78 THE ART OP TRAINING ANIMALS. 



i]\i\ look oui for Hl.ray Hhcep, and will, of his own accord, visit 

 iljoK(5 partH of the ])aHiurcs where iiic fcnccH arc wcakcKt, and 

 where (lilclK^H or ravincH exist, into which the Hh(!ep may be in 

 danger of falling. Heavy hIiccjJ), with lar^^c fl(M;(;eH, will Konie- 

 timcB lio on iluiir backw for a whole day or ni^ht, beirif^ unable 

 to got u\). When in MiIh powition, inHianccH have o(;curred of 

 Ihiiir eycH bein^ i)i(;ked out either by ravens or carrion crown. 

 They an^ all subject to the; atta(;kH of dogs and foxes. A well 

 trained shepherd's dog will find sheep that arc in this position, 

 and attract attention to th(;ui. 



Vfell trained doga will not annoy ewes with lambs, nor show 

 any signs of irritation when assaulted by the (^e for the pro- 

 tect 'on of her young. 'Vlwy k(;e|) at a respe(;table distance Irom 

 qua-re>lsonie rams, not considering it to be any part of tlieir 

 busMiess to fight with th(un. They are very watcldul at night, 

 (^sp'M'Jally during th(i hunbing season, guanling the lambs from 

 the attacks of foxes and dogs and all otJier intruders. 



Ui training a y(Ming sh('-|)hcrd's dog, the services of a well 

 trained, exp(u-i(5n<!(Ml dog will be almost indispensable. I'he 

 ard^jnt tcmixiraiiKiid, of the young dog must be subdued, and 

 thor(^ is no \n){.U'r nnnh of doing so than by comy)elling him to 

 accompany a W(5ll trained dog and imitate his actions. A long 

 line in tin; hands of the trainer, attached to a collar or belt on 

 the ijcck of th(^ young dog is generally necessary in the training 

 j>roc(iss. With tlui aid of this contrivan(;(5 the dog may be per- 

 fectly su])dued, and nvdda to obey all the commands of the 

 train(5r. Jle can be taught to ^'go away," '^come back," 

 ^'conn^ in front,," "come behind," "bark," "lio down," "be 

 quiet," "get over iho fence;," "stop them," "bring them back," 

 and (;very other evolution in the field exercise of the shec;]) dog. 

 'JMie training should commence when the ])U]) is five or six 

 months old. The older the animal is, the more diflicult will it 

 it b(^ to train him. 



T\w, sheplK^rd's dog of any of the breeds we have mentioned, 

 has a natural inclinati(m for working among sheep, but h(; may 

 bo spoiled by improper manngement, and then he Ix^comes an 

 enemy to tlie flock histead of a prot(M'tor.. A cross between the 

 mastiff, bull dog or cur, and the sh('i»herd's dog, ]>roduces a 

 mongrel which has an insatiate thirst for the blood oi' tlie sheep, 

 and can scarcely be n^straincd from destroying tlicm. The 

 sheijlierd's do^ sliould be full blood, anything less is worse than 

 useless. Dogs even of the best breeds may be spoiled by 

 neglect or mismamigement, in tlie t raining. The she])lierd must 

 himself treat, the shec]) with gentleness if he desires the dog to 

 lo so J the dog will act as his master docs. 



