Sweet Oreo was born at Maple Grove Farm 4 years ago. She was a Dorper/ Churrio Navajo cross and had a white middle and black hind end and black front end. Thus the name Oreo!
Oreo at first did not care for herding work. She seemed to think that sheep should spend their time eating, sleeping and being sheep… and doing as THEY PLEASED! And in her mind being moved anywhere was not “something” she was going to do…
One cold winter day some of the sheep were out in the yard and near the pond enjoying the tender grass. Oreo was one of them. Gerry was across the dam with her dog Elvis…Drover and I were working on moving the sheep to where they needed to be. Oreo refused to go! And JUMPED into the pond went out of sight “thing Dock Diving”…Came up swimming like a dog! She was headed to the open deep water. Gerry and I watched from two different sides of the pond. I was trying to figure out what to do. I thought I will go get BOO and she will go out and help ! BOO came out and Oreo saw the shore on her right and the green grass. She headed that way and we watched. She climbed the bank and rested there a while. Got up shook herself off and trotted to the herd. From that moment on Oreo became a very smart well mannered sheep. She worked nicely and has been an anchor in my herd ever since…
Oreo had one lamb at 1 and 1/2 years of age. And was bred back in June for October lambing..
When I first started raising sheep I had so many misconceptions about sheep. I had no idea they had personality! Or were so smart, gentle and loving. They have so many ways like us. No wonder the Bible speaks about how we like sheep have gone astray! It happens! And like my sweet Oreo was stubborn and jumped into the pond instead of doing the smart good thing that was being asked of her!
Oreo has been a big part of my herding working dog teaching program.
Oreo was expecting and due anytime next week.
She went missing last Thursday. I looked all over for her thinking she was just resting somewhere in my field. There are lots of places she could have been but I did not see her. I counted again and thought oh I just miss counted and went on. Friday I knew she was missing! I looked on foot all over with KAT helping. Then I saw it! To my horror something had pulled Oreo thru the fence and took her down into the woods. Yes she was gone. So with a bit of investigating it seems that the coyotes pulled her thru the fence my guess as she was having lambs in the night. I had heard the coyotes in close making odd sounds…
OREO is the sheep with the bell up front…the others are 3 young lambs learning to flock together.
I have never had a problem with them…
Poor sweet Oreo…I am not a very good shepherd or I would have been on top of this. She was a good sheep and did not deserve this for her end.
But it is what it is and life goes on…
Oreo was my friend and a living being that belonged to Maple Grove Farm for a short period of time. We were blessed to have her live here.
Oreo showed me that yes indeed Sheep Do Swim!:-)
Oreo was a fine sheep!
