A Sheep Dog's Fancy
Years ago in my neighbourhood a farmer's sheepdog was famous for his skill in rounding up broods of young chickens and driving them and their mothers to the right coops. The quiet, almost affectionate skill of the dog was delightful to see ; and the farmer said that though he was excellent with sheep he much preferred his evening shepherding of the chicks. Last week in Devon I saw a dog of the same breed doing the same sort of work. Every evening he brings in both duck and `turkey which wander a considerable distance from their dormitories. He was extremely good with a large flock of turkeys ; and though not taught by any shepherd he had just the same sudden way of crouching that is typical of the Westmorland breed. As a rule the ducks leave the pond when he approaches the edge, but on one occasion when they refused to be intimidated he went straight into the water and drove them to land. The dog quite evidently enjoyed the work (in which his mistress, at genius with animals, had trained him). The sight of that dog patiently shepherding the successive flocks of birds up that green slope in a deep North Devon valley will remain a vivid picture in the mind's eye. With such a companion who could help enjoying the else pedestrian job of shutting up the poultry at night ?
* * * *
Previous page
