Brutus always comes over to Lenore, and the two of them go off and simply stay close to one another. Lenore is not like this with other dogs, usually.

  June 23, 2008 – Gretchen Pinkel breeds Labrador Retrievers in Argyle, N.Y. and she is a good friend, and she chose and sold me Lenore, for which I am eternally grateful. Gretchen is as thoughtful and knowledgeable a breeder as I know and I asked her what she thought was going on with Lenore and Brutus.
  “Lenore just plain likes and enjoys company,” suggested Gretchen. She equated her bonding with Brutus to bonding with another dog. They just enjoy each other’s company, she thinks. From the pictures, it seemed to her that Lenore was trying to evoke some play – this is true – but Brutus doesn’t respond to play mode, so Lenore reverts to more familiar dog habits – licking the nose and face, hanging out.
  Gretchen said she thought at least some of Lenore’s behavior was attributed to the socializing and grounding work I did with her from the beginning, which is generous of her. I did do a lot of socializing work and grounding training. But I have to say, Lenore has about the best temperament I have ever encountered in a dog, and that is breeding, not just training.
  The more interesting question, she thought is why is Brutus hanging around with Lenore. She suggested that my sheep are unusually well socialized, given the time they spent with me and Annie. (I don’t know. My sheep are well treated, but I don’t really even like them, and never spend much time with them, unless it is with a dog like Rose around, and when they see me coming, they usually back away. I view sheep the way border collies do, which isn’t all that loving.
  Gretchen think the socializing of the sheep is a factor, in that they are more likely to accept the attention of a dog like Lenore. But they don’t nuzzle up to Rose or Izzy and take off when they see any other dog. Most of them don’t like Lenore much either.
  Lenore, she thinks, sees these animals as just another form of dogs, and it is true, she does react to them much as she reacts to many dogs. In addition, says Gretchen, she remembers my referring to Lenore as an “Old Soul” and she is, and that might be part of it.
  I think there is something to Gretchen’s theory, except I would add to it that Lenore sees affection as her work, and uses it on cats, sheep, goats, donkeys, dogs and people. I have rarely see a dog work as hard to connect with other creatures, approaching them repeatedly and carefully, and withstanding rebuffs, head butts, even kicks. She simply keeps coming, trying different approaches – licks, going on her belly, play challenges, and “pleas” – whining and barking. This trait has been reinforced and rewarded by me, and continuously, from the day Lenore arrived. But she came that way, and didn’t need a lot of encouragement.
  Gretchen pointed out that Rose has established a working hierarchy – no playing, no socializing, as most border collies do. Lenore, knowing nothing of this, ignores it, and has undercut it, at least with Brutus, his mother Paula, and the other wether, Rumsfeld. The other sheep stay away from her.
  Brutus has always been more people oriented that the other sheep, perhaps because his mother, Paula, is as well, and because I do have a relationship with him. I pulled him out of Paula, who nearly died during birth, and spent considerable time with him. I am fond of him, I have to admit. I suppose it is possible that Lenore sensed this, and felt free to approach him. But she is much more boisterous with dogs than with Brutus. Their relationship is quiet, gentle, and very calm.
  There is no question these two recognize each other and have some sort of connection. Rose remains much in control overall, and no longer seems to notice or mind Lenore and Brutus. Still, it is a  fascinating discussion and I much appreciate Gretchen’s input.
  I have to say I don’t consider myself a great dog trainer, as I am often too impatient and distracted to provide the continuity and focus a strong trainer has. I do think I am strongest with early training, acclimation and socializing. I work the hardest at that, and have had strong results. Also I value calming training, the basic obedience commands that bond a dog to a human, and help keep them calm and focused.
  Lenore came with all of the tools to be a great dog, and I take seriously the responsibility of giving her the chance to use those skills, thus the socializing, the Hospice work, coming sheepherding and joining in my life.
 She is already a great dog, and I will keep helping her live up to that potential. Only a first-rate breeder or the luck of the draw can make that happen.