Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
437
Dogs and All about Them
·
Robert Leighton
74
CHAPTER
IX
THE
OLD
ENGLISH
SHEEPDOG
Intelligent
and
picturesque,
workmanlike
and
affectionate,
the
Old
English
Sheepdog
combines,
in
his
shaggy
person,
the
attributes
at
once
of
a
drover's
drudge
and
of
an
ideal
companion.
Although
the
modern
dog
is
seen
less
often
than
of
old
performing
his
legitimate
duties
as
a
shepherd
dog,
there
is
no
ground
whatever
for
supposing
that
he
is
a
whit
less
sagacious
than
the
mongrels
which
have
largely
supplanted
him.
The
instincts
of
the
race
remain
unchanged;
but
the
mongrel
certainly
comes
cheaper.
Carefully
handled
in
his
youth,
the
bob-tail
is
unequalled
as
a
stock
dog,
and
he
is
equally
at
home
and
efficient
in
charge
of
sheep,
of
cattle,
and
of
New
Forest
ponies.
So
deep-rooted
is
the
natural
herding
instinct
of
the
breed
that
it
is
a
thousand
pities
that
the
modern
shepherd
so
frequently
puts
up
with
an
inferior
animal
in
place
of
the
genuine
article.
Nor
is
it
as
a
shepherd
dog
alone
that
the
bob-tail
shines
in
the
field.
His
qualifications
as
a
sporting
dog
are
excellent,
and
he
makes
a
capital
retriever,
being
usually
under
excellent
control,
generally
light-mouthed,
and
taking
very
readily
to
water.
His
natural
inclination
to
remain
at
his
master's
heel
and
his
exceptional
sagacity
and
quickness
of
perception
will
speedily
develop
him,
in
a
sportsman's
hands,
into
a
first-rate
dog
to
shoot
over.
These
points
in
his
favour
should
never
be
lost
sight
of,
because
his
increasing
popularity
on
the
show
bench
is
apt
to
mislead
many
of
his
admirers
into
the
belief
that
he
is
an
ornamental
rather
than
a
utility
dog.
Nothing
could
be
further
from
the
fact.
Nevertheless,
he
has
few
equals
as
a
house
dog,
being
naturally
cleanly
in
his
habits,
affectionate
in
his
disposition,
an
admirable
watch,
and
an
extraordinarily
adaptable
companion.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
