When we let Red outside in the dog pen, he does not sit in the sun, as Frieda does, or sniff around for something disgusting to eat, as Lenore does. He goes to the gate at the sheep pasture, and he sits and waits for me to (hopefully) come in and do some herding work. Sometimes we do, and sometimes we don’t, but whenever I look out the window or come into the yard, Red is sitting at the gate, waiting, alert, patient and ready. Sometimes I say, hey Red, take some time off, go sit in the sun, chase a ball, roll around. Be a dog. He does not seem to hear me. Sometimes I think he is just trying to fool me, sitting at the gate as if we have an appointment to work. Sometimes it works, and he wears me down and we go in and do some work.

Is there anything more focused than a border collie waiting to work?