A TALL DOG STORY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8082, 24 September 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

A TALL DOG STORY.

The story of the wounded collie who was guided by two terriers to Ring's College Hospital in order to have his wound dressed is very remarkable ; but there are still stranger instances of canine sagacity. The Ettrick Shepherd, for example, possessed a collie which, through long and faithful service, had come to bear a striking facial resemblance to its master. This dog was an assiduous church-goer, and would even occupy its master's pew on occasions when Hogg himself played truant from divine service. On the Monday after one of these occasions, when indisposition had kept the shepherd at home, the minister of the parish called, and found Hogg sitting on one side of his ingleneuk, the dog on the other. " Well, James, " said the minister, " I was glad to see you at the kirk yesterday." James said nothing, but he looked across at the dog ; the dog, too, said nothing, but his eye twinkled, and he placidly winked at James ! This story is vouched for by Hogg himself, an nnimpeaohable witness. It seems to indicate an even subtler refinement of canine intelligence than the anecdote attested by the secretary and porter of King's College Hospital.