While I'm doing chores each morning, I find myself thinking about what it would be like to be a great herding Border Collie trainer and be able to get out of each dog I work with, their maximum potential. I know that with my experience and knowledge level I can only scratch the surface of what my dogs are capable of doing. It makes me very sad sometimes to think that they won't be seen as the great and talented dogs that they are. But that's ok of course, since I love them all dearly and think they're all the best dogs on this earth. I sometimes think that they believe that I'm the best human on this earth too and that makes me smile to myself.

This morning, as most mornings lately, after feeding all the dogs, and the cats, I decided to have Tag (who's 7 now though it doesn't seem possible) go out into the fields and get the 17 ewes so they could come in and have some hay. The snow cover has gotten deep enough that scratching for hay out of the hay fields or missed corn in the corn fields or grass in the waterways is getting to be pretty difficult. They are more than happy to have their meals served up hay feeder style. When they see Tag they start bunching up, readying themselves for the dash to the dinner table.

As I walked out through the open gate into the corn stubble, I decided to try sending Tag in the opposite direction I usually do and to try using my whistle more and voice less. I know that I have a tendency to come across as gruff and controlling to my dogs and I'm trying to change my ways. Yes, I know, it's hard for an old woman like me but it can't hurt to try. I told him to heel in preparation for the "go-bye" command. I use "go-bye" with him since I had been using "come" so heavily in other situations like agility so I wanted to try and make things as clear as I could. I'm sure he's thinking "yeah right!" if he could read this.

He laid down quietly at my left side and had already spotted the sheep this time since they were on our side of the hill in the valley eating the waterway grass that hid beneath the snow. I put the stainless steel whistle in my mouth and a chill ran through me because it was like putting an ice cube in my mouth and my teeth are very sensitive to the cold. As soon as it was unstuck from my tongue, I spit the darn thing out! I decided that even though my fingers would be freezing, it was going to be more comfortable and accurate to use my finger whistle instead of the metal one. I hate winter for so many reasons and this is one more to add to the list, cold metal whistles.

I'm not real good at guessing distances longer than an agility field but I'd guess the sheep were about 400 yards or so from us. So not too far. I whistled "high low" using my finger whistle and gave the go-bye command and he took off like a shot. He arced out to the left as he should and dead ahead about 80 feet away were 6 horses standing and eating at the round bale feeder. The mares are all pregnant brood mares, most of them over 10 yrs.old and used to the dogs and hateful toward the sheep. Thus why the sheep weren't eating at the feeder with the horses. There is also another feeder in an open south facing shed where some of the other mares were eating or in for a drink from the heated water fountain. He gracefully arced out to the left past them and against the fence and continued on his way. I lost sight of him as he went into the waterway about 100 yards from me.

I stood patiently waiting, watching the sheep and looking for Tag out of the left corner of my eye. In a few moments, there he was perfectly lined up to go out behind the sheep and keep them from bolting in their favorite direction away from where we want them to go. Tag has learned over the last few weeks, where they go and where I don't want them to go and he's picked that up and prevents it on his own without a single word or whistle from me. I've learned to be more patient and allow him to show me that he's got them covered and he's doing the right thing. It's amazing to watch and nearly brings me to tears to see him so happy in his work and that I've finally allowed him to be the dog that I knew he was. A powerhouse of physical beauty and with a mind to reason and problem solve and plan ahead.

He was so far out this time and perfectly lined up and the sheep seemed to know that he had them locked into his plan. They took off at a run toward me, which they like to do no matter how far off the dog or even if the dog is laying down. I think they're so glad to be told to come in and eat, they just can't help but coming running for joy at the thought of all that great sweet hay awaiting them. I never called or whistled a lie down or steady and he dropped to the ground for just a second to show the sheep that he was in control but that he didn't expect them to feel like they had to run all the way back to the barn. It was a great thought but the sheep didn't take him up on his offer. They continued to run but did ratchet it down a notch and just jogged after that.

Tag knew he had to go "away" once the sheep reached closer to the area where the horses were. If he doesn't keep them from getting into the horse group, he has a much more difficult job of getting them to me. He has to ever so slowly as so not to disturb the mares, work his way around and through the mares to push the ewes out from under the aggravated group. The mares will lazily kick at a sheep to get it out from under them, but they really don't intend harm and are just trying to send the message that it's not necessary for them to have belly warmers, thanks anyway.

Tag couldn't push them too far down the slope though as then the ewes would intercept another group of mares that were just out standing and laying around having their morning naps. Since the mares are pregnant they tend to each lay down a while a time or two each day. He came around them on the high side watched them closely and then back behind them and then down to the low side and now they were within 100 feet of me. At that point I turned my back to all of them and start the short 100 foot walk over to the gate into the sheep pen. We have a barrier on it at about 4' up that allows the sheep to go in and the mares to stay out. A nifty little thing that my husband made for me that's made from a wood dowel and recycled horse shoes and a bit of hardware that was laying around.

Each time I do this now I just move to the side and soon the ewes are passing me up and trying to squeeze into the pen (100'x60') 3 at a time through a 36" gate. They make it just fine but not before one or two just about end up on the back of the one in front of them. They quickly take their spots at the full of hay plastic water tank turned feeder for the winter and at the 2 other hay feeders that really are made for hay out of recycled barrels and cattle panels and wood. Tag has come to a self imposed halt at the gate and lays down to make sure that no one dare try to escape from this place of plenty. I stepped up behind him and he turned his head back to look at me as if to say....

"Thanks for listening to me, thanks for letting me do my job today, thanks for letting me have so much fun and thanks for being my Mom, I really do love you you know even if you don't know what you're doing sometimes." And with that, I gave him a "that'll do Tag" and we turned and strode off to the house where the world's most wonderful and understanding Border Collie gets to spend the day laying at my feet and making me feel loved. How he has put up with me all these years is beyond me but he has and he's done it with such resilience that I marvel at how he can continue to grow in his skills as I slowly gain knowledge and earn his respect and trust.

I hope that tomorrow as I fly away to my real off farm job, that those that live, work and breathe raising sheep with the help of a great dog, take a moment to enjoy something that many will never have the chance to experience. There is nothing much better than the look on the face of your dog that is so happy in being a part of your life and your work that words alone could never describe.