I like to think of Fate as the Ferdinand The Bull of Border Collies, even though she is from Wales, and a famed herding line, she loves to be with the sheep and run wide circles around them, but from the beginning, she has shown no appetite for herding them or pushing them around.

Some of my border collies have taught me how to herd sheep, they just go out and do it. Fate has her own unique style and buoyant personality, and I didn’t want to ruin her by pushing her to be something I didn’t think was really in her. She is just too happy and carefree a dog for that kind of intense work. My wonderful friend and breeder Karen Thompson thinks I messed up the training, and Karen is someone I respect and listen to.

But we love Fate, she is unique and loyal and loving and fun, and I think she is just crazy about her life here. Not a bad outcome.   We are crazy about her. As I write this, she and Maria are out hiking in the deep woods together, something the two of them do every day.