This is one of those photos that you may not see anywhere, and in fact is not supposed to occur. I’ve heard of Boston Terriers working on farms, but I have never heard of a Boston Terrier who wanted to herd sheep.

Even Gus didn’t want to herd the sheep, he just wanted to hang around with us.

Bud is very focused on the work Red does, and on Fate’s love of sheep and passion for being around them, even if it’s not exactly classic border collie herding, to say the least.

I either have some magical attraction for Boston Terrier weirdos or I’m onto something. Bud is actually somewhat serious about working with the sheep, he doesn’t have the border collie herding instincts, but he does challenge them and try to stop them or move them.

He has no fear of the sheep (unlike some border collies I could mention) and he seems to be studying Red and almost mirroring him. And the sheep do respond to him, they don’t challenge him the way they challenge Fate.

How far can I go with this, I wonder?

I don’t want to push it, I can’t imagine Gus actually moving sheep from one pasture to another, but maybe that’s because I’m not imagining it. I’m taking him out for short bursts of work, staying close, encouraging him when he holds his ground and is calm.

I think we are working together now. But I am impressed with his instincts. We’ll see.