The Rural Voice, 1991-06, Page 42NOTEBOOK
A SALUTE TO THE FARM DOG
THIS FARM WORKER NEVER GRUMBLES
By Cathy Laird
There is one member of the farm-
ing community that always shows up
to work, never grumbles about prices
or wages, and who is always on the
job, 365 days a year. He is the Farm
Dog. He is ever faithful, never tired,
and always ready. He is a good
friend, and most farmers wouldn't be
without him. Much has been written
about the human side of farming, but
it's now time to pay tribute to an over-
looked important member of farm life.
The vast majority of Farm Dogs
lead a varied life. Most dogs take it
pretty easy these days. Only a few are
still used in rounding up livestock.
Most Farm Dogs are content to
wander around the farm buildings and
warn of approaching strangers.
Some dogs are relegated to the
outdoors, while other, more fortunate
dogs, have access to the house with
their own end of the couch (in the
kitchen, preferably). It is the opinion
of most dogs that they should be al-
lowed in and be made a fuss over.
After all, one of their favourite jobs is
cleaning up the choice table scraps
and left -overs after meals.
No other member of the farm fam-
ily is so ready to go to the barn! The
sharpest north wind in winter cannot
deter a dog or keep him from accom-
panying his farmer to the barn. Nor
can the deepest mud. Once at the
barn, most dogs devote their time to
chasing cats, snuffling under bales
after a mouse, or just sitting watching
his farmer work.
A Farm Dog is great company! Hc
will never argue or talk hack; and he
will agree with just about anything the
farmer says. He will patiently sit and
listen to the harshest complaints about
the weather or the hanks. Best of all,
he never repeats gossip. And he never
uses the same language that his farmer
docs "out behind the barn."
Each season of the year means
something different to Farm Dogs. A
falling leaf is enough to entice him
into a chase — if he's young enough.
Autumn brings MUD and this can
make things awkward. One dog
solved the problem of muddy feet by
letting his farmer's wife wipe his feet
with a paper towel before he came in.
People that have carpet in their farm
kitchens do not as a general rule let
dogs into the house.
Any long-haired dog knows the
torture of burdocks in the fall. Other
dangers are porcupine quills and
skunks' back ends. One dog we know
of loved corn harvest. He would go
into the garden and pull a stalk of
sweet corn out of the ground, carry it
to the front yard, husk the cob, and eat
it. Clearly, he was a survivor!
Winter is mainly inconvenient to a
dog, especially to the ones who are
outside all year. Farm Dogs do make
up for a lack of exercise by jumping
into a pile of fluffy snow and coming
out, with snow sticking to their dog
hair. Depending on the length of hair,
it can take quite a while for the snow
to dry (or drip off onto the floor, or
couch, or rug).
A wise dog will always let his far-
mer break the path through deep snow
to the barn. Once an established path
is there, he will bound ahead with his
usual enthusiasm.
Spring brings a Farm Dog's muddy
time again (see autumn). The season
of mud lasts longer now, and some
dogs spend more time outdoors be-
cause of what they get into in those
puddles around the barn. Spring also
is a time for exploring the back fields,
checking the fences, and getting ready
for summer.
Summer is a Farm Dog's paradise.
He hones his skill as a hunter. A
Farm Dog measures his hunting ability
by the number of groundhog carcasses
he trails to the yard. All he wants for
his considerable efforts is some praise
and a bowl of cool water to drink.
A Farm Dog must be trained to
help in the garden. One dog can dig
up potatoes as fast as a family of five
can plant them. Flower beds and bed-
ding plants are at the mercy of Farm
Dogs in summer too. It must be point-
ed out that it is the responsibility of
the farm family to replant the dug -up
Farm dogs are part of the tradition on the fourth generation Scott family dairy farm
north of Seaforth. Left is Tina, 16 years, owner Ken, and Mike,10.
38 THE RURAL VOICE