Written by Janet East at Yellingham Farm

When you see two people with their arms folded, looking over a farm gate, seemingly peering into the distance wasting time, don’t be fooled, as it’s work. I spent many a time doing just that with probably the best shepherd I had the privilege of knowing and working with. It was a special time to look at your flock, just taking a few moments to really see what was or was not in order.

It was during one of these educational moments in my early shepherding career, that he told me that my flock of Jacob sheep looked well, even though he thought they weren’t a “proper” sheep (he was a top Suffolk sheep breeder), but I took it as a real compliment.

This, however, was followed by a less than complimentary comment about my shepherding tactics.

“When you need to get your sheep in a pen are you still shaking that bucket of expensive, unnecessary sheep feed to get them in a pen?”

“Yes, of course – it works thank you”

“It might now, but when you expand your flock and numbers increase and so does the cost of the bucket, you might change your mind – I’m telling you girl, you can’t shepherd properly or efficiently without a dog”.

Needless to say, having watched the skill and ease with which his dogs worked and the limited stress on both sheep and handler, I was converted and went dog shopping and bought my first border collie called Jack.

Back in those days, there were grants for sheepdog training courses which were spread over 12 months. I went every month for a lesson with other beginners both human and canine. What an experience – the biggest lesson I learnt was don’t shout at your dog…..save it for your husband!

That is where I met a dog handler, the trainer as it happens, who had an amazing dog called Roy – words can’t describe his gentle style, attitude and total dedication to his handler.

In short, I set my heart on having one of his offspring which I eventually did…. a pup I called Nell.

She worked tirelessly for me…was a handful, certainly didn’t listen to a word I said in the early days and certainly never responded to a raised voice.

Just like the hours of quiet time looking over a farm gate, the same applied to Nell – she needed time and a quiet voice.

But there was one time when she did surprise me and showed her authority. I decided to mate her and saw this amazing brown and white border collie working beautifully at a sheepdog trial, and no… I did not enter!  Way beyond my skills. I contacted the owner of said dog who happened to live in France – just my rotten luck, but I wasn’t deterred, just a small stretch of water to cross. The dog’s owner was a tricky character, but after much deliberation and checking Nells breed credentials, she agreed that Nell was a suitable match for her “Jim”.

The meeting didn’t go off exactly as planned, maybe the journey to France upset Nell, but on jumping out of the car, she met him and bit him – good start. Maybe just a language barrier! Things settled down and eventually she relented and the deed was done. We stayed overnight at the farm in their self-catering cottage and the next morning, “Jim” was waiting outside the door clearly excited, Nell was also pleased to see him. A quick repeat encounter and we were on our way home.

Ralph was one of Nell’s 6 beautiful pups who I kept and still work today. He is a fantastic worker like his mother and looks exactly like his father – brown and white.

Nell left me very recently and doesn’t owe me a copper coin. What she taught me, rather than what I taught her, has been a lifelong lesson in how to treat, respect and enjoy working a sheepdog. She’s in the orchard now, sleeping under an Oak tree, keeping a watchful eye over Ralph.

Nell – Thank you for 14 very special years, at times trying, but worth the hundreds of buckets of expensive food you saved me.