Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 110, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1913 — TRAINING THE COLLIE [ARTICLE]

TRAINING THE COLLIE

By J. G. COFFEY,

Department of Animal Husbandry, Purdue University School of Agriculture. APurdue University Agricultural Extension.

“Steady there! Whoa! Come easy!" To any one who has heard an experienced trainer of the Collie dog giving his commands, there are familiar phrases. Ever alert, active and graceful this noble animal responds quickly and with apparent ease to each and every one of its master’s commands. To the casual observer, it appears to be an easy task for the shepherd to guide and corral the band of unruly sheep with the aid of his dog. However, back of it all there lies a tale. It is an easy task now for the master and his trained dog to manage the flock, but the hours and days of toil, patience and stubborn persistency which the shepherd has spent in training his dog are factors worthy of consideration. Taking the wee puppy the trainer makes it his first duty to gain the friendship and confidence of the littie animal. This is done, of course* by kind and considerate treatment* Never once does the experienced Collie trainer permit himself to abuse his charge for the innocent yet sometimes destructive pranks which any normal, healthy puppy is sure to play. When once-the trainer and puppy are thoroughly familiar with each other, the first simple lessons begin. Heeling the trainer and responding to come and go commands constitute the first steps in the animal’s education. Later as the puppy attains more size and activity, it is Introduced to the farm animals with which it must associate the greater part of its life. Usually the trainer does not take his' young dog among sheep or cattle until it is. at least six months of age, chiefly because a puppy lacks considerably in activity and is likely tobe injured by a charging ewe or an angry cow. Such an incident often instils fear into the young dog to such an extent that it ia made useless for life. When the dog has become familiar with the live stock, its education progresses chiefly through observation. Instinctively the Collie is an alert and observing animal. The thing it sees its master do, it emulates. It soon learns that when its master la driving a herd of sheep or a drove of cattle,“that every member of the herd or drove must progress decently and in order. The animal inclined to stray or charge is reminded by the dog of Its duty to remain with the band. Again, the dog learns chiefly through observation that when an animal or a drove of animals is brought near an open gate or door indicated by the master, that all animals are expected to enter regardless of their inclinatlon to do otherwise. Taking advantage of the Collie’s keen observer tlon and ability to retain knowledge gained the trainer’s patience and often repeated practices teaches his dog a code of signals and commands, which the carefully trained Collies. , obeys with almost human intelligence. There is ne doubt but that the weF trained Collie is a great assest to any farm. It will save its master miles ox steps. It will accomplish things in the handling of live stock which st half dozen man cannot do. Last, but not least, it makes a most amiable and enjoyable companion for Its master’s small children. Men of the farm, dispose of the worthless cur and replace it with a high-class Collie and train the latter properly. Then it ia that you will have attained service and at the same time rid yourselves of the predatory brutes which are raw aging the flocks of your vicinities, /,