Red and Liam went nose to nose this morning, but something different. Liam turned off the path, startled Red (and me) by running to me, perhaps pleading for some support. Sorry, friend, I said, out here, the dog always wins. Red came and rounded him up and chased him back into the pole barn.

I know many people are rooting for Liam to win one and catch a break, but in the real world of border collies, this cannot happen. The dog has to believe he is charge all the time, exceptions are dangerous.