Page 44 - Dog

Herding dogs and sheepdogs

The use of dogs to protect and
herd livestock dates from as early
as 1000 b.c., when farmers began
to breed large numbers of sheep, OLD
DOG’S TAIL
goats, and cattle. In his book on Old English sheepdogs are
raising farm animals, in the seldom born without
first century a.d., the Roman tails, and most puppies
LASSIE have their tails
The rough collie got a new writer Columella noted that docked (pp. 44–45)
name from the Lassie films. for showing. A heavy
shepherds preferred white sheepdog without a
tail is not much use
sheepdogs because they could be distinguished because it cannot run
from wolves. There was always a danger fast. Although called
that the shepherd would kill his own dog, “Old,” this breed is
probably not of
believing it to be a wolf that was about to ancient origin. In
kill his animals. Even today, although the this 19th-century
English
wolf is nearly extinct, most of the many painting, the
sheepdog is
varieties of herding dogs that are bred in ready to tend
nearly every country of the world are its sheep.
light-colored or tan and have a lot
of white in their coats.

ROUGH COLLIE
The original rough collie was the traditional sheepdog of the
lowlands of Scotland, and probably took its name from the
“colley,” or local black sheep. For hundreds of years it was an
essential partner for every shepherd. Today, the rough collie is
one of the world’s most popular breeds and has become a
successful show and companion dog.

Straight, muscular forelegs and powerful,
sinewy hindlegs enabled the rough collie to
cover great distances while herding sheep

BELGIAN SHEPHERD DOG
There were no wolves
left in Belgium when Long-haired, thick coat is usually
the shepherd dogs of pale gold, tan, and white, with
this country were first dark hair around the head
developed as distinct
breeds in the 1880s. ROUND-UP TIME
Therefore they, and The Border collie, originally from
indeed the modern the border country between England
German shepherd, are and Scotland, is one of the finest
an exception to the sheepdogs in the world. It is bred as
tradition that herding a working dog, not for showing.
dogs should be
light-colored.

DOGS DOWN UNDER
The Australian cattle dog is now
the official name for this breed of
strong working dog, developed by
cattlemen in the 1830s. It has had
a number of previous names,
such as the Queensland
blue heeler. These dogs
round up cattle by
nipping at their heels.

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