Red is a spirit dog, a sweet creature, but a solitary one, an affectionate dog, but not an excitable or demonstrative one. He is a patient working dog, but also a strong presence, he reacts when crossed. When he is not working, he is content to just be with me, sleeping at my feet, by my side, in the car.

Red and I have no issues, not conflicts, we fit one another perfectly. I wasn’t sure how he would react when Fate, a boisterous puppy, came into the picture. He has always been patient and gracious with her, that is his nature, and he put her right on her butt when she got too obnoxious.

But now, I see they are pals, Fate often curls up next to Red when she sleeps, and he is especially tolerant when she chews on his ears or neck, tries to steal his rawhide strips, or pounces on him in the yard. In the woods, they tear up and down the path, then race back and forth, a kind of border collie tag.

At the end of the path in the woods where we walk, I tell them to lie down, I want them to wait for us, there is a road nearby. Both are good in this way, they wait patiently for us. I saw Fate nuzzling Red, and he seemed happy to accept the attention. They are good friends now.