Drover’s Stock Dog Journal

This afternoon Kay sold 14 head of sheep to a fellow in Midland NC! 9 lambs and 5 Churrio Ewes….

I had to take the ewes to the barn for sorting (out of the big 7 acre field) and across land that is unfenced. This is not a problem for me. I put them right in the barn and into a stall for sorting. (No Feed Involved) Just me and my stock working abilities!

Then I went back to the small field where the lambs and one old ewe was  and brought them all to the barn and put them in a separate stall from the other sheep…Again no feed needed! and this was a bit harder work for me. The lambs are not dog broke and required more effort from me… to keep them together and moving.

Once in the barn I went into the stall and sorted while Kay stood on the outside of the gate! We work like a well oiled machine together! I did the install work quietly and efficiently (even Les was impressed ) How quickly and quietly the work proceeded!

Then once I sorted the sold Lambs and Ewes We took the unsold ones to the pasture…

The guy came and there was little to do but for Kay to catch and Les and the buyer to load the sheep onto the truck.

We went to the buyers farm…He had a very large Great Pyrenees! I stayed in the truck…The buyer put the Pyrenees up and asked Kay if I could get his sheep up for him and move them two fields over? Kay said sure! and asked him to show her where he wanted the sheep moved to. He showed her. Then she sent me on an “Away” and then come bye , away , this was real work as the sheep were 60 head of never worked by a dog (Non dog broke sheep) in a 20 acre field! My in close working style and loose eyed up right worked fine and in no time I had them all up in the first field. Kay had the gate shut and there was one old ewe and her lamb that ran!

The guy said let em go! Kay said NO! we can get them and I did! The ewe wanted to fight and backed up against two of the biggest hogs  Kay has ever seen! Then tried to get me! Pretty soon we had her under control and headed out to the gate with the other sheep and the lamb followed!

From that field it was much smaller maybe 2 acres…and it had 5 yearling calves in it (they thought they were hot stuff and wanted some of me) I was not too sure about them! I had to herd the 60 head of sheep into another field….Soon I had the sheep in the other pasture without a problem! it was actually easy!

Trent the owner was impressed and said so! (He even gave me a handsome tip for my work!)

Kay is pleased! It was good honest hard work…But showed that all my training has paid off!

***English Shepherds are working herding dogs! The stock does not matter nor should it! Dog broke or not! The dog should have enough training and trust in your partnership to do what ever the job might be!  This evening Drover proved that! ***

I am very pleased  with Drover. Drover was bred by Carol Greet in Ten Sleep, Wyoming. He has lived with us since he was 9 weeks of age.

We are expecting at least one litter from him this June 14th. Contact me about being on my puppy list if you are looking for a good English Shepherd puppy out of working dogs!

Drover and Kay at a trial in Kentucky last July…