The relationship between a border collie and a sheep is mystical, curious and almost unique. Border collies control sheep with their eyes, as much as their bodies. The border collie eye is an intense, almost hypnotic stare. It doesn’t need to be eye-to-eye. It works best on what are called “light” livestock, less well on heavy livestock like cattle or cows. The eye is often accompanied by a predator-like crouch, the sheep think they are being stalked, and being prey animals, they begin to move away from the stalker.

Often, when Fate is approaching the sheep, she will look to the side, as above, and the sheep will freeze. Sometimes, she will look them directly in the eye. As her herding skills develop, I am encouraging her to use her eye, to slow down and test the sheep. This is where we are not. Lying down on the ground with her is helping me to see how this fascinating connection works.