I used the Petzval Russian lens to try to capture the feel of Gus and his evolving relationship with our sheep. He used to run when they came near him, but now he just sits and stares at them (something Fate doesn’t like to do) and they stop, and turn around.
This is strange to me, I have been working with border collies for 15 years and while Gus is not a herding dog by any means, he does have some authority, and when he looks the sheep in the eye, as he did yesterday in this photo, they do stop. I hope he will convey this to Fate, my beautiful herding dog from Wales, who is the Ferdinand of herding dogs. Zelda, in the photo, is not afraid of much of anything, she even gives Red fits, but she is certainly cautious around Gus.
I see a new book in the future — Gus, Mighty Sheep Herder or Gus the Mighty Shepherd.
Don’t think so, but it would be fun. I don’t see him as herding sheep, just pushing them around a bit.
My experience with terriers has been: they’re calculating. Loving, sweet, playful, but shrewd. They won’t take foolish chances or be driven by blind instinct, they want to figure things out. Once they do, they will rule all other animals in their world. The one thing they depend on is the master’s approval, more than other dogs I’ve had experience with.
ankle biter…hahahaha