My friend Mandy Meyer-Hill is driving to Virginia over the weekend to pick up Red and bring him to Bedlam Farm. He should get here Sunday, traveling in his own crate. I’m working up some plans for him.

Sunday I’ll take him for a week, let him see Lenore and Frieda and vice versa. I’ll keep them apart for a couple of days. Frieda can be an issue with dominance and protection, I’ve handled her before with other dogs and this guy is grounded and adaptable. Still, I’ll be cautious. When he gets here, Maria and I will take him for a walk in the woods and just take a look at him.

I’ll feed him and give him water and then put him into his crate for the night. Let him settle. Monday morning I’ll walk him. We’ll put the donkeys in the barn and I’ll bring him to the small number of sheep. See what he does, what he gets from me, what I need to focus on. Until he is housebroken, I’ll keep him in the crate while he’s in the house. I’ll see if I can leave him with sheep. Rose often sat with the sheep for hours and if he can do that, that would be a good way to acclimate him also.

I want to take it slow and easy. I think the transition will come when he begins working sheep with me. Monday afternoon I’ll take him to our vet to check in (maybe Tuesday) and I’ll walk him around town. And more sheep.