In the morning, I get up early. I take Red across the street to the meadow. Inside the gate, he waits for me. When I am in the pasture, I walk ahead fifteen feet or so. I whisper softly and once, “come bye” and Red rockets off on a spectacular outrun around the sheep.

When I say “there” he turns inward, moving towards the flock. I say “steady,” sometimes lie down to slow him and get the sheep moving. He is so sensitive to commands that I now whisper most of them, and he responds instantly. We move the sheep down to the lower end of the pasture. I am slowing it down, taking more time, maneuvering more. Today, for the first time with me, Red moved the sheep from the other end of the meadow into the barn shelter.

We are learning more about one another every day. He has reawakened my love of working with border collies and sheep. Tomorrow morning, we will be out at dawn practicing working slowly, settling in.