Man's Best Friend
September 6th 2006 07:30
Man’s Best Friend
You know that thing about the sheep dog being the farmer’s best friend! Well, I’d have to agree. The dog is. That is if a friend is someone who will love and forgive you whatever you do and say to him and continue to serve and come back for more even when they have been misunderstood all day.
I mean to say, how is a dog supposed to know what to do when the rules keep changing? Usually when they are sent out into the paddock the aim is to get the whole of the mob of sheep in as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Sure they can usually get away with peeling off a couple of stupid sheep for a bit of extra chase – provided they eventually get them back with the mob. It’s called fun! Besides, a dog doesn’t want to make the job look too easy. They want the farmer to realize that with such stupid sheep, he could not manage without his best friend.
Of course it helps if everyone knows where they are supposed to be going with the sheep. There are some parts of the journey that are fairly straight forward and the dog soon learns the route the sheep are likely to take and how to stop them if it is not the right way. But just when they think they have it right, the farmer gets it into his head that he wants the sheep to go that unusual way. Instead of sitting down quietly and explaining this to what is supposed to be his best friend he will yell and call him stupid and deaf and a whole lot more that are unprintable. But how is a dog to know? He can’t read a man’s mind!
Then there are times of the year when moving the sheep quickly is not required, for example, when ewes and lambs have to be moved. Here is the dog trying to get the whole mob together and the farmer is yelling at him to steady up, or leave that new mother behind. And as for peeling off a few lambs – the best fun of all - that can practically get a dog shot for his trouble.
Now if there are sick sheep in the mob a dog would think that it would be important to bring them along too so that they can be treated– even if they are half a mile away from the rest of the mob. But that is not what is wanted. All the farmer wants is for his faithful friend to gently suggest to the sheep that he lies down and stays there so that the farmer can pick it up and carry it on the ute all the way home. The trouble is the sheep aren’t all that good at dog language – and having learnt to run away from dogs, they stupidly don’t realize that the dog actually wants to make friends, sit down and have a chat. Funny that!
And then there is the real classic. Young sheep boxed in with the rams. All rules go out the window. No the farmer didn’t want all the sheep brought into the yards, he just wanted the young sheep to come and to leave the rams behind. More yelling and threats ensue. But how is a dog supposed to know that!? What does the farmer expect of him next? Since when is a dog suppose to actually draught the sheep? Next thing we know he will be asked to shear them as well!
Come on, give a dog a break! Friendship can only go so far!
You know that thing about the sheep dog being the farmer’s best friend! Well, I’d have to agree. The dog is. That is if a friend is someone who will love and forgive you whatever you do and say to him and continue to serve and come back for more even when they have been misunderstood all day.
I mean to say, how is a dog supposed to know what to do when the rules keep changing? Usually when they are sent out into the paddock the aim is to get the whole of the mob of sheep in as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Sure they can usually get away with peeling off a couple of stupid sheep for a bit of extra chase – provided they eventually get them back with the mob. It’s called fun! Besides, a dog doesn’t want to make the job look too easy. They want the farmer to realize that with such stupid sheep, he could not manage without his best friend.
Then there are times of the year when moving the sheep quickly is not required, for example, when ewes and lambs have to be moved. Here is the dog trying to get the whole mob together and the farmer is yelling at him to steady up, or leave that new mother behind. And as for peeling off a few lambs – the best fun of all - that can practically get a dog shot for his trouble.
And then there is the real classic. Young sheep boxed in with the rams. All rules go out the window. No the farmer didn’t want all the sheep brought into the yards, he just wanted the young sheep to come and to leave the rams behind. More yelling and threats ensue. But how is a dog supposed to know that!? What does the farmer expect of him next? Since when is a dog suppose to actually draught the sheep? Next thing we know he will be asked to shear them as well!
Come on, give a dog a break! Friendship can only go so far!
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