British rural sports, Stonehenge – 1875 edition

Sheep Dogs

The sheep dog has undoubtedly a higher commercial value than any other, as he has often under his charge a flock worth thousands of pounds. There are various breeds in use throughout the United Kingdom, some smooth, but the majority more or less rough. The most distinct of these is the Scotch colley. I do not place much reliance upon the value of the points in the breed, but they may be put nearly as follows :—Head, 25 ; ears and eyes, 10 ; shoulders, 10 ; chest, 10 ; coat, 10 ; colour, 10 ; back and loin, 10; feet and legs, 15; symmetry, 10.

The English Rough Dog has nearly always a wiry muzzle, and a good useful hard coat of hair over his whole body. The best specimens are not so long in the leg as the generality of dogs, and when they have tails they carry them lower than the Scotch dog. They have good feet and legs, and are possessed of iron constitutions. In those districts where large numbers of sheep are kept, great attention is paid to their education, and a good sheep dog is considered as indispensable to the well-doing of a flock as a good shepherd.

The Scotch Colley, or Highland sheep dog, is a far more graceful animal, and his sense and intelligence are equal to any breed of dogs in the world. Two races are to be found in Scotland—the rough and the smooth. The rough or shaggy-coated colley is the most choice description ; for his impenetrable warm thick coat is a good protection to him when his duty calls him to face the storms and mists and snows of the wild mountains, especially when the stragglers of his flock have been covered by the snowdrifts and he goes in search of them with his master. Ho has a fine fox-like muzzle ; full, expressive, but rather crafty eyes ; small ears, drooping forward, and the mask of his face is smooth. From the base of the skull the whole of the neck and the entire body are protected by a deep, warm, long coat of various colours—sometimes black with tan points; sometimes sandy, or of various mixed greys, some of which are singularly beautiful and picturesque. There is generally a very fine white line down the forehead, not amounting to a blaze, as in the spaniels. His legs (especially the hind-legs, from the hocks) are bare, that is, not feathered; and for many years authorities on the dog have described the coolly as having one, or even two, dewclaws on each hind-leg, which is indeed generally the case. His neck is long, and rather arched ; his shoulders are set well back, and are very powerful; the elbow is well let down; the fore-arm is short; the ankles or pasterns are long, and rather small for his size ; and the feet are round, arched, and have excellent thick hard soles; the chest is deep, but rather narrow ; he is broad over his back ; his loins are well arched; the hips are wide ; his thighs are muscular, and he is inclined to go rather wide behind; the tail is very bushy and large, and carried up when he is in motion, and when he is controlling his excitement it is turned over his back. The Smooth Scotch Dog is generally of a sandy colour, although occasionally he may be met with of the black tan or mixed tints.