When sheep first meet their border collies, the relationship is not much different to a lamb seeing a wolf. They run, butt, stomp their feet, panic. Over time, if the dog is calm and strong, they settle into a different relationship, one of mutual respect but one where the dog is very dominant, the sheep are not. Sheep have no means of defense, they are not especially fast, they do not have sharp teeth or powerful claws, they tend to freeze when in danger, like chickens, and accept their fate.

After that first bout of tension, the relationship does not change. The dog controls the sheep with his eyes and body movement, the sheep are wary, vigilant, but not panicked. They accept the dog’s responsibility over them, the border collie keeps them on grass, away from obvious dangers like canyons or cliffs. But the dog will not fight off a predator, will not intervene, border collies are herders and watchers, not fighters. They are too smart to make war. This standoff, this distance, this acceptance, is the permanent element of the relationship between the border collie and the sheep, it does not change.

If the dog knows what he is doing, the sheep will respect him or her, if not it is always a brawl.