Florida cowmen depended on good cow dogs. The first stock dogs were brought to Florida by Hernando De Soto in 1539, when he and his explorers traveled by ship with some cattle and herding dogs. By the time of the pioneer cowmen, many mixed breeds of cow dogs existed, and most were part hound dog, bulldog, cur, leopard, or Australian Blue Heeler. Their work saved cowmen much time and many miles of chasing runaway cattle. Descendants of both the cattle and the dogs became a lasting part of Florida's agricultural heritage. Cow dogs were specially trained to help ranchers herd and drive cattle, return escaped cows to the herd, and separate a cow from the rest of the herd as directed by cowmen. Some, called catch dogs, held a cow by the nose, ear, or leg until it was roped. The cow dog never bit or harmed the cattle. These spirited dogs would go face-to-face with a bull and stand their ground. When not out cow hunting, they also served as family watchdogs and protectors of the homestead. A special relationship between a cowman and his cow dog was based on loyalty, understanding, and trust and was demonstrated through their hard work together on a cattle ranch. Florida cow dogs were an important part of early Floridians' lives, and descendants of the original Florida cow dogs can still be seen on ranches around the state today as part of this rich agricultural heritage.