catch a hare 

 single handed, and in intelligence and sagacity he 

 is quite equal to his rough-coated cousin. 



Some of them make excellent drovers' dogs, and 

 at the time of writing, one of the very best cattle 

 dogs in the London markets is a smooth sheep dog 

 with half of its tail cut off. 



One of the first dog shows to provide a class for 

 this variety was the gathering that annually takes 

 place at Darlington. This was in 1870, and from 

 that time until 1892 the best classes of smooth 

 dogs were to be found there. The farmers round 



