Scottish Dogs
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
tracked down rodents, while various other dogs trailed game birds. In Britain, the categories became SCOTTISH traditionalized as: "Greyhounds, Ter- riers, Slowhounds [a now-extinct spe- and what would one day be Scotland. cialist in hunting over marshlands], Originally from the shores of the Large Hounds [mastiffs], and Bulldogs Caspian Sea, they brought the Indian [used in the ‘sport’ of bull-baiting]." DOGS and Arabian-wolf-descent dogs with In the 16th century, the British them. breeds became more deliniated: sheep- Dogs were with the Romans who dogs and watchdogs (called marched into ancient Gaul. Gallo-Ro- Bandogges, Tynkers, and Mooners). man development from that point ap- The hunting dogs were “Bloodhounds, peared to encourage separate breeding Gazehounds, Lymeers, Tenneblers, of working dogs and companion dogs. Harriers, and a number of terriers.” With the fall of Rome and the dis- There were also various spaniels, set- integration of the existing agricultural ters and pet breeds. civilization, dogs were often aban- By the end of the Renaissance the doned and became wild animals again, love and ownership of dogs had per- Introduction even spawning legends of monsters and meated all classes of society. Hunting One of the most interesting sights at a Scottish Highland Games is the flash of a collie running around a small flock of bewildered sheep, driving them through various ‘gates’ in a dem- onstration of the ages-old art of Scot- tish sheepherding. Some games even have areas set aside to exhibit the vari- ous Scottish Dog breeds (The Ligonier Highland Games near Ligonier, PA does a fine job of this). A Brief History of Dogs The dog is referenced over forty times in the Bible’s Old Testament, confirming the species’ long-standing affiliation with man. Paleolithic Age rock paintings show dogs hunting with men. This association has benefited A border collie, Fran, working the sheep. both humans and dogs. Food and shel- Photo Courtesy Of Richard Whorton ter is exchanged for loyalty and work as guard, warrior, herder, or simply a werewolves. By the year 1000 A.D., in England was very popular and many companion. nobility had revived the domesticated small hunting-dog breeds appeared to All dogs are thought to have dog for use in hunting. Shepherds also fill the needs of hunting small game: evolved from ancient wolf breeds. returned to their ways of using sheep- terriers, spaniels, and scent-hounds. Large northern wolves (sub-arctic) led dogs, although some would say they Mastiffs and other large-dogs, once to both and large and small dog breeds, never stopped. used for war, were disappearing due terriers being part of the smaller off- Near this time, classification of to the lack of large game on the island. shoot. From the smaller wolves of In- groups of breeds became established: Their place in society broadened dia and Arabia come the hounds and pointers flushed game, hounds drove with the 1800’s and the Industrial the collies. stags into the open for other dogs to Revolution. People had the time and Celts dominated northern Europe chase, greyhounds were employed for resources to enjoy the pasttime of and the British Isles since the 5th cen- hunting hare and deer, and mastiffs “showing dogs.” Mechanisation also tury BC. They were responsible for were used to bring down large quarry. reduced the need for dogs' working introducing dogs into the British Isles Forerunners of the terrier family skills and they were selected more for AUTUMN 1997 5 looks and other aesthetic tastes. These Dogs, trained to detect certain sounds Club recognized Scottish breeds. two forces produced a great shift from and alert their owner to them. Therapy Herding / Working Group : This animals prized for their talents and dogs are used with great affect to alle- group includes sheepdogs, guidedogs, strengths to ones who conformed clos- viate stress, reduce loneliness, and and watchdogs. Bearded Collie, Bor- est to an established ideal. counteract nervousness and depres- der Collie, Collie (Rough), Collie The first dog show was held in sion. Some even explore outer space. (Smooth), and the Shetland Sheepdog Britain in 1859. That led to the publi- (Laika, a small Russian dog, was the all belong in this group and have, in cation of a book of “standards,” or defi- first dog into space in 1957). many ways, set the standard of ability nitions of what the recognized breeds Great Britain remains the largest for other breeds to attain. were supposed to look like. This al- exporter of dogs in the world. Spread Gun Dog / Sporting Group: The lowed judging to be done more uni- along with their empire-building, many gundogs accompany hunters after formly. The book detailed 35 breeds, breeds around the world are derived feathered game. They track it, point showing the steady growth of special- from their stock. Some nations to it, flush it, and retrieve the dead prey. ization of type. staunchly promoted their own Both the Golden Retriever and the Gor- The British Kennel Club was indiginous breeds. Nonetheless, the don Setter belong in this group. Be founded in 1873 to preserve the Brit- French continued to replenish their aware, the action-name of the breeds ish breeds and improve them with se- packs from Great Britain, particularly doesn’t mean they don’t range into lective breeding with foreign breeds. from breeders in Scotland. Dogs were other talents. By August of 1897, the number of rec- surely part of the complex network of Hound Group : These are hunt- ognized breed was 274, a clear indica- ties between Scotland and France ing dogs that trail by sight or scent, i.e. tor of the show dog trend. known as the Auld Alliance. sighthounds or scenthounds. The Scot- But dogs still had their work to do. tish Deerhound, a sighthound bred to Dogs were put to work in World War I hunt stag, is a fine example of the as patrolling guards, medicine and The Scottish Breeds group. message carriers, and trench rat hunt- Terrier Group : A terrier is a dog The American Kennel Club that “goes to ground”. The name is ers. By World War II, more creative (AKC) recognises fourteen breeds of and cruel methods were devised. The derived from Latin, terra, meaning dog as being of Scottish origin: earth. Good terriers must have good Russian Army would keep dogs half- Bearded Collies, Border Collies, Bor- starved and train them to enter armored feet, good teeth, and a punishing jaw. der Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Dandie They hunt burrowing animals such as vehicles to find food, attacking any en- Dinmont Terriers, Golden Retrievers, emies they found inside. In the Viet- fox, badger, otter, weasel, hedgehog, Gordon Setters, Rough Collies, Scot- stoat, rats, and more, either killing them nam war, dogs were used to flush en- tish Deerhounds, Scottish Terriers, Sh- emy troops out of cover and to locate in their burrows, dragging them out, or etland Sheep Dogs, Skye Terriers, barking to alert the hunters of the lo- mines and explosives. Smooth Collies, and West Highland cation of the prey. In the last 50 years, dogs have White Terriers. We will examine each Truly a breed of long lineage, stat- been used in more and more useful of these proud breeds, their history in ues of early terriers were dug up along ways. They are used in rescue opera- Scotland and America, and the ways Hadrian’s wall and Covetina’s Well. tions, like those performed after the that they impact our lives today. The Border Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Dan- 1985 Mexico City earthquake. Many Although exact classifications die Dinmont Terrier, Scottish Terrier, have been put into the service of blind vary between the dog societies of dif- Skye Terrier, and the West Highland people as Seeing Eye or Leader dogs. ferent nations, the following is a sum- White Terrier are all Scottish Terriers. Some are even trained as Hearing mary of modern, American Kennel Border Collie Society of Herding / Working Group America Bearded Collies or Beardies Promoting the welfare of the versatile Border Collie http://www.duke.edu/~awho/bc/bcsa.htm One of the oldest of the Scottish herding breeds, the bearded collie has Considering a Border Collie? been in much the same form since the 1500’s. The Beardie has been known Please be careful! Border Collies can be a handful! by many other names including High- land Collie, Mountain Collie and Hairy For a free Buyer’s Guide send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Mou’ed (mouthed) Collie. A popular BCSA, 815 Royal Oaks Drive, Durham, NC, 27712 story suggests that the root of the breed was started by two Polish Lowland Sheepdogs and another dog from a ship 6 U.S. SCOTS Magazine out of Gdansk in 1514. Originally celling in obedience and agility com- instinct to “gather” the sheep to the Beardies were common near the bor- petition. They are also used as Search shepherd and this trait makes him most der areas of Scotland and England. and Rescue dogs. useful on the hills and moors of Scot- The Highland Clearances which The Bearded Collie usually stands land. They have the tendency to “clap” followed the Battle of Culloden in 21 inches at shoulder and weighs 50 or go down and face the sheep with 1745 had a great impact on the breeds lbs. They are particularly reknown for their belly close to the ground. When of dogs in Scotland. They marked a working rough terrain, climbing fences, the dog drops down and fixes its stare massive shift to raising sheep in the rocky Highlands rather than subsis- tence farming.