Attack by Sheep-dogs. 87 
thanking me for my assistance, offered to exchange a couple 
of good horses for my dog; but I had to explain that nothing 
would buy him, and he would, besides, refuse to do any 
work except at my bidding. A flock of sheep soon becomes 
accustomed to obey such a dog. I never had any trouble 
in getting my own flock of ewes and lambs into the field 
with him. When drafting out the lambs for marking the 
sexes, he could do the work of two or three men, by 
bringing up a dozen lambs at a time to the gate of the pen 
reserved for them, and hustling them through without letting 
one break back to the main flock. I never knew him lose his 
temper but once, when a ram took him by surprise by a broad- 
side charge, and knocked him over. On recovering himself he 
raced after his assailant, and, catching him cleverly by the 
fore-leg, threw him upon his back, giving him what must 
have proved a severe shock. Dogs that acquire a habit of 
nipping the hind legs of sheep never compensate by the 
best work for the injury they do. I can suggest no remedy 
for this, for I have not, personally, been obliged to deal with 
it. It is probably induced by encouraging them to worry and 
loll other animals, a practice which should never be allowed 
with dogs intended for work among such timid and stupid 
creatures as sheep. 
In some districts of the La Plata the natives train a large 
breed of dogs to shepherd a flock entirely unassisted. They 
are brought up with the sheep from their puppyhood, and 
even, I have been assured, often nursed by ewes whose lambs 
have died; but this does not abate their savage disposi- 
tion. In order to prevent them leaving their charges they 
are, it is said, emasculated. After breakfast every morning, 
three or four of these powerful dogs are sent out to take 
the sheep to the pastures, where they remain all day and 
bring the flock home in the evening. It is extremely 
dangerous for any one but their masters to go near a 
flock thus guarded. I happened one day to ride too close 
to a flock, when three of these savage dogs rushed to the 
