THE SAGACIOUS SHEEP DOG.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2192, 16 May 1908, Page 2

THE SAGACIOUS SHEEP DOG.

WHAT MAY BE SEEN AT ORMOND.

(By Our Special Reporter.) Have vou ever been to sheep dog trials''’ 'lf you have not then you have missed one of the most interesting exhibitions ol animal sagacity that has ever been given. You may go to circuses and sit amazed at the antics of trained puppies; you may have often marvelled greatly at tlio unerring instinct of the pointer, or the cunning ways of tho annimiHv® terrier, hut the performances of the ordinary, homcly-iotfking cheep dog will as an evidence of animal bram power, easily eclipse any .these. What I say you. Ihe dirty, un kempt little canine whom you usually see trudging along the dusty highway in the rear of a flock of sllcc Pf dusty himself that he seems almost indistinguishable from tlio dumb brutes he is driving. can there bo to admire in him? Wait, friend, and I will tell you. The poor despised collie will work Horn dawn till dark, day in and .layout, month after month, with no thought of save the satisfaction of doing his work well and receiving .an occasional “Good dog” as tho sign of his master’s approval. From one portion of tho flock to the other he rushes with tireless energy, anticipating every movement of each sheep with a .counter run that checks trouble m its infancy, barking with an energy that would "rival the tliunderings of the professional politician, m order to rush tho stubborn mob over a midge or through a narrow lane, and doing all this with no need of instruction from tho Kaleyards where the leaders of a congested mob refuse to pass along a narrow alley way. Your collie, quick as lightning, runs along tho backs of the sheep towards tl o front, and with ceaseless yelps sends the vanguard through the narrow wav and dashes back immediately to hustle the rest of the mob along. , And how simple his requirements. Water lie likes in plenty, andfrom each stream that is passed along tho road your collie will halt for the briefest space for a few “lap- aps to moisten his parched tongue, but mth eyes on his flock the whole time he is sipping. Given an ample supply or water, your sheepdog will carry on his work on the exceedingly small rations and his upkeep is consequently an inexpensive affair. . Bub at Ormond the collie is at present on show. Like our volunteers at the reecnt manoeuvres, ho is showing of what he is capable under actual service conditions, and it may he said that the result would come as a revelation to most people. Picture, if you can, a sloping lull a thousand feet high. Near tho top, half a mile from where you stand, are let loose three sheep, big-boned, active, wild-looking fellows, who would just as soon turn round' and show fight to the dogs as not. From the distance and against the grey background of the light pasture, you cannot see them until someone directs your straining eyesight to the exact spot, and then they are only liko moving dots. . The shepherd gets the signal from the judge, and pointing up the hill sends tho dog for the sheep. Without seeing the object of the search off he races in the direction indicated by his master. Now and again’, uncertain as to the route, he halts and turns towards the shepherd. A wave of the stick or a sharp whistle gives him the information .desired, and off he goes again. Now he is lost to view descending a valley, but presently emerges away up on the hillside still looking for the sheep that he knows must be the object of his journey. Even at that great distance a call from his master or another whistle seems to tell him all he wants, and in an incredibly short space of time he has reached the top of the hill and rounded the sheep. Now como the difficulties. There aro only three to be driven, and the number is as awkward as could well be chosen, for if by any chance one is permitted to get away from tlio others, the chances are ten to one against their being got together again. Then there is a hush along tho route, and once the sheep can gain shelter there the dog may retire beaten. So he must follow them carefully with' tlie guile of the serpent and the stealth of a blacktracker, not coming too close for fear of unduly frightening them, nor relaxing for one moment the vigilance that alone prevents the animals from bolting. Once tho sheep are on tlie flat they must be brought within a ring anil kept stationary for a given period. There is another severe test that is best illustrated an another class known as tho yarding competition. Here the task set the dog is to yard up three sheep and compel them to enter a narrow passage the width of a hurdle. Did you ever try to yard a hen, not by the seductive effect of a few grains of wheat judiciously scattered, but simply by driving? If ybu have, you may gain some idea of the (log’s task in the yarding competition. l An over-eager rush, a bark at the wrong time will send the sheep scurrying around the paddock and the dog must race at top to overtake them. Many times he will have them all but m the passage way, one suddenly bolts, and all his work is undone. So he works stealthily and quietly to coax the sheep within tho enclosure. With one eye on the sheep and tho other novel- off his master, he obeys lii an instant the slightest will of tho shepherd. A run first to the left, now to tho right and tho sheep near the hurdle. They are facing tlie entrance of the little yard. Tho dog, a dozen yards away, is slowly pacing backwards and forwards ready to anticipate any movement in the wrong direction. At a word from his master ho drops flat on his stomach and remains still as a log, though careful observation would show that every muscle was tense and the wary animal ready to spring liko a tiger at a sign from his master. This is the crucial test, and the will of the man, acting quick as thought through the keen intelligence and fine physical qualities of tho dog, compels the sheep ultimately to take the desired route. Naturally, this is not always the case, for the task set is very severe, but the majority of the entrants give an exhibition of canine sagacity that must bo seen to be appreciated.