Several years ago …as I watched what I thought was a great dog helping its owner move sheep across the wide open field…I thought “IF ONLY I could do that with a dog! ” How little I knew, and what a “Journey” I embarked on that day. The burning desire to accomplish “that” and where it would lead me. (Still leading me)!!!
Drover and I have 46 sheep to move daily. Our main work is gathering the sheep up of the evening and putting them back in the sheep arena. A place that is hopefully safe from predators…
We turn the sheep out during the day (usually early) to free range graze our property. They have a routine and by late evening are usually in the field at the end of the dam. Drover and I walk across the dam locate the sheep and then he is sent to bring the sheep to me. This generally works well …
25 Lambs are not the easiest things to herd. They are more like marbles bouncing on a hard floor after being flung! Or they do not move at all! This can be right aggravating to this Shepherdess and her dog. (mainly aggravating to him because THEY aggravate ME!)
We are learning together! That has been the best part of this journey! it has made the journey more exciting! and fun and for sure rewarding!
Yesterday Drover and I worked hard. We had one ewe lamb that refused to go in with the rest of the flock. Drover would bring the lamb to me then quick as two jerks of a lambs tail she would be off and gone… slick and fast as a deer! He brought her to the gate at least 6 times and said NO WAY NOT THERE!!!! and I tried to help catch her in the corner too!
Then the lamb darted out into the field and tall grass, this slowed her down and I saw Drover take his paw and catch the lamb! Oh NO! I started towards him and he had the lamb that weighs at least 10 pounds or more in his mouth bringing the lamb to me like a retriever would a duck! I commanded him to “DOWN!” he did and I walked up to the lamb completely UNHURT! But very still and picked it up myself and took it into the flock and it’s Momma!
I am pretty sure catching and retrieving silly lambs is not the line of work I had in mind when I saw that dog working sheep years ago that started me on my journey! But I am sure glad MY DOG DROVER has a soft mouth , a kind heart and a willing pleasing spirit to do what I want all ways! (I am betting that lamb is glad too!) He could have easily killed that lamb but he did not have that in mind.
That lamb was “part of the flock” today and :”WORD” must have spread to stay together…Because we had no such trouble today….
Foot note: This near disaster was caused by my lack of patience and understanding “something” I will be more careful of from now on!
