Farmer Darryl Kuehne came by this morning to pick up three sheep to go to market and this was Red’s first task here – to get the sheep to the corner gate so we could get the ones we needed to separate from the flock and put in Darryl’s trailer. Red had to go out into the meadow, push the sheep to the gate so Darryl and his son John could get a crook on them. I don’t have any photos of this because I was too busy directing Red and figuring out how to work with him.

It was a bit chaotic, but he responded well, had tremendous energy and is beautifully trained. What a gift to get a dog so well prepared for work, so open to it. He will teach me a lot more than I will teach him. Karen did a wonderful job with him.

Red is great. What a big heart. We are still getting used to each other, but he got around the sheep, kept them moving towards the corner, stopped them from rushing off into the meadow, held them in place as much as you can do with sheep that are not dog-broke and are not going into a barn or enclosed space. He has tremendous energy and poise. This is the third time he worked this morning, and this was a tough one, and Red is shot, lying at my feet sleeping at I write this. No more work today.

He is a very friendly dog, still a bit needy and anxious but settling in by the hour.  He ran up to greet Darryl and John and was sorry to see them go. This dog makes friends. He likes people outside of the family a lot more than Rose did, and reminds me of Izzy a bit with his openness and easy going nature. We both are exhausted. His first work was a tremendous success and he ended up as most animals do around here, cuddling with Maria.