WASHING AND SHEARING SHEEP 295 



range nearly all the handling of sheep, or rather the man- 

 agement of the same, is done by the aid of dogs. The 

 expertness to which dogs may be trained in thus render- 

 ing aid would seem in some instances to be almost more 

 than such as results from mere animal sagacity. 



When sheep are being washed rough handling should 

 be most carefully avoided. This should apply to the 

 handling, not only while the sheep are being put into the 

 water, but also while in the water and while being led 

 out of the same. The greatest hazard occurs while the 

 sheep are being led into the water. They strenuously re- 

 sist being put into it. Then it is that they are most in 

 danger of being harmed. They should be brought for- 

 ward, as described above, to the water's edge. In the 

 same way the washer leads them forward until the water 

 is beyond their depth. To drag them forward by grasp- 

 ing the wool above the shoulders, their feet being in- 

 stinctively braced against such dragging, is simply cruel. 



When the sheep are beyond their depth, the danger 

 from harm for the time being is practically over. They 

 are then virtually powerless in the hands of the washer. 

 The wool virtually floats them. The washer grasps the 

 wool between his hands and presses it together. This he 

 continues to do until the water is no more discolored as 

 the result of such squeezing. He goes over the whole 

 surface of the body in this way. In his hands the sheep 

 may be readily turned so as to bring the wool on any part 

 of the body within easy reach of the hands of the washer. 

 It is scarcely necessary to add that no sheep should pass 

 the washer's hands until its fleece is thoroughly cleansed. 



When the washing is completed, it may answer in 

 some instances, as when the sheep are young and strong 

 and the shore is firm and clean, to head them in the direc- 

 tion of the landing place and to allow them to swim 

 ashore unattended. The sight of the sheep grazing that 

 have been washed will cause them to try and reach them. 

 But should the sheep be old or feeble and the landing 



