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Herding Trial in Philadelphia in 1880
(reprint of an old brochure, "Catalogue of 'Scotch Collies,
imported and selected by T. S. Cooper")

"Oscar" is now 6 years old, and was imported on steamer Canada, National Line, May 1876, by T. S. Cooper. He is bred by Mr. Steel, Burnhead, Scotland, and won First Prize for penning sheep at the great show at Ayr, Scotland, 1876l. This same prize, at same show, being won by his sire three years in succession. "Oscar" also won Second Prize at the great Collie trial in Philadelphia, September, 1880. He was the admiration of every one who saw him work at Philadelphia, and would without a doubt have been placed first, but while others were showing their dogs what was required of them, as well as worked them day and night, "Oscar" was chained for five days in the Centennial building with our heard of Jerseys and flocks, which required all of our attention.

"Fanny" was one year old August, 1880, and was imported from Scotland on steamer Italy, National Line, August, 1880. She was selected by Mr. John Fleming, (the famous Ayrshire breeder), of Meadow Bank, Scotland, and was pronounced by him to be the best breed Collie to be found in Scotland; and, at the great International Collie trial, held in Philadelphia, September, 1880, where she won First Prize, (in young class), she was pronounced by the best judges to be the best female Collie ever seen on exhibition, and the following remarks, copied from some of the Philadelphia and Chicago papers, should convince the public that both Oscar and Fanny rank among the best, of not the best, pair of Collies in the United States.

The Great Collie Trial at Centennial Grounds (Philadelphia Times, Sept., 1880) But the crowning performance of all was that of the third dog -- T. S. Cooper's shepherd "Oscar." This is an imported dog, with a good record in his own country, of Scotland. He is acknowledged to be the finest dog in the building, and his performance yesterday confirmed all previous opinions. He drove the sheep around in a little less than twenty minutes, and put them into the pen with such a display of skill and ingenuity that a shower of applause went up from everybody when he had done it.

(Philadelphia Record, Sept., 1880) After these performances it was a welcome relief to watch the systematic operations of Oscar, owned by T. S. Cooper, of Coopersburg, Pa. Oscar knew his work and did it well. No driver ever held his four-in- hand under better control than did Oscar his flock of five. If an animal made a break instead of leaving the balance to go after it, he would hurry up the four until the truant was reached. By these and similar tactics he brought the animals up to the return pen in good time and excellent condition, and received his reward in the shape of rounds of applause.

(Phila. Ledger, Sept., 1880) What an Obedient Dog Did After quite a long wait, the dog, Oscar, belonging to T. S. Cooper, of Coopersburg, Pa., was brought out. He started the sheep from the pen, and, at the order from his master, fell in behind, and they went quietly down the course together. There was no break until the east end of the ring was reached, when the sheep attempted to scatter, but were almost immediately brought back by the dog, who continued to drive them slowly around the home stretch in good form and without worrying them in the least, until they reached the entrance to the pen, where they halted, and the excellent training of the dog was brought into play. The flock stood perfectly still, huddled together, and the dog, instead of making a rush upon them, closely watched his master, who directed his movements by a wave of the hand. The dog would go first to one side and then to the other, in a quiet way, until he got quite close to the sheep, when one of them started and went into the pen, followed by the others, and the dog and master started out of the ring amid the applause of the spectators. They had not gone far, however, before the sheep broke out, and the services of the dog were again brought into play, he, at the bidding of his master, going through the same tactics, and again winning a round of applause; the time occupied in this trial being twenty- one minutes.

(Chicago Field, October, 1880) The International Collie Trials From our Special Reporter. In accordance with the announced program, the trials commenced at two o'clock on Tuesday, Sept. 21, and were held daily during the International Sheep Show, which ended Sept. 26th.

The trials were held under the following RULES:

The collie trials will be held under the personal direction of the superintendent in charge, and for these trials, blank applications for entry, containing columns for name, age, sex, color-marks, etc., of the dog, may be obtained of the Secretaries, up to the time of running. Kennels will be provided for the dogs. No dog can be entered, except for trial.

Each dog competing, will be required to take five sheep from a pen, drive them a certain distance to another, and pen them there.

A fresh flock of sheep will be provided for each dog. He, in driving, may bark, or not, as may be his habit, but biting his sheep will be a demerit.

Each shepherd may take his dog over the ground before the sheep are brought in, and show or tell him what he wants him to do.

The shepherd may precede or follow the sheep, as he may choose; he will not be permitted to assist his dog, except by voice or gesture. Hallooing, berating, or much bidding, or noise, will detract from the estimate of the performance of the dog.

When a dog is working, no other dogs shall be present to distract his attention.

No person, except he superintended in charge, and the members of the jury, shall enter the sheep ring while the dog is working.

The jury will carefully note the disposition and docility of the different flocks of sheep, and make due allowance for those which are more wild than others.

Each shepherd will have the privilege of exhibiting the working of his dog, by choosing his own kind of work with the sheep, after the regular trial has been completed. He may also show the training of his dog for other practical purposes as a farm or house dog. Dogs and bitches fifteen months old, or over, must compete in the aged class. Puppies under fifteen months, having competed in the puppy class, will also be eligible for entry in the aged class.

All ties will be run off on flocks of three sheep.

Tractability, ready obedience, steadiness in driving, gentleness in working the sheep, and general aptitude in the dog for the business before him, will have due influence with the jury in making their awards.

LIST OF ENTRIES ALL-AGED CLASS

John Birchner, Philadelphia, black, white and tan dog Joe, two years old. Geo. Aitken, Northport, N.Y., black, white and tan bitch Shepherd Lass. Geo. Aitken, Northport, N.Y., black, white and tan dog Clyde. W. G. Blackhurst, Philadelphia, dun and white dog Shep. Charles Pugh, Philadelphia, black, white and tan dog Tom. S. J. Sharpless, Philadelphia, black and tan bitch Gypsey. Dr. J. W. Downey, New Market, Md., black and tan dog Tweed II. T. S. Cooper, Coopersburg, Pa., black and tan dog Oscar. T. S. Cooper, Coopersburg, Pa., black and tan dog Walsingham. J. McNally, Philadelphia, black, white and tan dog Shep. PUPPY CLASS T. S. Cooper, Coopersburg, Pa., black, white and tan bitch Fan. Dr. J. W. Downey, New Market, Md., tawny bitch Lady Scotland.

Those of your readers who visited the Centennial, will remember the large tract of ground between the main building and Elm avenue; during the Centennial the mineral annex was located here. At our late State Fairs, it has been used as a parade ground for the horse exhibition. This was the place selected for the collie trial.

A course in the form of a horse-shoe was laid out. A single rail, placed on posts four feet high, defined the track, which was sixty feet wide; the pens were placed at the open end of the course. The dog to take the sheep out of pen No. 1, drive them around the track, through a line of flags, and pen them in pen No. 2; the pens being about sixty yards apart, in a direct line, and the sheep-drive, from pen to pen, around the course, was about seven hundred yards.

Promptly at two o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, a large, but orderly crowed came pouring out of the main building, to witness the contest. The north and west side of the course was soon a dense mass of people, and more continually arriving.

The judges by this time had stepped into the ring and directed the owners of the dogs to draw lots for places. This being done five sheep were put into pen No. 1, and everything was in readiness for the contest.

THE TRIALS

The first dog called was Lad, owned and worked by Geo. Taylor, of Sheffield, Eng. Lad is a smooth-coated, black, white and tan dog of good appearance, full of go, and, if properly handled, will be a difficult one to beat. At the word, the pen was opened, and the dog sprang in, driving the sheep out with a rush; and just here is where many of the competitors made a grievous mistake; instead of starting the sheep out quietly, they were brought into the course with a rush, and at once demoralized.

Lad's lot were wild, and the way they were started out did not tend to restore their confidence. Off they went, down the north side of the course, on the jump, followed by the dog. Here Lad stopped them about a third way down. Scarcely had he bunched them when a ram made a break and went through the crowd, the dog in hot pursuit; the balance of the flock soon followed. In a short time the dog returned with four of them, and, driving them through the second lags, returned to hunt up the missing one. This fellow he found in the main building, where he was fraternizing with a flock of merinoes. Lad brought him out in a hurry, but instead of joining his fellows and proceeding quietly along, as a well ordered sheep should do, he took refuge among some large stone slabs near the enclosure of the animal photographer, which stands in the middle of the parade ground. Here the refractory ram made a dead stand, charging the dog every time he approached him, upsetting him several times, to the great amusement of the crowed, but to the discomfiture of owner and dog.

At last, Taylor losing temper and judgement, directed Lad to "bite him," which he promptly did by seizing the ram by the nose. This was all wrong, as biting a sheep, under the rules, is marked as a positive demerit. No good resulted from this change of tactics, as the ram was now fully enraged and at bay. The judge seeing this, ordered the dog taken up.

Taylor's mistake was in not sending the dog after the other four and bringing them down to the obstinate sheep, when all could have been easily driven off together. His want of judgement lost him a place in the trial, and subjected a good dog to the ignominy of a defeat. This trial occupied 25 minutes.

Tweed II was the next dog called. He is owned by; Dr. J. W. Downey, New Market, Md., and was worked by Mr. Phebus. Five fresh sheep were penned, and everything being ready, Tweed was sent in and the sheep driven out. They broke immediately, two of them going down the track at a run. Tweed followed, and brought them back. It was now plain to every one that the dog had a flock wild enough to furnish plenty of fun, for scarcely did he have them bunched before they broke en masse through the crowd. The dog stuck to them in the most determined manner, and after a protracted bout brought them once more on the course without a sheep missing. From here to the turn he drove them through the flags without much difficulty. There, however, fresh trouble began. At this point there were several loads of loose straw and a two-horse wagon; there they made one of their characteristic breaks and took refuge under the wagon. Tweed dislodged them repeatedly, only to have them slip in on the other side. After an arduous time he got them out into the straw-piles. Here one ewe rebelled but the dog quickly settled the business by running against and capsizing her. She attempted to bury her head in the straw but Tweed rooted her out. He then started with them up the course toward the other pen, working them along nicely until he reached the photograph enclosure, where he deliberately penned them in a business-like manner, and stood on guard. This amused the crowd greatly. Mr. Phebus, on coming up, discovered the dog's mistake and ordered them out. Tweed hustled them out on the track in a hurry; one of the sheep here broke away and ran like a deer to the edge of the crowd; the dog followed in hot pursuit, caught him by the wool and tried to turn him, but failed, as with a jerk the sheep broke away and dashed into the crowd. After quite a chase the dog brought him back to the flock. From here to the pen the drive was quiet enough, the sheep being apparently satisfied that the indomitable Tweed would admit of no denial; turning the curve through the last flags, he drove them into the pen amidst rounds of applause. Time, twenty- seven minutes.

Oscar, a large black and tan collie, imported and owned by T. S. Cooper, of Coopersburg, Pa., was the next dog called; he was worked by his owner. Starting his sheep quietly from the pen to order, he fell in behind them, and they proceeded leisurely on their journey; reaching the east end of the track the sheep attempted a break, but were at once stopped and brought back. The dog drove them slowly and carefully up the south slide of the track to the receiving pen; when they reached the gate they stood huddled in a bunch and the dog on guard. Mr. Cooper, who had been carefully watching the proceedings, then waved his hand, and Oscar, moving first on one side and then on the other, forced the sheep quietly to the door of the pen. One started in, the rest followed and the job was done. Mr. Cooper and his dog received an ovation from the crowd, and overwhelmed by the compliment, forgot an important part of the programme, which was to close the door of the pen. The result was that the sheep were frightened by the cheering, and rushed out into the grounds pell mell. Oscar was immediately sent after the truants, captured them, and going through the same manoeuvers, again penned them, receiving another round of applause. Time, twenty-one minutes.

The next dog called was Tom, known as the Philadelphia dog, by reason of his long service in driving sheep from the stock-yards through the city, to the Camden ferries. He received a round of cheers when he appeared in the enclosure; evidently he was well known to many present. Mr. Pugh, whose business is driving sheep, employed tactics entirely different from the other competitors. Calling Tom to his heel, they walked deliberately around the course, from the starting pen to the finish, the dog evidently understanding the purpose; in the mean time five fresh sheep were placed in the pen. After completing the circuit, Pugh called Tom and lifted him over into the pen, among the sheep. The dog walked quietly through and among them. When the judges called time the pen was opened, and Tom started the sheep out. Receiving order to go slow, he lowered his tail and jogged along in a nonchalant manner in the rear of his flock, the sheep being entirely passive under his quiet method. Pugh walked wide of his dog, and contended himself with an occasional remark to his dog, sotto voce, or a significant wave of his hand. At the east end of the track one break was made, but the dog got them in hand at once; again the conciliatory policy was assumed, Tom doing the business in a most judgmatical manner, turning up the south side toward the finish pen. Push started on the lead, Tom behind, bringing them along without a break, until they reached the door of the pen; there the flock halted, huddled together, evidently brewing mischief if the opportunity offered. But Pugh is a general, and equal to any emergency, and Tom his trusty aid-de-camp. "Speak to 'em, Tom," and bow, wow, wow, in a sonorous tone, showed that the dog understood the order, and the astonished she ep bolted into the pen without further demur. This perform-ance was well received, and Tom got three cheers. Time, eighteen minutes. This closed the entertainment for the day.

On Wednesday, at 10 o'clock a.m., the PUPPY CLASS was called; only two entries appeared. Fan, a black, white and tan bitch, owned by T. S. Cooper, Coopersburg, Pa., was the first called. She was worked by Tom, Lord Walsingham's shepherd, who has just arrived with a flock of South Downs, which Mr. Cooper purchased from his lordship, and exhibited at the International Sheep Show. The bitch was handled in a masterly manner, and is a first-class performer; as she is just coming in heat and scarcely rested from the voyage, her work, under the circum- stances, was something remarkable. With a fairly wild flock of sheep, she bunched, gathered them when they broke, worked them around the course, and finally penned them in praiseworthy style. She is thirteen months old.

Lady Scotland was the next called; a little tawny red puppy, only six months old. The crowd rather intimidated her at first, but as soon as she saw the sheep she went to work; the instincts of the true-bred collie asserting itself. After various vicissitudes, always sticking to her sheep, she brought them round to the housing pen, drive them in, and received the applause she deservedly earned. She is a most precocious puppy and will make her mark.

In the afternoon at 2 p.m., the remaining entries in the aged class were called. First came Joe, a handsome black and tan dog, fine style and excellent coat, next to Tweed, the best looking dog in the trials, two years old, and worked by his owner, John Bichner, of Philadelphia. With judicious handling Joe will make a fine worker, but is too wild at present to perform on five sheep. At the word he entered the pen, but started his sheep out with a rush. They broke at once; he got them together, but in a moment they scattered to the four winds. Here is where high training and sheep dog knowledge would have come in play, but this he did not possess; the result was disastrous failure. After a protracted struggle his owner abandoned the job and asked permission of the judge to withdraw his dog, which was accorded.

Shep, owned by W. H. Blackhurst, Philadelphia, was next called. This dog is a nondescript, queer looking, and peculiar in his actions. With a more judicious handler he might have made a better show, but Blackhurst seemed to have no clear idea of what he wanted the dog to do, and confused him with contradictory orders. The result was the sheep broke wildly time and gain; eventually a ram turned at bay and fairly whipped the dog off. After tiring the patience of judges and lookers-on, the dog was ordered up, and the trials ended.

In order to entertain the crowd and at the same time to get additional points to base their awards, the judges decided that Tom, Tweed and Oscar should give an exhibition of flock driving, etc.

Tom was the first called; about thirty sheep were turned out; he divided them, bunched them all together again, drove them away, brought them back, massed them around his owner, and finally penned them to order.

Tweed was then called, and in his quick and alert style went through the same performance, and with equal merit.

Oscar then duplicated the performance. Indeed, it is unfair to draw comparison between such grand dogs -- each had his coterie of admirers; it being, as one of the judges remarked, "The shade of a hair" which was best.

This ended the exercises for the day, and the judges retired to ballot on the winner.

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