SHEEP DOG NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 43

SHEEP DOG NOTES.

"OLD HEMP." (Written for the Otago Witness by James Lilico.) During the past few years the interest in sheep dog trials has reached such a height that an account of some ot tiio triumphs of an old departed champion will, I am sure, bo read with interest by a largo section of your readers. Old Hemp, the dog in question, was bred and trained by Mr Adam Telfer, who has bred and trained more high-class working collies than any man living to-day. Tins may seem somewhat of a swooning statement, but. did space permit, I could put before your readers amole evidence to justify it. Yet in the face of this, if asked to<lay to name the best dog he ever saw on sheep, Mr Teifer's answer would undoubtedly bo "Hemp " Therefore, to give "honour to whom honour is due," I think such a chamnion deserves more than a mere passing notice. The photo, of Hemp, which I hope to f-ce reproduced in the Witness concurrently with these remarks, renders unnecessary any detailed description of lus appearance. Just lot those interested note tho keen eve, clean, game-looking bead, lean, fine muzzle, and the power denoted by the great back and well-set hindquarters, and they will perhaps better appreciate some of tho facts connected with this notable dog. I may just add that the material for tho following remarks has been kindly supplied to me by Mr h. Telfer, a son of the owner of Hemp. To start right from birth, the old champion was born in 1894, and died in 1902, and was bred from stock which had been in Mr Teifer's family for over 30 years, and known as the "Rooking" white breed. His sire, Roy, a smalt black dog, was brought out to New Zealand by a Mr Robson. Like mast of the notable dogs in this lino, Hemp was a Northumbrian, and began and ended his days en the hills of that county. As evidence of the strong natural working instinct inherent in -him, it may be mentioned that at six months old he was a trained worker. Ho was goodtempered, and easily managed by his owner, but so keen that a weak master could not have held him in, check. Ho had a strong evo and natural clup, yet was not at all difficult to shift, and under no possible pressure was he ever known to turn his tail to sheep. This was one of his greatest attributes, and largely accounted for his marvellous power over sheep; his eye always on them seemed to be a compelling force. He could wear a single fiheep to a standstill, and his abilities in this respect won him more than one keenly-contested trial. On one occasion at Hawick (Scotland) the judge—let us say from patriotic motives —was evidently anxious to see the man and dog from over tho English border taken down, and therefore set for them what seemed an impossible task. The single sheep ho selected for Hemp to wear was a Cheviot ram, and a determined one at that. The sheep was let out of tho pen and allowed to get closo up to its mates before the judge gave trie word for the dog to efcart "Now, Adam, can y<jll stop that yin?" To tho man it appeared a hopeless hunt, but the gallant collie seemed to realise what was expected of him, and his greyhound speed ar.d lion heart accomplished the feat. This incident was described to me by one who was present and who assured me that ov/ner and dog then had n reception worthy of conquering heroes. It is safe to say that in "wearing" no other dog seen on a Home trial field has ever approached Ileum. Always with his face to the sheep, keeping every inch gained, his lightning turns invariably conquered in the end. gome of his critics eay this was his strongest point, yet they have to admit that at tho pen, running out, or pulling, ho was a champion every time, which few could equal and none excel. On tho trial field, before a crowd of possibly the most cajiable critics in tho world, on the hillside with no one save his owner in sight, on a mob of newly-weanod hill lambs, or on x single unruly ram. ho always rose to tho occasion. At lambing timo on a sick ewe he was the gentle guide, convoying his charge to shelter and rest, and at mating timer on a stubborn ram, ho was the forceful master compelling obedience. His most valuable attribute, however, lay in his prepotency —his power to transmit to his progeny in a marvellous his own natural instinct, to work sheep. Never before or since in tho history of working collies has there been in existence a dog which lias left such an indelible mark for good on their race. Go to any trial field On either side of the Border, and you will find the finish being fought out by descendants of Hemp, and to this influence, how much of the present-day enthusiasm over trials is due it would be .bard to estimate. Mr Telfer won five trials in succession with a near relative of Hemp, and his son Walter won three trials in one week with another descendant. Trials in the days when Hemp was competing were not so numerous a-s they are- to-day, nor yet were tho prizes &o valuable, but it is freely admitted now that the superb style and finish of his work raised the standard all round. His succc.-rfos were numerous, and his record in this respect practically unbroken until hia progeny entered into competition. I have not his full trial record at hand, but for three years in succession ho was first at Hawick, Falstono, and Longwitton, all of which are competitions whore the very cream of Border dogs compete-. Beforo closing I may just be permitted to add -; word or two about tho owner of

this great canine. The name of Adam Tolfer has been a familiar one to me for many years, and those who, like mvself, are interested in Border collies, owe much to him in this particular connection. To his abihty as a breeder we are indebted for some of the beat specimens of the breed in existence to-day. His success in this lino may be attributed largely to his rigid methods of selection and his faith in pedigree ISo second-rater, mongrel, or shadybred one is ever allowed to be mated with any of his dogs, and to buv a dog of his breeding w to bo assused of purity of descent. Ihen, in the. art of training and working a dog ho is recognised as a master hand, and his long record of consistent success on the trial field with dogs of his own breeding and training has made him an outstanding figure amongst doggie men the world over, and I know of many here in, Now Zealand who will join with me in Wishing a long continuance of success to this grand old man" of Border dog trials.