Red and Fate were mesmerized by Maria riding Chloe around the pasture where they usually herd sheep. The closeness between these two is especially touching, it seems to deepen all the time. Fate adores Red, Red is completely at ease around her, he accepts being pestered and jumped on and followed around. I think herding together has made them even closer.

I keep changing feelings and strategies and techniques working with the dogs, I love figuring it out. Working the two of them together seems like a better and better idea the more I try it. It gives Fate the confidence she needs at this age, and Red seems to like having her around, he just goes about his business as usual. Karen Thompson told me once that Red was a kind dog, and that is very true, he is a generous and sweet spirit. He loves having a little sister, it seems, I have had  several border collies who would not be gracious about sharing their herding work.

Fate was especially wide-eyed as Maria sailed past on Chloe, she ran along the fence a couple of times and looked like she was very much enjoying the show.