"Just a dog!" A farm wouldn't be a farm without its dogs.

The shooting season seems so far away now. Of course, it only ended on February 1st. But for me it was February 1st, 2018!

Thanks to my back injury I never got to work my dogs at all this season. They still had lots of fun and I’m sure never knew what they were missing…hold on…I think I may be weighing them down with human feelings here! They are ‘only’ dogs after all. What does that actually mean?? Or as My Farmer says… “IT’S JUST A DOG!”

You may, possibly, be able to tell a level of irritation in his voice there! We have always had a difference of opinion regarding our dogs. I will write more about my opinion on another day! Don’t be mistaken, My Farmer has a very special bond with his dogs. But it’s not demonstrated in the way that owners and family pets would show their feelings for one another. With, often, open adoration on both sides, lots of cuddles and kisses. Viewing the dog as part of the human family, and often, as a child.

His sheepdogs are woven of the same cloth that he is. They need praise, and kindness, but they have a confidence of their own and a drive to do their job. They need to work. They understand each other completely. Relishing the closeness with which they work together. Living for that connection, that bond, which can only come when you work as a team. Each relying on the other. It’s a joy to watch it happening.

Many farmers do keep their working dogs in the house. We don’t. Our first dog, Mist, did live in the house for a while. It didn’t work for us. She seemed to be a bit confused by the difference in worlds. I didn’t help. I was too soppy and let her get away with bad behaviour because it made my life easier. I was busy with babies at the time. I can tell you I learnt a good lesson from that! She stopped listening to his commands and took to deciding what she wanted to do, and what she didn’t. It’s never a good thing to have a self-employed dog!! Mist became a bit of a liability, and eventually took a new job as ‘defender’ of the castle. She had a big bark and would bite any persistent intruders! But she was no longer used for sheep work.

I found it difficult when she was moved outside to a kennel. But I have to admit that she was actually happier. They are such hardy dogs. I can remember looking outside on a frosty morning and seeing Mist (who was free to roam in the yard where she chose), curled up on the white lawn with frost on her back. When I called her, she got up, stretched, yawned and wandered over to me leaving a green circle where she had been sleeping. She had a barn full of straw and a warm bed in her kennel, but she chose the frozen garden!

Spark was bought from a trialling man to replace Mist. He was heaven sent. I no longer heard furious shouting from the field, or had an irate farmer, red in the face, turning up for lunch with murder in his heart! Poor Mist. But she was a terror. My Farmer still talks of Spark wistfully. He is long gone, sadly. He was blinded in one eye as a puppy, before he came to us. But it never held him back. The ultimate Paralympian! Such a cool, calm temper, and an instinctive understanding of sheep. He never hassled them or was too rough. He needed very few commands as he seemed to know what his farmer was thinking. He knew his farm and any shortcuts he could take to return a strayed sheep, he would. So clever. He is much missed.

His son, Lad, was bred on our farm in Kent. He was a handsome, extremely strong dog. Not with the intelligence of his father, but with his big heart and drive. He loved the children, but had to be watched as he was so clumsy! Always bashing into them or pulling them over, as they LOVED to walk him on the lead. Such a brave dog that we could work cattle with him too. He could be a bit hard on the sheep sometimes, so we had to be careful where we used him. Which was why he worked so well in a team with our lovely Ben. My heart just swells a little bit when I say his name. Dear Ben. Everybody loves Uncle Ben. My puppies used to race to him every morning to kiss his face, and he would sit down so they could all climb over him and play. Such a gorgeous gentle dog.

Each of our dogs has made such an impression on our lives. Our days wouldn’t have been the same without them. Sometimes in good ways and sometimes bad! But always part of the farm team. And yes, family.

It has been sad on the farm as our, now old, friend Lad had to be put to sleep recently. He had struggled to stay on his legs and had become more and more aggressive with Ben. Old age can make even the best of us cantankerous! One morning it was clear that Lad was really suffering. The very worst part of sharing your life with a dog, is that they can’t stay with us for long. We have to make very hard decisions about their quality of life. With a working dog it is also difficult as often they will not want to stop. The bond with the farmer will drive them on past where it is good for them to go.

Spark just decided one day, that he had finished his working days. He didn’t join in on checking the ewes one morning, and that was that. He didn’t really work again. He spent his days sitting in the yard watching the action, in his usually cool way. Until cancer took him. Lad wanted to work but his legs couldn’t carry him. Heartbreaking. Never an easy decision. What is best for your friend must be paramount. The vet came to visit the farm so that Lad would feel no stress, and he died in his farmers arms. A tough day.

Now we have young Dan to carry the torch. A farm can’t survive without its dogs. Thank heavens. Dan has big boots to fill.

We miss you old friends.

See below for memories of our boy Lad:

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