We have two dogs now, one is from Northern Ireland, the other bred from herding dogs in Wales. They love to work and run together, they work beautifully and well together, almost a ballet of strength, power, grace and instinct Border were bred in England around the turn of the century by a breeder who wanted a gentler, smarter and faster herding dog than the ones in use. Old Hemp was a stud dog believed to be the progenitor of the  border collie breed, all border collies are descended from him.

Border collies need work. Like many storied breeds, they are being overbred, many are being bred for show, not work, and for people drawn to the breed but not to the work of keeping the breed well. I have failed a border collie or two, and worked hard to learn what I need to know. Border collies chanted my life, they are my lifetime dogs for sure, they are where I have landed with dogs.

I got sheep for them, farms for them (and for me) and my work with them has been deep and broad – sheep and therapy work and hikes in the woods. Red accepts Fate completely, and is gracious and loving with her in his gentle and indirect way.

Fate adores him and follows him around everywhere. She screams in her crate when he goes outside without her, she is good in her crate except when Red goes out to work, she will never be rewarded for screaming in her crate, no matter how long or how loud. She is smart, she will get it.

In the morning, the two run together before I bring the sheep in. Partly, this is to calm both of them down, tire them a bit. The sheep do not need two border collies pushing them around at full tilt. It is an awesome thing to see them run together, a touch of the wild, a reminder of the ancient ties of people and animals, a testament to the beauty of the working dog and the diligence and vision of the people who bred them.