clog that would not attract a second glance from a professional dog judge has won 

 enough in money prizes to turn the whole fraternity green with envy. 



Such a dog is, for instance, Mr. J. Moses' "Old Jem," not beautiful to look at, 

 but of sterling quality, which has won for his master over $1,000 in cash quite irre- 

 spective of the value of himself and his progeny. 



Sheep-dog trials are now held in all parts of the British Empire, Canada, New 

 Zealand, Australia; in fact, wherever sheep are reared in any quantity. 



Perhaps one of the most favorable opportunities the general public has of watch- 

 ing one of these absorbingly interesting spectacles is during the well-known agricul- 

 tural show held each year in Lord Rothchild's beautiful park at Tring, England. A 

 description of an actual trial witnessed by the writer in these ideal surroundings will 

 give an idea of the exciting nature of the tests and high standard of perfection to 

 which the numerous entries have to be trained before they can compete with the 

 remotest chance of success. 



A portion of the vast park, some three-quarters of a mile long and about half as 

 wide, remote from the show ground where the exhibits are localized, is divided off by 

 a rope fence ; this > constitutes the course, of wihich thousands can obtain a full and 

 uninterrupted view. The competitor takes up his stand near the center with his dog 

 or dogs, for there are prizes for two dogs working together as well as for single dog 



When "Penning," the Man Is Allowed to Assist the Dog. 



trials. The number of sheep that have to be driven round the course is three only ; 

 this small number greatly increases the difficulties of the subsequent maneuvers. Fresh 

 sheep are provided for each competitor, usually those of the wild, hardy mountain 

 variety. 



At a given signal the animals) are released from a cart that is out of sight in a 

 clump of trees on a hill some half a mile distant. The dog must then locate the sheep, 

 the master remaining in the center of the course guiding and directing him by voice or 

 whistle as he chooses. The obstacles consist of, first, what is termed "a false fence" ; 

 that is to say, two short limes of hurdles so placed as to leave a wide gap through 

 which the dog must drive the sheep ; should he allow them to run round the end of 

 one of the lines instead of through the center, the sheep must be driven back and 

 another attempt made. The second obstacle is a flag-post, round which the sheep 

 must be driven in a circle before being conducted through a V-shaped gap made with 

 two hurdles. 



If the dog has negotiated these obstacles successfully he will have brought his 

 charges to within about a hundred yards of his master. Having been successful in 

 bringing the sheep so far, a very different task awaits both dog and master at the 



[HI] 



