The Florida Cow Dogs

The Florida Cow Dogs. . Florida cowmen depend on a good cow dog. The first stock dogs were brought to Florida by Hernando De Soto in 1539. Hernando de Soto and his explorers traveled by ship and brought with them some cattle and herding dogs. By the time of the pioneer cowmen, there were many mixed breeds of cow dogs. Most cow dogs were part hound dog, bulldog, cur, leopard or Australian Blue Heeler. The work of the cow dog saved the cowmen much time and many miles of chasing runaway cattle. The descendants of both the cattle and the dogs would become forever a part of Florida's agricultural heritage., Cow dogs are specially trained to assist ranchers to herd and drive cattle. When a cow escapes, it is the dog's responsibility to return it to the herd. They also are trained to be directed to separate (or cut) a cow from the rest of the herd as directed by the Cowmen. Some cow dogs, called catch dogs, will hold a cow by the nose, ear or leg until the cow is roped. The cow dog never bites or harms the cattle. They are spirited dogs that will go face-to-face with a bull and stand their ground. When not out cow hunting, the cow dogs serve as family watchdogs and protectors of the homestead. There is a special relationship between a cowmen and his cow dog that is based on loyalty, understanding and trust which is demonstrated through the hard work that they do together on a cattle ranch., The Florida cow dogs were an important part of the early Floridians' lives and today you can still see descendants of the original Florida cow dogs on ranches around the state. They are another part of the rich agricultural history and heritage.