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Collies and Sheep-Dogs
by W. Lavallin Puxley
A small portion of text from this book appears below.
It is from page 78.
"The value of
sheep-dogs is plainly seen when one of them is trained by man. Not only
do they understand a sign or signal, but they get to know just what is
required of them and to carry out the order. If it be herding the sheep
they know exactly where to drive them and how to get them into the fold.
They have learnt that they may bite a sheep which refused to obey, but
must not hurt it; and when the sheep are folded they know, when the
hurdles are changed, just what part of the field they are to occupy in
order to prevent them from straying about nibbling as they go and
wasting acres of the precious roots. There is such an understanding
between them and their masters that a shepherd will almost part with his
life rather than lose his dog, while in the dog's eyes his master is
probably a long dog which walks in a peculiar way. This explains the
case of the shepherd who would not let his dog be taught any tricks and
replied, when asked why, "He is too fine to be made a fool of." And
though a shepherd lives what to many would be a most lonely and
monotonous life, he gets as much enjoyment out of it as many others
obtain from a life passed in the bustle of some large town. Indeed, when
such a man is prevented by age or illness from attending to his sheep he
seems to lose all pleasure or interest in life, just as does his
faithful dog."
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