SHEEP-DOG TRIALS.

Northern Advocate, 9 February 1920, Page 4

SHEEP-DOG TRIALS.

THE MOST IMPORTANT

FACTORS,

Mr James Scott, of Troneyhill, Scotland, whose name is a household word amongst sheep-dog men thworld over, has recently given publicity to his views as follows:—

In ponnection with the judging (f sheep dog trials the question may be put—Generally speaking, what is the most valuable movement a collie can make in handling sheep? Circumstances compel me to answer my own question. It is to run out free ar-.d fast, round the sheep quietly, and hold them without flinching. Even if a dog will do no more than that he has performed the most important movement that can occur in his lifework as a sheep dog—he has secured control of tIK sheep. Next in importance is a straight and steady "bring," and where these two movements are perfectly executed they ar? in my opinion, equal in value to all the other tests put together. Shedding, penning, driving, and "weiring" nre all very valuable and useful adjuncts, but running-out and bring-ing-in are the real essence of a collie's work. If a collie possessed the one and only quality of being able to shed, or, say, "weir," how could this qualification be put into practice with the sheep running free and wild, on the mountain-side? It is the dog that will head or "hauld" that makes it possible for all those oth'r movements to be carried out. I therefore put the highest value oi "haulding," and with this as a set tied conviction in my mind, I face th e responsibility of judging all sheep dog trials where I am called upon to act.