Team Sheep
A farm wouldn't be a farm without its dogs.
Working sheep is a task as old as the hills themselves, thankfully it is still best done by dogs.
Let me introduce you to My Farmers sheepdog team.
LAD
The Boss
Loyal and fearless as they come. He only has eyes for his master. Any sheep stepping out of line need to watch out!
Lad is a tri-coloured, exceptionally strong natured dog. Sweet and loving with children, but not very good brakes! As a consequence, many a child has ended up on the floor, as he has piled into them at a hundred miles an hour.
He is also a terror for a dog fight. lip curling one second, attacking the next. He just doesn't like any back chat! But if the dog has lost his crown jewels he's their best friend...Rustles the top of the friends list!
Sadly Lad, at ten, is getting old now. It happens to the best of us! He's worked hard and needs to take life a little easier. His back legs are stiff and his hearing isn't so good(although this could be selective!) He is clearly struggling now, and it's astounding to see how the grey in his face has increased over the last year.
He still wants to work, but he's slow to rise from his bed now. Incredible how he can still twist his body in mid-air to glide through the bars of a gate though!
BEN
Uncle Ben
Dear Ben. He is everyone's favourite.
A black and white short-coated collie. So opposite to Lad in character and also working style. He came to us from a trialling man at three years old.
Had never been taught how to get through a gate without it being opened for him. Had no idea what roast dinner scraps were,(didn't take him long to learn, although he was VERY suspicious!) and had only ever moved twenty sheep at a time before.
What a shock he was in for! The first time he was taken out to move two hundred head of sheep he was so terrified he ran back to the farm and ended up on the back step with me giving him cuddles. My Farmer was NOT impressed...with either of us!!
He soon learnt his job, but he's always been timid. We soon learnt that he couldn't live with Lad. The Boss tried to eat him at every opportunity, except when they were working.
When my pups were born, I would let them out in the morning and they would all stream along like funny, fat little piglets to say 'Good morning' to Uncle Ben, with kisses. So sweet!
On my daily 'just for fun' walks with all the dogs, Ben prefers to stay walking by my side. He has an occasional little scamper around, and when I give the 'Get on' command to all the others, Ben will spin around in mad circles in front of me. Then will return to my side. Dogs are just weird sometimes!
DAN
Mr Handsome
Our new collie only arrived a few months ago. He is here to eventually take over from Lad. He is a typical teenager. Full of life and enthusiasm, thinks he knows it all, and is prepared to have a fight about it!
He’s settling in well and has bonded nicely with My Farmer. They are getting used to each others ways, but it’s hard to start a new relationship when you don’t want to leave the old one.
Lad is a tough act to follow.
But Dan has recently positioned himself as Number 1. The Boss has decided his fighting days are over. He now backs down whenever Dan takes a stand. It feels sad to watch, but it is the natural course of life. The old campaigners days at work are numbered.
Long live King Dan!
But he will have to wait a while before he mounts the throne…especially if he keeps resisiting the ‘Stop’ command!!