Working hard, or hardly working? A farmer stands beside two dogs, who are harnessed to a cart, in 1916.

Don't get me started on dogs. I love dogs of all shapes, sizes, colors, temperaments, breeds, nationalities. I was thrilled, and surprised, when Sam Moore mentioned dog powers in "Pulling their Weight: Farm animals pulled the load on early tread powers" in the April 2011 issue. I'd never heard of utilizing a dog's abundant supply of energy into power, but just weeks after sending the April issue to the printer, I stumbled across a blog post titled "Dog on Treadmills" on one of my favorite dog blogs, Dogster. The dog treadmills in this blog aren't tread powers though, just exercise for the city dog with no yard, or the pup with just a bit too much energy. But at $900, I wasn't sure who could justify the expense when there was no guarantee the dog would even use the dang thing.

It seems I wasn't the only person skeptical about dogs using tread powers. We received a letter from reader Alan Easley of Columbia, Mo. ("Dog will hunt – but power a treadmill?" August 2011) Mr. Easley wrote, "I've had some good old hounds in my life and they were always ready to go hunting or ride in the truck, but I don’t think any of them were ever ambitious enough to help me churn butter."

Iola Smith and her dog walking through a field on the Smith farm in Carroll County, Ga., in 1941.

Since publishing Mr. Easley's letter, we've received a flurry of responses from readers defending hard-working farm dogs who did their part to keep the farm (literally) moving.

The letter that stuck with me was from 96-year-old Henrietta Hockstra of Willmar, Minn., who wrote about her farm dog, Shep, who loved working the treadmill that powered the family washing machine. She also sent in the auction sale bill from 1925 when her family sold the farm, and there is Shep and his dog power listed among washing machines, stoves and sulky plows up for sale. (You can see the sale bill by clicking here.)

But dogs had, and continue to hold, other important responsibilities on the farm. Breeds like Border Collies and Australian Shepherds herd sheep. Great Pyrenees and Anatolian Shepherds, with plenty of training, make great guardians/livestock protectors.

A young man works the sugar beet fields while his dog keeps watch, Treasure County, Mont., in 1939.

But I think the most important job for farm dogs is keeping farmers and, more importantly, farm kids, company. The companionship that only a pup can offer is in every photo I found when searching through the Library of Congress' photo archives. The dog keeping children company while they tap trees for maple syrup in cold, snow covered Vermont, the little girl wandering a Georgia field flanked by her trusty pooch, an Alabama peanut farmer planting with his pup in tow, or the seasoned Montana rancher and his trusty hound sidekick with Big Sky Country in the background. It seems throughout history, nothing compares to the company of man's best friend.  

A rancher with his horse and dog on Gravelly Range, Madison County, Mont., in 1942.

I had an Australian Shepherd pup named Franklin, who although he never spent a minute on the farm or a day herding sheep, would instinctively nip at my ankles if he ended up walking behind me on the stairs. Or my dear Dachshund dog friend (also named Franklin) who can't help but herd groups of people. My mutt, Jefferson, on the other hand, must come from the same family as Mr. Easley's dogs: Always ready to chase some bunnies or go for a ride, but not eager to help with the laundry. But boy, ol' Jeff makes good company.

See, I told you not to get me started on dogs.

Do you have memories of your farm dog from your childhood, or a particularly helpful mutt who resides on your homestead? I'd love to hear about them, so please share your stories in the comments section!

April 2011 Item A 

We have no conclusive answer for this item. Buck and Cathy Evans, Ft. Lupton, Colo., believe it to be a homemade steam engine. Gary Drentlaw, Northfield, Minn., believes it to be a hand-operated engine to power lathes. Photo submitted by Clarence Lammers, Lake St. Louis, Mo.

April 2011 Item B 

Carpet stretcher, as identified by Spencer Greenhill, Luther, Mich., who says this one was made by Bowles Hardware Co., and patented June 18, 1870. Also identified by Gary Drentlaw; Wendell Dillavou, Aledo, Ill.; Harold Jehle, Baldwin, Kan.; Buck and Cathy Evans; Stephen Clemens, Mazeppa, Minn.; Floyd Olson, Tonganoxie, Kan.; John R. Baird, Roseburg, Ore.; David Ruark, Pomeroy, Wash.; Duane and Joan Craig; George Wanamaker, Macomb, Ill.; Craig Phillips, Allegan, Mich.; O.K. Blackstone, Caribou, Maine. Photo submitted by Robert Kirtz, Hector, Minn. See patent 178,593 for a similar patent. 

April 2011 Item C 

Scoop board, as identified by Donald La Brune, Holland, Minn. “The end gate was taken out of a triple box corn wagon and this was put in the end of the box,” Donald explains. “The metal sides of the scoop board fit on the outside of the box. When the wagon was unloaded, the scoop board was back down at an angle on two rods; one on each side held it at an angle. This was a place to stand while unloading the corn. When you used a scoop box, there was no corn to pick up off the ground. The last time I used ours was in the spring of 1942. I picked 40 acres by hand. The corn was open-pollinated so most of it was in the mud. That fall we bought a 1-row corn picker.”
Also identified by Wayne Spiess, Dawson, Minn; Wendell Starkebaum, Higginsville, Mo.; Joel Croxton, LaPrairie, Ill.; Dan Chambers, Hammond, Ill.; William L. Mon, Oregon, Ill.; Roscoe Mart, Eddyville, Iowa; Al V. Wheeler, Yorkville, Ill.; Wendell Dillavou; Harold Jehle; Marvin H. Glick, Hartsville, Ind.; Ralph Hubele, Carmi, Ill.; Buck and Cathy Evans; Marvin Young, Lakeville, Ohio; Richard Allspach, Baxter, Iowa; Lawrence D. Steele, Toledo, Ill.; Gene Winter; Dale Gengenbach, Eustis, Neb.; Stephen Clemens; Floyd Olson; John R. Baird; David Babcock, Glenvil, Neb.; Diane and Roger Goodger, Milton, Wis.; Jim Kelp; Ken Hunter, Allerton, Ill.; Dale E. Kincaid, Newman, Ill.; Hal Locke, Amberg, Wis.; David Ruark; Raymond L. Christensen, Robins, Iowa; Duane and Joan Craig; George Wanamaker; Robert Schmidt, Fults, Ill.; Burt Berge, Rochester, Minn.; David Hall, Reynolds, Ind.; Jim Bilt, Corsica, S.D.; Everett Hanson, Fairfax, Minn.; Robert Keller, Commiskey, Ind.; Malici Conlon, Wellsville, Mo.; Jerry Lashbrooke, Marshall, Ill.; Russell Manchester, Davis City, Iowa; Milferd Smith, Darwin, Minn. Photo submitted by Dale Harber, Yoder, Ind. See patent 944,109 for a similar patent. 

April 2011 Item D 

Again, we have nothing conclusive on this piece, but David Ruark comes the closest, identifying this as a wrench to tighten/loosen a hex head bolt, by inserting rod through the round hole and the hex opening over the bolt/nut and twisting. Robert Kirtz, Hector, Minn., Gary Drentlaw, Floyd Olson, Diane and Roger Goodger sent similar answers. Photo submitted by Mil Harr, Centennial, Colo.

Do you recognize this tool? It measures about 7 inches long and is marked "X7."

If you recognize this tool leave a comment by clicking the Comment link below.

Check back here May 17 for the correct answer, or find it in the June 2011 issue of Farm Collector.

Have a tool you want to submit? E-mail us at info@farmcollectormail.com with at least one photo taken in a well-lit area against a plain background. Include dimensions and any markings on the piece.

Do you recognize this tool? The faded paint readers "The Victor Improved. H.F. Zent & Co., Huntington, Ind." The piece measures about 3 feet tall with sheet metal sides.

If you recognize this tool leave a comment by clicking the Comment link below.

Check back here May 17 for the correct answer, or find it in the June 2011 issue of Farm Collector.

Have a tool you want to submit? E-mail us at info@farmcollectormail.com with at least one photo taken in a well-lit area against a plain background. Include dimensions and any markings on the piece.

Do you recognize this tool? It was found in a tool chest and has no markings. It hinges in two places. The handle measures 11 inches and the base measures 9 inches.

If you recognize this tool leave a comment below.

Check back here May 17 for the correct answer, or find it in the June 2011 issue of Farm Collector.

Have a tool you want to submit? E-mail us at info@farmcollectormail.com with at least one photo taken in a well-lit area against a plain background. Include dimensions and any markings on the piece.

Do you recognize this tool? It is a 36-inch wooden box built with square nails. It has a brass crosshead and cylinder. The wooden pulley at center measures 2-1/2 inches in diameter and 3-1/2 inches wide with metal shoulders on each side.

If you recognize this tool leave a comment below.

Check back here May 17 for the correct answer, or find it in the June 2011 issue of Farm Collector.

Have a tool you want to submit? E-mail us at info@farmcollectormail.com with at least one photo taken in a well-lit area against a plain background. Include dimensions and any markings on the piece.