Zinnia is the most unflappable dog I’ve ever had, even Red could get spooked by sudden moves or mishaps or belligerent farm animals. So far, nothing much has rattled Zinnia. She falls off chairs and beds, gets her treats stolen by Fate, hangs out with donkeys and sheep.

Only two of the sheep seem to want to challenge her, Liam, our grumpy wether, and Giselle, one of the Romneys.

Liam lowers his head as if to butt her, and she yawns and moves away. The other day he did butt her, and she wagged her tail and moved back a few yards. This morning, she climbed out onto the ice in our pond, and it cracked and she was stranged in the middle of the pond on a floe.

On the way out of the pasture, she stopped by a shocked Liam and gave him a lick on the nose. Fate is no longer growing or snapping at her, Zinnia adores her.

She jumped into the water and swam to shore (Maria said she almost panicked, but Zinnia wasn’t bothered.) Well, she is a Lab, and they tend to not be afraid of water and she was only a few feet from shore in a pond that is three feet deep at its deepest.

Being calm is the sign of a grounded dog, and Lenore Severni breeds for temperament as well as bone structure and health. Being unflappable is a critical factor for a therapy dog, who must remain stable in unpredictable circumstances.

Zinnia comes out with us to the pasture every morning now, she eats a bit of donkey manure, chases after Fate, and just hangs around. A good farm dog.