The border collies love the walks in the deep woods as much as I do. There are snowshoe paths and old roads coursing through the forest. The dogs race each other to the very end of the road, which can be quite steep and then they rush back to us. They do this perhaps 30 or 40 times before their tongues begin to hang and I get them to lay down and  rest.

There are many different paths in the woods, they have raced back and forth on them all, sometimes through the woods and brush, circling around, playing hide-and-seek, sometimes just running hard and nearly out of sight. I have to say it is a beautiful thing to watch. Both dogs are mastering the command “Photoshoot,” where they sit and pose regally for the camera. This is an essential requirement for any dog living on Bedlam Farm.

The dogs work well together, and when I think they need to move on, I say, “that’ll do,” and both dogs will break off their running – they seem to much enjoy it – and go around sniffing the many rich smells of the forest and eating awful things when they can find them.

Border collies will find work it it is not given them, and this can be useful. On these walks, they get plenty of exercise and wear themselves out, when Fate is fatigued, one ear is up and one down, and her tongue gets long. Red has no trouble keeping up with her, despite some signs of arthritis.