What A Dog!

Today it rained ! All day. Cold and dreary foggy. This evening Les offered to put the ducks up and I agreed very happily! When Les came back in after being gone a very long time, he said he could not find the ducks. I thought oh no! So I put all my dogs up, except for Drover and to the sheep pens we headed, it was raining pretty good by then.
When we got there sure enough no ducks! So Drover and I went looking! I figured they were across the branch and  there they were!  They  clearly wanted to come back across for their supper! But how could they get back across? Where was that hole in the old fence? Ducks being ducks could not find the hole!
Super Handler (me) does a dumb thing. As  I send Drover on over, I cross the branch to help Drover herd the ducks back to the pens. Drover smart dog sets about to bring his ducks to me. Oh No !  I realize I should have stayed next to the pens and Drover would have brought the ducks right to me! DUH! Instead he brings the ducks towards me on the other side of the branch and there is nowhere I can cross for Drover to bring the ducks along behind me! So when the ducks get to the fence they scatter and run! Ducks up and down the branch!  Well the dog is smarter than his “Super Handler” and manages to herd the ducks across the branch  anyway! and I open the gate and all Nine of the ducks go in their pen! Good job Drover!

NO WAIT ! NINE ! THERE IS SUPPOSE TO BE TEN ! OH NO!  DROVER where is the last duck? Drover! Duck! Where is the duck? Can he count ? Maybe?! Does he know what I am asking him ? FOR SURE!
He starts looking for that duck and in the branch he goes. Now there is a large hole of water and it is difficult to get in and out of because the bank is so steep. Plus all the old wire! That is where Drover goes duck hunting! He gets into the water, and it is up to the top of his back. He goes to the left and out of my sight. There is a tree with big roots and the water goes under it (unknown to me) then into the big hole. Drover disappears under the roots and into that deep dark water.  He comes out soaked but no duck! I said “Now you got to find that duck it will die if you don’t now sisisisi get em get em get em”  real low toned like. Drover goes back into that hole of water and out of my site and is clearly pulling something out of there but no barking no noise only breathing . He is at this for maybe 2 minutes, then he backs out slowly I see his tail then his back and head and ! the duck is in his mouth! He brings it out on the opposite side of the branch and is  breathing  kinda labored like and goes as far as he can before he has to lay the duck down but still has it in his mouth and under control, he waits for me to scramble over the tree roots and wire and woods . I get to him and he gives me  the duck  unharmed out of his mouth! He was holding the duck along its back and right behind its wings! That duck is perfectly fine! Not a feather out of place or missing!
I am sure that the duck was hung in the roots of that old tree in the water! Drover saved it for I would never have found it in time, nor would I have been able to go into that place to get it even if I knew where it was!
I am amazed by the ability and  pure instinct this dog has!

He was very pleased he had done such a great job!

But pleased does not begin to describe me!  Drover has the makings of a great farm dog!

Now if I can just get out of his way and be able to do half what I need to do the dog will be able to do all kinds of helpful things!