Ode to a sheepdog

She's just a slip of a thing.

Nothing remarkable in her looks.
When she comes up to you, she has this way of showing you that she is your friend.

She doesn't ask for much- just a bit of warmth on a cold day, a scratch behind the ears, and to work for her master.

When you see her work the sheep, you first notice her diminutive size. You wonder how she will cover the ground fast enough to to her work, and, also, God forbid, handle sheep who are having a "bad hair day".

Just before her master sends her, she looks into his eyes, which can only be described as complete adoration- ANYTHING he asks, she will do.

When he sends her she brings her sheep, nothing very fancy, but she does so- and she does it with cool forward focus. Where this dog excels is in true work- work in the direst of circumstances- where she could be in danger. Work where many dogs would just quit, because they don't trust their master to protect them. Not so this little lass. She would go to hell and back for her master, for she trusts him implicitly, and it is her duty. Her master would never put her in danger, that goes without saying, but how does a dog truly know that? To a bystander, it is very nerve wracking- watching sheep come at that wee lass, with hatred in their eyes. But, a good sheep dog knows their sheep- knows how to avoid the hits, and to back up the request. To get the work done at all costs.

You can take this little Border Collie anywhere, and she will get it done. She will move un-broken stock, and angry stock. She will move youngsters with a calm, authoritative manner, she will do anything she is asked- just the right way for the animals she works, just because she is a good sheepdog.

But, there really is more to a "good sheepdog". Just as important, I believe, as the inborn ability, is the dogs willingness to do things that he/she wouldn't do, unless they implicitly trusted their master. This is where true mountains are moved. If you have that bond, your dog will do anything her little body can physically do, and will work in situations where many dogs would fear to tread. Once that job is done, your heart is warmed. You know that this indeed, is your best dog ever. No, she may not be the top trialer, and she may not be the most stunning dog (but in your eyes- and the others who realize her true quality, she is), but damn it, she will do whatever you ask and get any job done- and she will do it with such cool confidence, it pretty much makes you wonder why you were lucky enough to have a dog like this.

Well, I believe that once in our lives, a dog comes into our lives, who was meant to be with us; meant to be our soul mate, and one who makes us a better person.

Sheepdogs sometimes get the raw end of the deal. If they don't trial well, or they don't work a certain way, they get shuffled to the back of the line- only brought out for farm work. We, my friends have it backward. The true winning sheepdogs are the ones who get the work done, no matter where, no matter when, and no matter the stock to be worked. To have that in a dog, you have it all. The dog does the work for you, just because you asked- even if they are unsure. You can't quantify what that is worth, until you lose it.

So, those of you who have some good trial dogs, and also some "just farm dogs", please ask yourself- which dog, if you could only have one, would you want. I dare to say it's the latter.

They work simply because we ask them, they fear nothing, because there isn't time to do so, and in return, all they ask is that we allow them to stay, and do our bidding. Is there any better dog that that? I think not.