The was the first encounter yesterday between Red and Rosemary in a wide, well fenced and hilly field in Shushan, New York, about ten miles from our farm. Red was trying to move Rosemary back up the hill, from which she had just bolted,  and made a run for the barn down below where the other three Romneys were dug in.

In a minute or so, the ram – used to being in charge –  came up the hill and butted Red and flipped him over on his back. Red  came up and nipped him on the nose – this is the only way trained border collies are permitted to correct sheep, as grabbing their wool has little effect. He drew a drop or two of blood, as is customary, and the ram backed away.

Rosemary put up a long and determined fight, she also butted Red, charged him and flipped him over. He did  not nip or bite her, he just got down low and did his wolf-like eye stalk and after a long stand-off, she turned and ran back up the hill and into a temporary fence that had been set up. Red walked her up and kept her inside of it.

Red put on quite a show yesterday, the four sheep were big and not dog-broke, although they were dog-broke in a half-hour or so. Red is remarkable in his poise, professionalism and strategizing. He is a problem-solver. He anticipated the sheep’s moves, headed them off and put pressure on them.

Sheep are not aggressive, they are all about fight or flight.

They will butt and charge, stomp their feet, then run. A grounded dog will keep pressure on them until they move or give in. If pressed to hard, they will panic or freeze. Red played it like a maestro, wearing them down, giving some laser-like eye, keeping the pressure.

You can see in the photo the awful condition of Rosemary’s wool, her coat was heavy with feces and encrusted with dirt and dried urine. Red dug in in front of her and just wouldn’t move, inching closer, backing her up. The command I was giving him was “get ’em up,” which means move them no matter what. She was hoping to stare him down.

The flock broke away and headed down the hill several times, he went down each time and got them. I had a lot of fun as the Field General, giving commands, out-thinking the sheep, trusting the dog. Red and I have worked so often together and so well, I barely need to speak at all. But where I move is important, herding is a ballet, the human dog and sheep all move in relation to one another, I control Red as much by my movements as by my commands.

I love working the dogs and sheep, and yesterday was a great affirmation of the importance of training and patience – and a great dog. The sheep is pretty impressive too.