I admit to a lifting of the heart when I see Fate and Red work together. She adores him, and watches him closely. He is unfailingly gracious and generous with her – I have had several border collies who would not be so gracious as to share their sheep. This morning, Red took up position at the top of the hill and Fate went off to move the sheep and circle them, her new phase of training.

She is turning the herd, getting ahead of them, she is not yet forceful enough to move them by eye, that will come as she gets bigger and older. Fate is approaching the age when border collies normally begin their training, but she is well along. I’m glad I started her early.

When the sheep put their heads down, Fate sometimes runs back up to Red and checks on him, touches his nose and then tears back to the sheep. Border collies are not really supposed to leave the sheep like that, but it seems like a beautiful thing to me, and I will allow it. If I ever need Fate to work the sheep alone, I’ll put Red inside. She is just as focused as he is when she is alone. The relationship between this two was unexpected, and very touching for me.

I use the two of them most often now when I need to work the sheep, they brace the sheep well and handle them gently and professionally together. A terrific experience for me. After her adolescent outburst the other day, I did a lot of calming and obedience work with Fate, and she has settled down. We are having much fun.