There were sheepdog trials going on just down the road from us this afternoon, so we headed down to watch these amazing collies and their masters at work.
None of the photos do justice to what is happening.
Shrill whistles - their differences almost imperceptible, but understood by these clever collies - guide them around the sheep, to their right, their left...
Here's the dog having taken the sheep to the gate of the pen. He's now waiting for the master's next command, but meanwhile he's still. The sheep mustn't be spooked, otherwise they'll dash off and the whole process of getting them this far will have to begin again.
Slowly....
Stealthily...
Until finally they're guided in.
This dog wasn't competing. He was standing at the sidelines with his master.
Oh boy, did he want to get his opportunity to shine. What a darling dog he was, but he has a bit of a way to go in his training before he can enter competitions.
Can you see the eagerness? One day, he's thinking. One day, that will be me.
