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The issues of
The Ludgate Monthly for the six months of May through October of
1899 were combined into a publication called The Ludgate, Vol.
III (New Series) published by F. V. White & Co. Pages 58-61 were retyped
and appear below.
A photograph of Champion Ormskirk Charlie standing alone
appeared on page 59. A second picture was of R. S. Piggin and Ormskirk
Charlie penning sheep. A third picture at the end of the
article (page 61) appears at the end of this page. The
importance of this article was the detailed description of White Bob's
run at a sheep-dog competition. Unfortunately, no records have yet
surfaced indicating White Bob winning a specific trial with a time of
9-1/2 minutes. Therefore, where the trial took place would be
speculation though it might well have been one of the annual Llangollen
or Wirral trials.
Note: No diagram of the trial course appeared in the article.
Sheep-dog Trials, and How They are Conducted
by Anglo-Manxman. Illustrated
by Photographs
Since the introduction of Sheep-dog
Trials in Wales and England, this highly interesting and
instructive sport is becoming yearly more popular. The
principal meeting is at Llangollen, of which Her Majesty the
Queen is gracious patroness, and who expressed great
gratification with the work performed, and complimented the
shepherds on the possession of such sagacious collies, on
her visit there in 1889. Another most popular meet is
Parkgate, Wirral, promoted by Mr. Philip Soorn, a well-known
exhibitor and breeder of collies, and who also introduced a
collie show with the trials, which is visited yearly by
thousands of the British public anxious to observe the
wonderful sagacity and intelligence of this most popular
breed of dogs—rightly designated the king of the canine
race.
On a fine day it would indeed be difficult to
find a more interesting sight than the highly trained
shepherd's dog, or collie, working the little flock of three
of the wildest sheep over the course in a most wonderful
manner. The friendliness and jovial good humour of the
owners of dogs towards each other is a marked contrast to
the jealousies so often present at sporting meetings; added
to which the fresh air, healthy surroundings, and gay
throngs, add to make a thorough day's enjoyment.
It has been argued by many that the present
type of show collie is unfitted for work, but anyone who has
seen the well-known Ormskirk Charlie, a son of the famous
collie Christopher, who sold for ₤1,000, working,
would readily be convinced of the error entertained on this
point. This dog, a winner at almost every trial, is indeed a
marvel, and displays such wonderful intelligence that is
almost human; his owner has also many other high-bred dogs
exceedingly clever at trials.
The arrangements for a trial are very simple and the
cost is not very great. In open classes there are generally
five prizes, the first being about ₤10 down to ₤1. The trials
are usually held on a hillside or large field, extending in
one direction about three-quarters of a mile by about half a
mile in breadth. The dogs drive the sheep about 1,200 yards.
The sheep are the wildest that can be got, usually the small
Welsh breed or black or grey-faced Scotch sheep. Each dog
has to drive three different sheep, two being from one farm
or flock, and the third from another; the same three are
never worked twice. This makes the task all the more
difficult, the sheep not knowing each other, and when one
breaks away it requires considerable skill to get it to its
companions again. The course indicated below will better
explain.
The shepherd or
person working the dog stands at the post (A), from which he
is not allowed to move more than six yards; at a given
signal three sheep are liberated from the pen (B); the
shepherd then sends his dog to the sheep, which are to be
driven in the direction indicated by the arrows and between
the hurdles; if any of the sheep go outside the hurdles the
dog must bring them back and take them the proper course, to
the triangular pen of three hurdles (C), which has an
opening of twenty-two inches, or just wide enough to allow
one sheep to enter at a time; he has then to pen them; the
time allowed being thirteen minutes from the time the three
sheep are first liberated. The worker of the dog is allowed
to assist, without, however, touching the sheep when the dog
has brought them up to the pen (C). The shepherd works the
dog almost entirely by whistling or motions; often the sheep
separate at the commencement, the dog has then to collect
them together and start with his charge at the proper place.
Another difficulty often arises, when one of the three sheep
will not move as fast as the others, and perhaps if hard
pushed will give up and lie down, in which case it is almost
impossible for the dog to make it rise; and if a dog bites
or injures a sheep he is disqualified. The competitor may be
successful in driving his three sheep up to the pen at the
end of the trial; he has then a most difficult task, and the
upmost patience and skill is then required, as only one
sheep can enter at a time; the other two will often go each
side of the pen. It is then the dog's sagacity is shown; he
will crawl on his belly like a cat, and quietly drive them
inch by inch until he gets them in the opening and the three
jostled into the pens.
We
will visit the trials now, and just as we arrive No. 7 is
called, Mr. Barcroft's "Bob." The sturdy Lancashire farmer,
who spends most of his time with his sheep on Scout Moor,
takes his place at the post, removes his coat and awaits the
signal; up goes the white flash, and immediately three sheep
are liberated a quarter of a mile away. "Bob," a white and
black old English bobtail, pricks his ears and awaits his
orders. "Getaway boy!" Off he rushes, and soon finds his
sheep, who look wildly round, giving one the impression they
would rush off in different directions. Bob steadies down,
looks around for orders; a slow prolonged whistle, and on he
goes; the wether sheep stamps his foot and the ewes press
closer to him; as the dog comes up they try to separate, but
Bob is too quick, and is at their side in an instant;
getting them together again, he looks round to see his
master waving his arms; off he goes again, driving his
little flock through the first hurdles; here he has to drive
them through a gap over a wide dry ditch or watercourse. A
sharp whistle and Bob keeps at his task until they are
through, when unexpectedly one bolts right into the ditch,
from whence it refuses to budge; a hand up and a whistle,
and Bob drops like a stone. The other two sheep suddenly
stop, look round, and quietly start grazing. A prolonged
whistle and Bob quietly crawls on his belly until he gets on
the brink of the ditch facing the sheep, who, alarmed by his
sudden appearance, jumps up and joins its companions. A loud
cheer from the spectators shows their appreciation of this
excellent piece of work. Again the sheep are got together,
and brought through the second hurdles. Bob now hurries them
on, but as he comes to the next obstacle off rushes one of
the sheep outside the hurdle. That whistle again, and Bob
drops as though shot; two shrill whistles, and he is up
again making a wide circuit to head the stray one, and soon
brings him back and through the hurdles, where he sees his
two companions; on they come by signal and whistle, the
remainder of the course is successfully accomplished, and
the turn is made for the final pen; a cheery "Fetch 'em up!"
causes him to hurry, and as soon as they pass the shepherd
he moves from his post, and is now at liberty to help the
dog. Jonathan knows his work—picks up his coat and stick and
places them on one side of the triangular pen and stands the
other; Bob has to bring the sheep between the two, a
seemingly easy task. The sheep still have a wild look, and
despite Jonathan rush wildly past him. Bob at a signal lies
crouched upon the grass, giving the trio a moment to settle
down, when, up again, he is soon behind them, bringing them
up to the entrance of the pen; one enters, when a cheer from
the spectators startle them, and off the remaining two go
again, running round the pen, eventually the one inside
dashing out and joining them. Gradually Bob collects them
and brings his charges up again, when they do another circus
performance around the hurdles. Bob at last gets them
together opposite the entrance, and drops on his belly three
or four yards away. "Shoo, shoo!" says Jonathan, and Bob
crawls like a cat foot by foot towards them; gently they
move, step by step, until one enters the pen; three feet
more and Bob jostles the other two into the pen, and is on
his feet in a moment to prevent their exit. Jonathan waves
his hat, and a prolonged cheer from the crowd testifies
their appreciation of the clever work. So concludes the
trial, the clever Lancashire dog has won in nine and a half
minutes and is awarded first prize.
Such is a description of an ordinary trial.
Although the time allowed each dog is thirteen minutes, the
shortest time in which the sheep is penned is not a
criterion of the best work; the time occupied in collecting
his sheep, keeping them together, and bringing them through
the obstacles all have to count; and where a dog bites his
sheep or barks to any extent he may be disqualified at once.
Another innovation has lately been introduced at some
trials. The shepherd marks three sheep, which are driven
among a flock of about a hundred or more, the dog has then
to find the marked sheep and bring them from among the
others, which he does, showing wonderful sagacity and
intelligence in doing so.
In training collies, the young dogs are generally taught by
accompanying old dogs. Months of patient toil is required to
fit them to compete at trials successfully; young dogs are
very wild and apt to overrun the sheep, in which case the
shepherd often has to devise a means to hold him in check,
which he does by tying up one of his front paws with his
pocket handkerchief around the dog's neck, thus leaving the
dog only three legs to run on, and it is surprising how soon
the dog understands its meaning.
A well-trained collie is invaluable to a farmer or
flockmaster, doing the work which would require several
extra men to do, and in mountain districts it would almost
be impossible to do without him. At a signal from the
shepherd this sagacious animal, replete with energy,
vigilance and activity, will collect his flock of hundreds
and bring them to any place required of him. Inured to all
weather, fatigue and hunger, he may be truly emblematical of
content; and the fortunate owner of such an animal possesses
the most faithful companion in existence. As Byron says—
The poor dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend;
Whose honest heart is still his master's own,
Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone.
A picture of six dogs appeared at the bottom of
page 61. It was entitled "Group of Working Collies."
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