I think Red’s herding days are winding down. He is losing sight in one eye, and has nearly lost all of his sight in the other. He has arthritis, and is slowing down. This morning, he was not able to move the sheep from the Pole Barn to the outer pasture, the first time that has ever happened.
His eye is weakening, he isn’t quite fast enough to get ahead of them and turn them like he used, and I think the sheep are blowing him off, challenging him in ways they never dared to do.
I don’t want to see him humiliated out there, I’m thinking of cutting back and then retiring him from herding work. Red is one of the greatest herding dogs I have seen and it has been such a joy to work with him. But his therapy work is strong, and he loves doing that, so we will keep working together.
But I’m coming to the belief that he is coming to end of that phase of his life. Red is about ten years old, he has a lot of time ahead of him. But his herding time may be coming to a close. I accept it, but it does make me reflective.
The sheep are quick to take advantage much like students with a substitute teacher. Red has better days ahead as a therapy dog retired from herding.
Maybe the sheep knew how hot it was going to be so they didn’t want to listen to him. After all the heat index was going well over 100 today. I am sure the sheep wanted to be near shade. Don’t misjudge Red yet. I saw the video. I saw how fast he was running circles around the sheep. The sheep didn’t want to be moved. It was hot already.
It’s not just today Sally, he is blind in one eye and losing sight in the other, and he is getting up there. He is without question struggling sometimes with the sheep and in cool weather as well as warm. They were surely balky today and have been before, but he has never had any trouble handling them. I know Red quite well and I believe I can clearly see what is happening. I am not judging him, I am accepting him. Nothing bad will happen and I’m not giving up on him in any way. I just to recognize what is happening and take it into account. Being in denial would not be helpful to him or humane. It is my job to speak for him.