We’re into it now. Red and have begun the dog-breaking process with Maria’s wool sheep, a pack of flighty and willful Border Leicesters who have never been around a dog and who responded by butting Red all over the place. I got into it with him, standing by my dog, poking the sheep with my foot in support of Red to get them moving. I thought both of us were going to pass out. He really took a beating.

Herding sheep is about respect. The sheep have to respect the dog, and vice versa. Red does not hurt sheep or run them around. When he is butted, he nips back on the nose, but doesn’t back down. He takes some hard shots but doesn’t run away.I remember from my early training days – and Karen Thompson and I talked about this week – that the process of dog breaking sheep can take a week or two. The dog has to hold his ground until the sheep understand they have to deal with him. That happened a little bit today. They softened their opposition. More tomorrow.

I got in there with him and we pushed the sheep out of the Pole Barn and pressured them until they got out into the open. We’ll be out there every day until they submit. Red has passed out on the sofa on the porch, sleeping next to Frieda and Lenore. The three are a Troika already. He is housebroken and I took him several places today. He loves coming along, rides easily. A ride-a-long dog. A lifetime dog.

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