Hidden Benefits of Working Dogs

by Don
(Canada)

I sent my working dog to gather the flock the other day. He had to go about a third of a mile and was lost from my site for a few moments. It was windy and cool and the grass was long. His work was made more difficult by the long grass. It's hard for him to see the sheep and harder for him to move freely. Within short order though I saw the telltale bob of sheep heads coming over a hill. I turned and led the way to the yard, two hundred sheep and one dog following.

Sounds typical and maybe has a poetic flavour to some.

Yet what most folks don't grasp are the hidden benefits.

Without that dog---
I could go out and gather those sheep myself, but I'd still be there.

I could drive my truck out to gather those sheep, but I'd be burning fossil fuels and making trails across my land therefore compacting my soil.

I could hire someone else to do the work. But they'd insist on a good wage, driving a vehicle and coffee breaks too.

I could use an ATV but this tends to stir my flock up and stress them worse than any dog, any day.

I could leave my sheep alone and never move them but then I'd be written up on charges of some kind.

Or I can continue to use my dog and save steps, save time, save fuel, save my land environment, save stress to my sheep, and save face.